Lecavalier returns, remains mum

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published February 7, 2006

UNIONDALE, N.Y. - Vinny Lecavalier said his "upper-body" injury is not 100 percent. But the Lightning center, who played Monday against the Islanders after missing Saturday's game with the Capitals, said the injury will not keep him off Canada's Olympic team.

"I want to be there playing in the Olympics," he said. "But right now, it's the Lightning."

Tampa Bay is not revealing the injury for fear it will become a target for opponents. Lecavalier also declined to elaborate, but a hint might be that he did not take a faceoff in Tampa Bay's 3-2 overtime victory.

"I just wanted to keep it as simple as possible," he said. "But my legs felt really good."

Good enough to get him behind the Islanders defense and score the winner on a breakaway.

Lecavalier, who had not missed a game because of injury since October 2002, said he spent Saturday's game getting treatment and riding a stationary bike.

"I hated missing the game," he said. "It was very disappointing."

But it was better than taking the chance of making it worse.

"I definitely wasn't ready," said Lecavalier, adding the injury began bothering him Jan.31 against the Maple Leafs. "I wanted to play so bad."

As to where he is as a coach, "It seems like a million miles away."

He said Ludzik and staff probably pushed a system "too aggressive for the personnel we had. I guess that's the key for any coach, to know his team and adjust things accordingly."

New York (and former Lightning defenseman) defenseman Brad Lukowich said Shaw has sharpened the Islanders' work ethic and is holding players accountable.

"He's done a great job bringing the guys together," Lukowich said.

"We have worked hard," Shaw said. "It's just the application of what we're trying to do."

[Last modified February 7, 2006, 01:13:13]