Lecavalier out about two weeks

NEW YORK -- Ice and rest.

That, general manager Jay Feaster said, is the basic prescription for center Vinny Lecavalier, who will be out 10-14 days with a Grade I (least severe) sprain of the medial collateral ligament of his right knee.

The diagnosis was made Monday by team doctor Ira Guttentag, who flew from Tampa to examine an MRI.

The injury occurred Saturday night when Lecavalier lost his balance and fell back on his leg after taking a shot during the first period against the Penguins.

"I feel bad for him," Feaster said before the game against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. "I feel bad for the team. That's a big loss out of your lineup. He's a tough guy to replace."

Feaster said he did not put Lecavalier on injured reserve, which would discount him from the 23-player roster at least seven days, because he did not feel the need to recall anyone from AHL Springfield.

That could change if Lecavalier, who had three goals and four assists in his first three games, does not respond quickly to treatment or if other injuries crop up.

"We have to figure out as a team if we have the depth to handle the bumps and bruises," Feaster said. "It's an opportunity for someone to step up."

It also forced coach John Tortorella to shuffle his lines.

Vinny Prospal switched from left wing on Brad Richards' line to center between wings Ruslan Fedotenko and Ben Clymer. Richards was between wings Martin St. Louis and Fredrik Modin.

BIKE ROUTE: Three or four times a week during the summer, Prospal bicycled into the mountains in his native Czech Republic. These weren't slow, sightseeing tours.

They were difficult 50-mile workouts.

"I went with a couple of guys who were really strong," Prospal said. "It made me push even harder."

The result: stronger legs that have helped Prospal earn three goals and five assists in his first five games, including a goal against the Rangers.

"I'm not really thinking about this stuff, I just go," Prospal said. "Since the middle of last year, I've gotten a lot of opportunities to be out there in key situations. I'm just trying to make the most of it."

CAN YOU BEAT NIK?: One fan will get one shot at Lightning goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin between periods of the All-Star Game at Sunrise. A goal will earn the fan $250,000.

Fans can sign up for one of three shootouts at the St. Pete Times Forum. Winners advance to a final round to determine a local champion who gets an all-expenses paid trip for two to All-Star Weekend to compete against 13 other contestants.

Three additional winners will be selected through a sweepstakes at Nextel retailers and on NHL.com.

ODDS AND ENDS: The Lightning is the league's fifth-youngest team with an average age of 26.7. The Rangers are fifth oldest at 29.7. ... Defenseman Nolan Pratt was a healthy scratch. ... Left wing Chris Dingman returned after a two-game suspension for a high-sticking incident with Carolina's Jesse Boulerice. Dingman played on a line with center Alexander Svitov and right wing Sheldon Keefe.