Ranger is skating/AHL news

It was just a small first step but defenseman Paul Ranger participated in his first full practice Monday since sustaining a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee on March 7. Ranger skated the 45-minute workout at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Afterward he said the knee felt good but still "needs more time.'' A better evaluation will be made Tuesday after the knee reacts to the stress.

Ranger has had an up-and-down season but the second-year player is a terrific passer in the defensive zone and, as coach John Tortorella said, is "a big part of it.''

The coach asked Ranger how the knee felt. Ranger was non-committal. Tortorella jokingly told his defenseman to be ready for the next game.

Also, the Norfolk (Va.) Admirals will announce Thursday they are the Lightning's new AHL affiliate.  

Comments

Get better soon Paul we miis you!

[Tim]

The Bolts are heading into another familiar area that they are all too familiar with, a must win or see ya next year. The Panthers have had their number for a couple of years now but they should feel good knowing that Roberto Luongo is not there to shaft us anymore. The young Nathan Horton, who is the latest and newest in a line up of Bolt killers should be greated tonight with an open ice hip check to set the tempo of the game and let this over zealous youngster understand that the celebration stopped along time ago as far as the Bolts are concerned and we aren't going to take it from any of the Stinking Panthers anymore. With that said, the Bolts sure could use Paul Ranger's passing and a little more concervativism on the blue line. Everyone is getting alittle tired of seeing 3,4,5 odd man rushes by the end of the 1st period. The Bolts are a much better team than what they have shown us of late. I believe that with just a little bit of tweaking from Torts and Rams on D and a little bit of enthusiasm in goal tending, we just may have a contender back in the East again, playing the way they did back in January. Forget the 50 goals, the .900 save percentage, the 2 points out of 1st. Lets just concentrate on playing the best game we have ever played against those %&#^$*$ Panthers. Everyone is counting on it, beat the Panthers til they know that you own them, then pour it on'em some more. It will make the Bolts feel good, The fans feel good, the coaches, the Tampa Bay sports writers, everyone will be happy but the stinking Panthers, but who care about them anyway. Prediction Bolts 5, Stinking Swamp Cats 1.

[Phantom]

Thanks Tim, I detest the Panthers as well. I wish Crispy had never referred to them as "Kitty Cats" because Roger Neilson picked up on it, tacked it on their board, and they go at us like nobody else ever since.
Off task for a sec; how comfy are we with Richie getting $7.8M and Luongo leaving the State? (That's almost eight million dollars, folks. For one 82 game year. After 20% agent fees and 40% taxes, the poor guy has to get by on $3,120,000., or 38 grand per game. Is he the type of guy who can, right now, say, "Climb on my back guys, we're going all the way"?)
Yeah, it gives me indigestion too.
I don't want to see anybody hurt from goonery; I was a big Cam Neely fan till Ulfie threw a hip and broke Neely's femur just above the knee. Nasty. I actually cheered Tie Domi's sucker punch to Samuelson years later.

They'll surely edit my comment on today's article:
Boyle's 18 goals and shoddy defensive responsibility show a different plus/minus barometer of incalculable odd man rushes and goals allowed to help mediocre goalies look horrid. (For two years now.) He's on the next bus out after this is over. I'll feel a lot better breaking camp in October with Ranger and O'Brien and serious acquired help. If Calgary is stupid enough to take Richie for Iginla, do you think Iggy could play with Vince? (We'd save $2M too, you know.) Interesting. With the down trodden year in Edmonton I would hope they'd take Boyle for some juicy picks.

I apologize for the bleakness and negativity for the task ahead. I wish I was given hope instead of ridicule, displaying Lightning Pride around town. Fourteen points in one week to the Sens and Caps, we don't do well against bureaucracies, do we?
Let's go guys, worse clubs have scrapped away and won the thing. No reason at all why you can't get pissed and Git 'er Done.
Go you maniac Bolts!

[Cathy]

Phantom you're great, I love reading your blogs. I think you and I are the only ones who see what Boyle does. I hope he gets traded. If he played his position instead of forward all the time it might help our guys. Sad but true I'm not sure we will be seeing the play-offs

[Nan]

I agree with all previous comments. This game tonight is pivotal. Either they do it tonight or else. I say our Bolts will stomp all over those cats tonight. Go get 'em boys!

[Sign girl.]

Phantom I love you. I say we write a petition putting you in charge instead of these ridiculously stupid people in charge. Honestly. How much longer can fans and players put up with bad managment desicions? Trade Brad. Trade Boyle. Our team doesn't revolve around them. It revolves around Marty and Vinny. And I'm sick and tired or people criticizing Pratt and Sarich. They actually play their positions. DEFENSEMEN. Boyle should be a freaking winger he thinks more about shooting then actually playing defense. And does anyone else notice that our best defensive player is Ruslan? Ruslan tries his hardest for every minute he's out there. And he has more hits than anyone else. The little things are more important right now so how about stop criticizing our players and encourage them.

Come on boys you can do it.
Don't stop believing.