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Ciger skips game, practice

TAMPA -- Forward Zdeno Ciger's disenchanted stint with the team reached its zenith Tuesday night when he did not return from the locker room after the first period against Detroit.

Ciger told team officials he suffers from anxiety attacks.

He reported to the Ice Palace Wednesday but did not want to practice, a move that angered coach John Tortorella.

"I don't know where the hell he is," Tortorella said. "As far as I know, he's not injured. It's bull----."

General manager Jay Feaster said Ciger was examined by team doctors Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

"From a medical standpoint, he has been cleared to play," Feaster said.

Ciger, 32, was acquired Dec. 12 in a trade with the Rangers. Unhappy about leaving New York City, he mentioned retirement at the end of the season as a possibility after Tortorella benched him Jan. 4 against the Blackhawks.

A few days later, Ciger received permission to miss two days of practice to retrieve his 14-year-old daughter from his native Slovakia, which the girl refused to leave after spending Christmas with her mother.

Ciger, who makes $1.7-million, has six goals, including a hat trick Jan. 15 against New Jersey, and six assists in 26 games with the Lightning. He is minus-12. His contract runs through 2002-03.

Ciger had six goals and 13 assists in 29 games with the Rangers. His most productive NHL season was 1995-96, when he led the Oilers with 31 goals and was second with 70 points. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder spent the past five seasons playing in Slovakia.

WEEKES STAYS FOCUSED: Trade rumors continue to circulate around backup goaltender Kevin Weekes, who made 33 saves, many of them spectacular, in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime loss. Playoff-bound Toronto needs goaltending help after Curtis Joseph broke his left hand Tuesday night.

"I won't comment on trades, but I don't miss the out-of-town news," Feaster said. "I talk to guys regularly. It's safe to say in the course of a week my goal is to try to talk to all of the teams, to touch base, particularly as a new general manager."

Weekes, who wants to be a No. 1 goaltender, has maintained his focus this season despite a reduced role.

"I don't pay too much attention to (trade talk)," Weekes said. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Playing well and our team having a chance to contend for a playoff spot is my only focus."

DWYER OUT FOR SEASON: Wing Gordie Dwyer, who dislocated his shoulder against Detroit, will have surgery Monday to reattach the capsule to the bone and prevent the injury from recurring. He will miss the rest of the season with 4-6 months of rehabilitation.

Dmitry Afanasenkov likely will be recalled today from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League.

DOWNSIZING: Feaster began to reallocate team resources Tuesday by trimming the scouting staff from 24 to 12. The cuts free nearly $1-million for the player payroll, he said.

"It's about making choices," Feaster said. "There's never been a situation where we've been told, "This is all you may spend on your NHL player payroll.' Instead, it's, "Here's the total amount of money you can spend in hockey operations.' I want to reallocate those dollars and put them into payroll."

Tampa Bay's scouting staff had been the largest in the league under former general manager Rick Dudley. Among those released was former Lightning assistant John Torchetti.

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