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Another game and another hurting

Kevin Weekes has to leave and Tampa Bay loses 3-1 to Washington.

By KEVIN KELLY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 12, 2002

WASHINGTON -- Juha Ylonen, Dave Andreychuk and Jimmie Olvestad sat exhausted on the Lightning bench.

[AP photo] Lightning head medical trainer Dave Boyer helps Kevin Weekes after a second-period hit knocked the goaltender out of Monday's game with the Capitals.

What happened while they were there during the second period of Monday's 3-1 loss to Washington left their team gasping as it hobbled into the Olympic break.

The Capitals' top line, which includes Jaromir Jagr and Adam Oates, scored twice in a 19-second span as the Lightning trio assigned to cover it got a much-deserved break before an announced 16,094 at the MCI Center.

"One shift we miss because they're exhausted on the bench and we can't pick up that line," Lightning coach John Tortorella said. "That hurts us. And we simply cannot score goals."

The Lightning took the lead when left wing Zdeno Ciger scored on Tampa Bay's first shot 1:47 into the game, but Washington goalie Craig Billington stopped the next 19 shots.

Moments after Oates scored the winner with 7:38 remaining in the second, the Lightning got a scare when goaltender Kevin Weekes was knocked out of the game after a violent collision with Washington center Glen Metropolit.

"I was just kind of focusing on the puck," Weekes said. "I saw that they were coming toward me."

Weekes, who lay motionless for several minutes before skating off, later returned to the bench. His replacement, Nikolai Khabibulin, stopped 11 of 12 shots.

Monday's game was the last of five between the All-Star and Olympic breaks for Tampa Bay. It went 1-3-1 against Ottawa, Florida and Washington, losing three in a row.

During that stretch, the Lightning, already depleted by injuries, learned Fredrik Modin (wrist) and Tim Taylor (groin) would be out until after the Olympic break. Vincent Lecavalier (left ankle) and Jassen Cullimore (thigh) also were hurt.

"Obviously the break is going to help us," Andreychuk said. "We're hoping we can get some guys back. I think this team needs a mental break from the game. We've been through a lot in the last couple of weeks as a team. Hopefully we're going to come back with a fresh attitude, ready to go after it."

NO SALE: Speculation is brewing in Orlando that Palace Sports & Entertainment will sell the Lightning to Portland, Ore., businessman Paul Allen, buy the NBA Magic and move it to the Ice Palace.

"There's no truth to that at all," Lightning president Ron Campbell said. "That's created in the Orlando market as a little touche on us in Tampa Bay because they really want to keep their basketball team."

Campbell said PS&E is committed to the Lightning.

"It will never happen in today's life," he said of a sale, "or the afterlife."

WHAT'S NEXT: Campbell said he wants former general manager Rick Dudley to stay with the team as a senior adviser. Dudley said he is not sure he will accept.

"I'm bored already. I want to be doing something," Dudley said. "I'm sitting here thinking, "What can you sink your teeth into now?' "

For Dudley, it is the first time since 1992, when he was fired as Sabres coach, that he has been out of a job.

GOOD FRIENDS: A silver lining for Dudley was the rekindling of a friendship with Steve Ludzik. The two had not spoken since Jan. 6, 2001, when Dudley fired Ludzik as coach.

Ludzik called Sunday, when he heard Dudley resigned.

"Yes, it does bother me that Rick was fired," Ludzik said from his home in Niagara Falls, Ontario. "I don't think that anybody realizes how hard he worked at his job."

UPON REVIEW: Though not expected to miss more time than originally planned, the Lightning says Modin has a stress fracture in his right wrist. The left wing, who was placed on injured reserve Feb. 5, is expected back after the Olympic break.

ODDS AND ENDS: Cullimore (right thigh contusion) was scratched. ... Lecavalier had an MRI on his left ankle, which has a chip fracture. Results were unavailable.

-- Times staff writer Damian Cristodero contributed to this report.

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