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Lightning/NHL
DiMaio has become odd man out
By TOM JONES
Published March 26, 2006
TAMPA - Forward Rob DiMaio , who hasn't played since injuring his back March4, is healthy enough to go back into the lineup but is going to have to wait his turn.
"I'm not changing the lineup," Lightning coach John Tortorella said. "I like what our lineup looks like right now, and we'll see how it works out as we go through the last (11) games."
What Tortorella likes is the play of third/fourth-line forwards Dmitry Afanasenkov and Chris Dingman . For now, Afanasenkov has moved up to the third line.
"Affy has been a lot more effective of late, especially away from the puck," Tortorella said. "(With) all his ups and downs this year, he has played pretty well of late both forechecking and playing away from the puck."
Meantime, Dingman has provided exactly what the Lightning asked from him since being recalled from the minors March10.
"Protecting the puck is a very important aspect of trying to win hockey games. And he not only does it offensively with his forechecking, but also defensively on the wall," Tortorella said. "He's a good wall guy."
ART OF THE MATTER: Rookie Evgeny Artyukhin has been seeing more time on the fourth line of late, and he doesn't seem to have the same physical presence since returning from a two-game suspension March11.
"He hasn't been the same player," Tortorella said. "He isn't always the same player no matter what. He's a young guy who is still trying to find his consistency. I don't think the suspension has anything to do with it. He has been up and down, and we expect that. He'll get his ice time. He's still a pretty effective player for us."
MVP: Tortorella said he believes Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist has been the league's most valuable player and the key reason why the Rangers will make the playoffs for the first time since 1997. He also gives a lot of credit to the man who is the favorite to win the MVP: NHL scoring leader Jaromir Jagr .
"A lot of people as the year went on thought (the Rangers) were going to drop," Tortorella said. "I give high marks to (coach) Tom Renney and his staff.
"Obviously, Jagr is having a hell of a year, and that's a key in their success. Jagr is playing within the team concept. Everybody has bought into their team concept."
MISSING: The Rangers were without forward Martin Rucinsky (finger) and defenseman Darius Kasparaitis (groin). Rucinsky broke his left index) finger Friday when slashed by Florida's Jay Bouwmeester . He will have surgery within a week and is expected to miss a month.
[Last modified March 26, 2006, 00:26:15]
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