Right wing catches a break

WASHINGTON -- Lightning forward Gaetan Royer was glad to get his first NHL game behind him Monday against the Rangers. Maybe now his career can move forward.

Royer was an emergency game-day call-up from AHL Springfield, replacing injured tough guy Chris Dingman (back spasms). Royer played 6 minutes, 39 seconds in the 6-4 loss, recording one hit and one giveaway in eight shifts.

"I was a little nervous," said Royer, a 6-foot-3, 198-pound right wing from Quebec. "I didn't have a lot of time to think about it. I went straight from the airport to the rink."

Royer was a training camp invitee who signed as a free agent Oct. 23. He split time with Lightning minor-league affiliates Springfield and Pensacola of the ECHL, totaling 19 goals, 14 assists and 241 penalty minutes.

"He's an intelligent player; you can tell that by the questions he asks," said coach John Tortorella, who remembered little of Royer from training camp. "He's pretty aware of how the game should be played and knows what his role is."

With Dingman listed as day to day and Andre Roy lost to a 13-game suspension, Royer, 26, was called up because of his physical presence. He hopes to make a lasting impression.

"I want to create something offensively by being physical, forechecking and crashing the net," said Royer, who won the Calder Cup last season with Saint John in the Calgary system.

"Everybody understands the situation, that we're out of the playoffs. But when there's nothing on the line, that's when you find out what kind of player you are. I want to show them what I'm capable of doing, prove I can start the year here next year."

PUBLIC APPEARANCES: Several current and former players are scheduled to sign autographs this weekend. Sheldon Keefe and Ben Clymer will conduct a free street hockey clinic for children 3-5 p.m. Saturday in the Dillard's parking lot at Countryside Mall in Clearwater. Defenseman Jassen Cullimore will visit the Daewoo dealership in Brandon 3-4 p.m. Sunday. Former players Chris Kontos, Enrico Ciccone, Rudy Poeschek, Paul Ysebaert, Pat Jablonski, Petr Klima and John Tucker will be at the Ice Palace main concourse 5-6 p.m. Sunday before the game against Buffalo.

COSTLY COMMENT?: No word on whether the league will fine forward Vinny Lecavalier for his disparaging remarks Monday about officials. Lecavalier called the officiating "awful" when no action was taken against rookie Mikael Samuelsson, who scratched Lecavalier's face after the two fought in the third period.

ONE-TIMERS: Dingman and D Stan Neckar (hip flexor) were scratched.