Bettman OK with owners

Whatever deadlines previously established to sort out Tampa Bay's ownership situation are no longer a factor.

During a June meeting, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman gave quarrelling owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie each a 60-day window to come up with a plan to work out their differences, including bringing in a new partner to buy one or the other out of their respective stake in the team. The final window was set to close Nov. 23, but that is no longer in play, according to Bettman.

"I know that Oren and Len are continuing to focus on what they need to be doing going forward. I'm not particularly concerned about any windows right now," said Bettman, in town to meet with Glendale officials. "The franchise is meeting all its obligations and ultimately I think between the two of them they will work something out."

Bettman said he isn't concerned about a timetable for a resolution being worked out.

"The timetable is really Oren and Len's," he said. "I mean, how many times last season was there speculation about the club and all the trouble and meanwhile they finished the season, they met all their obligations, they started another season. Sometimes there is entirely too much speculation. If there is an uncertainty, if ownership is not agreeing on how to run things and that is having an impact, then you want to see that fixed as quickly as possible."

Working out an amicable resolution to differing opinions in how the franchise was being run is what ultimately led to that meeting in late June between Bettman and ownership. Though Koules had been working with Jeff Greene, who pulled out of the running last month, and Barrie is believed to be working with St. Louis real estate mogul Anthony Sansone Jr., nothing is imminent at this point.

Barrie traveled with the team on the last road trip; Koules, along with co-owners Russell Belinsky and Mark Burg, watched Monday's game.

One scenario not likely to take place at this time is Palace Sports and Entertainment resuming control of the team. Palace sold the Lightning to OK Hockey in June 2008, loaned the group nearly $100 million and would assume control should things fall through.

"Theoretically it's possible, but I don't envision that being the case," Bettman said of Palace taking over. "But that's why people I think can take comfort in the fact that Palace is behind the franchise. That's why the franchise isn't at risk. So all of that speculation of it being at risk is really unfounded."

In your face

LW Stephane Veilleux took a face full of shaving cream Monday morning, the subject of a practical joke to help celebrate his 29th birthday.

After the team had finished some drills during the morning skate, Coach Rick Tocchet called the team over near the bench and announced that it was somebody's birthday. Just after that, an unnamed culprit came up behind Veilleux and gave him a face-wash full of shaving cream.

"It was fun. That's what birthday's are for, to have fun," Veilleux said. "It took me a couple of minutes to get it all off, that's for sure. But it was a good set up, they got me pretty good."

Ohlund out

D Mattias Ohlund was a late scratch Monday with a lower-body injury, believed to be his right foot or ankle, suffered late during Saturday's shootout loss to Los Angeles when he caught his foot on the ice.

Ohlund took part in some of the morning skate but came off early and showed up just before the game in walking boot.

"We don't think there is anything serious but today was not a good day to play, so hopefully I can be ready for Thursday," in Anaheim, Ohlund said.

Nuts and bolts

Monday was the 1,300th game for the Lightning in their history. They entered with a record of 477-639-71 with 112 ties. ... LW Ryan Craig was reassigned to Norfolk of the AHL, while D Matt Smaby was sent to Norfolk for a two-week conditioning assignment.

Erik Erlendsson