Meszaros gets 64 stitches, did not return

Just an update on defenseman Andrej Meszaros, who got hit in the face by Anton Babchuk's slap shot with 20 seconds left in the second period Saturday night. He did not return, as expected, because, as the team explained, the 64 stitches were not done in time. A quick note on Babchuk. He once won the AHL's hardest shot contest. The bloody gash was under Meszaros' nose.

No one is sure if Meszaros will play Sunday at Atlanta. He wants to play, of course. Either way, Tampa Bay is in a bind. Even though Meszaros has struggled lately, it will miss the 24:28 ice time he averaged. But with no one really left on the farm, the expectation is even if Meszaros cannot go, the Lightning will play with either five D or try to get Lukas Krajicek (fingers) to play in a limited role, though that will not be kown till today.

On the up side, Matt Smaby, Vladimir Mihalik and Ty Wishart weren't the worst things on the ice for Tampa Bay. Wishart, in his NHL debut, played 7:53 with a shot and two blocks.

"It's a chance for other guys to step up," left wing Ryan Malone said of using the kids. "When those guys come back healthy, we should be a better team for it. Hopefully, those guys get their opportunity and run with it."

Couple more things: Tampa Bay is 5-17 in one-goal games and is on a 5-for-59 power play streak, 4-for-42 at home. "It's killing us," coach Rick Tocchet said. ... Jussi Jokinen was scratched with what the team said is a lower body injury. He is day to day.

Comments

[hyjyljyj]

Amazing how high school and college players, all 60 NHL goaltenders, etc. are able to play ice hockey while completely blind.

Wire cages don't distort or fog anyone's view of anything except how unmanly, soft and wimpy it is to be able to just...KEEP PLAYING your shift after getting hit in the face area by a puck. For example, if that thing were to bounce off your face cage and down to your stick, that would suck. You'd have to actually DO something with the puck, like play it to a teammate or even shoot on goal yourself, instead of getting to writhe around on the ice in screaming agony, spurting blood, kicking your legs violently and clutching your face like a real man. Fans love that "on-ice" action.

[Nan]

The NHL should make all players wear visors but perhaps grandfather it in so that only the new players are wearing them. Eventually all players would be wearing them this way and gives the current players who are not use to wearing them the ability to continue to not use them. Don't they wear them in the Juniors and AHL? I don't think any player thinks another is a wimp for wearing one. A player doesn't want to wear one because it hampers their ability to see the puck because of distortion and/or fogging.

[Tackleberry]

hyjyl,
It is also funny when a dude gets hit in the balls. Dont understand why players think it is wimpy to play without face protection. I would never play a sport without wearing a cup. I like to see players check and the occasional fight. But I dont like to see anyone get hurt.

I guess it is the same philosophy as wearing/not wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle. Eventually, your head is going to meet the pavement.

I am all for the NHL making visors mandatory. Think of how much would be saved if that rule were to take effect??

[hyjyljyj]

Marty, Vinny, now Meszaros...guy after guy keeps getting gashed in the face and mouth by pucks and sticks. Sometimes after the fact they are smart enough to put on a piece of gear to stop it. Like putting on the seat belt after the wreck.

Funny...face shields and visors are viewed by some as wimpy (although at least 10 Bolts wear a visor today). The guys aren't seen as wimps because they wear helmets on their skulls, skates with hard plastic toe caps, gloves with thick cuffs and hard plastic thumb inserts, elbow pads with forearm protection attached...all of which are innovations and improvements over time from hockey's past. Of course, it is satisfying to just sit and watch a Craig MacDonald spit nine teeth out on the ice and have three root canals the next day, or a Marty St. Louis leaving a trail of blood from his face across the ice, or wondering if Lecavalier will be back the next period after taking a puck in the mouth, etc. Because we enjoy that. And we need that. Without that, how would we know hockey players are tough?

[matt]

Instead of complaing about the power play how about trying to change whatever system you call this god awful power play. It is the worst power play system in the entire NHL. The have zero direction except go to the net. Torts at least had plays devised and had his point men actually move their feet not just sit at the point and wait for the pass. 100% on the coaches. And dont get me started on the most passive penalty kill either. 1 short handed goal? How about attacking the point men rather than letting them dictate the play. I mean, really what does the Bolts have to lose?