Open thread

Hi everyone
Things quiet on the Lightning beat for the moment, but the playoffs are getting to crunch time and 'tis the season for coaching changes, so we wanted to give you a fresh place to discuss.
Talk amongst yourselves.

Memories of Philly and overtimes

With the marathon Stars-Sharks game the other night and the beginning of the Pens-Flyers series, thought you might be interested in this  from the Philadelphia Daily News. Those of you who might have seen this game certainly won't forget.

Details on Halpern

Presume you've all seen this elsewhere on the site, but in case you've missed it, here is the full-length Halpern story. Sounds like he pretty much trashed every ligament there is to trash.

Philly columnist on Prospal's contribution

Interesting column here out of Philly that talks about what Vinny Prospal has brought to the Flyers.

Halpern update: Team says surgery likely

This news release just arrived from the Lightning. No confirmation on the ACL, but the fact that the team is acknowledging surgery is likely would seem to square with the early reports. Here's the release:

TAMPA BAY - Tampa Bay Lightning center Jeff Halpern has suffered a right knee injury that is expected to require surgery, it was announced by Lightning Executive Vice President & General Manager Jay Feaster. Halpern sustained the injury during the third period of Team USA’s 5-4 loss against Canada at the IIHF World Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia yesterday. Halpern is serving as captain of Team USA at the tournament.

            Under the direction of the Lightning medical staff, Halpern will travel to Washington, D.C. today to see Dr. Benjamin Shaffer, team physician for the Washington Capitals. Dr. Shaffer performed surgery on Halpern’s left knee in 2002 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). More information will be available following the results of an MRI and the evaluation by Dr. Shaffer.

Report: Halpern has torn ACL

No verification (or denial) from the team, but TSN is reporting that center Jeff Halpern has a badly torn ACL and will need reconstructive surgery. TSN doesn't attribute the information to anyone, and it's likely Halpern will be flown back to Tampa to be evaluated, so take all that for what it's worth. To see the story, click here.

The recuperation time for that sort of injury/surgery is generally measured in months, making it seemingly unlikely Halpern would be in uniform for the beginning of the season.

Keep checking back, as we'll update as soon as we have more information.

Lightning center Halpern injured in U.S. hockey team's loss to Canada

The United States tried to keep up with rival Canada on Tuesday at the world championships. And the Americans did -- until the final minute.

Dany Heatley scored the winning goal with 46.8 seconds left to lift Canada to a 5-4 victory in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

It was Heatley's second goal of the game.

"We didn't want to wait until the last minute, but we'll take it," said Heatley, who scored his fifth and sixth goals of the tournament.

"In the last minute of periods, we hurt ourselves," U.S. and Lightning coach John Tortorella said.

Meanwhile, U.S. captain and Lightning center Jeff Halpern injured his right knee during the game, Tampa Bay spokesman Bill Wickett said.

Halpern is not expected to play in the Americans' next game, set for Thursday. He will have a full evaluation today, Wickett said, and the team plans to issue a full report.

For the Canadians (3-0), Brent Burns, Jonathan Toews and Derek Roy also scored, and Cam Ward stopped 29 shots.

"We played really hard right to the end," Canada's Ryan Getzlaf said. "We take pride in those kind of wins. We were raised that way."

Zach Parise, Patrick O'Sullivan, Dustin Brown and Jason Pominville scored for the Americans (2-1), who were praised by Tortorella. "I thought they played their a---- off."

After the Americans fell behind early, Parise and O'Sullivan scored 2:17 apart to cut the lead to 3-2.

"I think we showed a lot of people that we're capable of playing at the same level as these guys," O'Sullivan said.

The Canadians extended their lead to 4-2 on a goal by Roy at 3:29 of the third period. He slammed a pass by Shane Doan past Craig Anderson, who replaced Tim Thomas after the second intermission.

"We don't necessarily rely on the pretty play; we don't rely on one individual guy," Doan said. "As a unit we're pretty solid, and we can count on our depth. If it takes 60 minutes, it takes 60 minutes."

Brown and Pominville scored 36 seconds apart on the power play to erase that lead.

In Quebec City, Capitals teammates Alex Ovechkin and Sergei Fedorov each scored, helping Russia (3-0) defeat Denmark 4-1.

Compiled from Times wires

Radio show changes venues

Not what you'd call earth-shattering news, but with not much going on these days as the Lightning waits for the draft, we'll pass along what little nuggets we get.

In this case, it's that the weekly Lightning radio show will move its location. According to a team news release, the show, Lightning Hockey Night, will broadcast live at a different Ker’s WingHouse location each week until July 2.  The show airs from 7-8 p.m. each Wednesday and is hosted by television play-by-play announcer Rick Peckham as well as former captain Dave Andreychuk.

There are nine scheduled dates for Lightning Hockey Night at the WingHouse with the first one this Wednesday at WingHouse of Palm Harbor near the intersection of US 19 and Alderman Road.  Other locations include WingHouse St. Petersburg (May 14), Brandon (May 21), Tampa (May 28), Largo (June 4), Lakeland (June 11), Pinellas Park (June 18), Bradenton (June 25) and New Port Richey (July 2).

Will Vinny be ready for training camp?

Apparently, it is going to be a closer call than what the team acknowledged after his April 15 arthroscopic procedure on his right shoulder. Tampa Bay declared a 12- to 15-week "recovery period," but Lecavalier this week said his understanding is it will be five to six months before he is completely healed. He said it will be 12 to 15 weeks before he can work out without restrictions but five to six months before he can be cleared for contact.

As Lecavalier said, "That puts us into September."

And that could start bumping into training camp. Lecavalier, though, said he is in great hands with assistant trainer Jason Serbus, who is monitoring his rehab. Lecavalier said he can move his arm forward and sideways about 90 degrees, but reaching backwards is a problem. I thought the most telling things from today's story were that the pain has been so bad from the surgery that sleeping five hours straight was a blessing, and that he uses a golf club to help his rehab because his right arm still does not have enough strength. He holds the shaft of the club in his left hand and pushes the head of the club into his right to get some lift.

He also said he is not sure about having an arthroscopic procedure on his right wrist because the rehab on his right shoulder will be so extensive that, "I Just want to get this right." He said he played most of the season with the painful wrist, though it did not worsen, so he might just forgo that procedure all together, if he can.

That point brings up some other topics. Some of you have blogged as to your distaste that Lecavalier was even playing in the April 3 game against the Capitals in which he was hurt. It was a strange circumstance as Lecavalier was scheduled to have the wrist surgery on April 4. But as we know, Lecavalier was hurt against Washington on a questionable check by Matt Cooke.

But Lecavalier said he considered not playing only for "a fraction of a second. ... To tell you the truth. I play because the year is not over yet. That's why I play. I just care. You want to finish the season with your teammates, and that's the most important thing. ... There was talk. The surgery would have been the next morning. I said, 'Let me just play the last game against Washington. Let's do it like that.' ''

As for the hit by Cooke, who apparently was trying to hit puck-carrying Michel Ouellet but hit Lecavalier skating next to him, Lecavalier said he, kind of, doesn't believe it was intentional. Still, he said, "The way I looked at it on tape, (Ouellet) was right behind me with the puck, and (Cooke) is coming at 100 mph. He's not the cleanest player in the league. He's a dirty player. But I think it was just a combination of at the last second trying to go around me but hitting me at the same time, and me pulling up my arm to protect myself. That's what made it."

Whatever the circumstances, Lecavalier may have a tough time being ready for the start of training camp. But as GM Jay Feaster said in a statement, "We remain confident that Vinny will be ready to join us at the beginning of the 2008-09 season."

Our awards ballot

If you're a subscriber to the newspaper you've already seen this list, but we're aware not everyone on here gets the paper. Damian is a member of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. As such, he has a ballot in the various NHL awards and honors voting. This is a look at his ballot, which had to be turned in after the conclusion of the regular season but before the start of the postseason.
Hart Trophy, MVP
1. Alex Ovechkin, Capitals
2. Evgeni Malkin, Penguins
3. Martin Brodeur, Devils
4. Jarome Iginla, Flames
5. Evgeni Nabokov, Sharks
Norris Trophy
Best defenseman
1. Dion Phaneuf, Flames
2. Nicklas Lidstrom,
Red Wings
3. Zdeno Chara, Bruins
4. Brian Campbell, Sharks
5. Sergei Gonchar, Penguins
Calder Trophy
Top rookie
1. Tobias Enstrom, Thrashers
2. Patrick Kane, Blackhawks
3. Nicklas Backstrom,
Capitals
4. Peter Mueller, Coyotes
5. Carey Price, Canadiens
Lady Byng Trophy Sportsmanship
and gentlemanly
conduct
1. Pavel Datsyuk, Red Wings
2. Paul Stastny, Avalanche
3. Daymond Langkow, Flames
4. Brad Boyes, Blues
5. Brad Richards, Stars
Selke Trophy
Best defensive
forward
1. Pavel Datsyuk, Red Wings
2. P.J. Axelsson, Bruins
3. Henrik Zetterberg,
Red Wings
4. John Madden, Devils
5. Eric Perrin, Thrashers
All-Star team
Center: Evgeni Malkin, Penguins; Joe Thornton, Sharks; Pavel Datsyuk, Red Wings
Right wing: Jarome Iginla, Flames; Daniel Alfredsson, Senators; Marian Gaborik, Wild
Left wing: Alex Ovechkin, Capitals; Henrik Zetterberg, Red Wings; Rick Nash,
Blue Jackets
Defense: Dion Phaneuf, Flames; Nicklas Lidstrom, Red Wings; Zdeno Chara, Bruins; Brian Campbell, Sharks; Sergei Gonchar, Penguins; Scott Niedermayer, Ducks
Goalie: Evgeni Nabokov, Sharks; Martin Brodeur, Devils; Henrik Lundqvist, Rangers
All-Rookie team
Forward: Patrick Kane, Blackhawks; Peter Mueller, Coyotes; Nicklas Backstrom, Capitals
Defense: Tobias Enstrom, Thrashers; Tom Gilbert, Oilers
Goalie: Carey Price, Canadiens