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© St. Petersburg Times, published March 5, 2002
TAMPA -- Struggling left wing Zdeno Ciger has been granted a temporary stay from reporting to minor league Springfield as a final battery of tests are conducted to determine the severity of his anxiety attacks.
Team physicians have deemed him fit to play but recommended more tests, and general manager Jay Feaster agreed to allow Ciger, 32, to seek private opinions in Tampa on Monday.
"Our doctors' position has not changed," Feaster said. "Once we have all the results, if he's cleared to play now, then the issue is how quickly he can report to Springfield."
Ciger earns $1.7-million this season and is scheduled to make $1.8-million next season. The team is obligated to pay his salary is if he reports for to Springfield.
Ciger, acquired from the Rangers for Matthew Barnaby on Dec. 12, has six goals and six assists in 27 games with Tampa Bay but one goal in his past 12 games. He is also a minus-12. Ciger left the bench during a 4-3 overtime loss to Detroit on Feb. 26 and missed practice the next day, prompting his demotion on Friday. He was originally supposed to report by this morning.
Ciger said his attacks are brought on by anger, cold, inactivity or tiredness, and manifest as neck stiffness.
"The Lightning have been very accommodating," Ciger's agent, Matt Keator, said, "but we're assessing things medically and going from there."
APPEAL: Team officials should know by Wednesday if defenseman Cory Sarich will be suspended a league-mandated two games for incurring a third instigator penalty Friday in a 3-2 win against Florida at the Ice Palace.
Sarich drew an instigating minor, fighting major and a 10-minute game misconduct in the third period when he pursued Panthers center Byron Ritchie to center ice to avenge what he felt was a cheap shot.
Sarich, Feaster, and coach John Tortorella met with league director of officiating Andy Van Hellemond after the game to discuss the instigator rule and appeals process.
Sarich said he had been unaware of the instigator rules but thinks he has a case.
"I think we're going to be able to appeal because (Van Hellemond) explained some things that go into being the instigator," Sarich said, "and I know it didn't look good, me chasing (Ritchie) across the ice, but it wasn't like I attacked him or mauled him or forced him into a fight. I challenged him and he willingly wanted to go at it, so there might be some room there."
If the appeal is denied, a fourth instigator penalty would result in a four-game suspension.
CHIP: Center Vinny Lecavalier, recovering from a chipped bone in his left ankle, skated on his own the past two days (the team had them off) and the team is tentatively targeting Wednesday's game against Edmonton for his return. He has not played since Feb. 9.
"It feels better, but it's still sore and gets weak if I turn it a certain way," he said. "My confidence in it is not that great."