Lightning are being vigilant with Hedman

The Lightning should have a better idea today how close D Victor Hedman is to returning to the lineup after sustaining a concussion Thursday at Ottawa.

Hedman skated Monday for the first time since getting drilled by Chris Neil in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Senators, but the effects of getting his heart rate up won't be fully known until after he gets a night of sleep.

Hedman also was scheduled to see a doctor Monday afternoon for tests that will show how his brain waves match up to baseline numbers taken during training camp.

If the test results look good and Hedman is symptom free, he could play in Thursday night's home game against the Wild. But Coach Rick Tocchet said the team will err on the side of caution.

"To me, he would have to feel real good," Tocchet said. "I don't know if 'pretty good' will get him in the lineup, especially at this stage of his career and this stage of the season. If it was April, a playoff game, 'pretty good' might be good enough."

Drenched in sweat as he removed his gear Monday, Hedman said he felt fine other than being more tired than usual. He said he didn't know if that was a symptom or the result of not playing or practicing the previous few days.

"I know my body, and if I feel 100 percent, I want to play," Hedman said. "But let's take it day-to-day."

Mum on goalie

Tocchet wasn't ready to name his starting goalie for Thursday night's game.

He conceded it would be hard not to stay with Antero Niittymaki, who has a 2-0-2 record with a 1.48 goals-against average and .a 956 save percentage in his past five games (including a relief appearance Nov. 2 at Philadelphia).

As the record attests, the Lightning have scored at least a point in all of Niittymaki's starts.

"People keep winning, it would be crazy not to keep playing them," Tocchet said.

Then again, Mike Smith has been very good at home. He's 2-0-2 with a 2.16 GAA at the Forum, while struggling to an 0-3-1 record and a 5.38 GAA on the road.

The Lightning have two home games before a four-game road trip, so the coaching staff could opt for Niittymaki on Thursday and Smith on Saturday against the Kings.

"I had a conversation with Smitty (on Sunday)," Tocchet said. "He's fine. He knows (Niittymaki's) hot, and he's waiting in the wings. He'll be ready when he's called upon, and we'll give him the ball for a while."

"Smitty's practices have been great, so he's been a good teammate."

Nuts and bolts

Tocchet had some praise for D Lukas Krajicek, who has been on the trade block because of the team's defensemen depth. Krajicek played in all four games of the just-completed road trip and averaged nearly 20 minutes in the last two games. "You could tell he's just been more engaged," Tocchet said. ... The coach said he spoke Sunday to D Paul Ranger, who is on an indefinite personal leave and said the conversation went well. ... Because of the threat of rain, tonight's "Unplugged" event at Wesley Chapel's The Shops at Wiregrass has been switched from Center Court to the Cantina Laredo. The time is 6-8 p.m. This edition features alternate captain Marty St. Louis and Niittymaki with Chris Dingman. ... Also tonight, the "Ice Hot" radio show (620 AM) will broadcast live from 7-8 p.m. from the McDonald's at 3480 East Lake Road in Palm Harbor. Host Dave Mishkin will have Zenon Konopka, and Konopka will sign autographs at 8 p.m.

Tony Fabrizio