Lightning/NHL

With big two injured, experience lacking

By TOM JONES
Published March 29, 2006

TAMPA - Playing Monday morning quarterback - or, in this case, Monday morning NHL general manager - is easy, but one must wonder if Lightning GM Jay Feaster would like to relive March9.

That was the day of the trade deadline when the Lightning made no moves despite an expressed desire to acquire a veteran defenseman. The Lightning, according to Feaster, was the bridesmaid on several deals and he felt the price was too high for middle-of-the-road defensemen who could become unrestricted free agents in the summer.

But the Lightning is paying the price now that the team's top two defensemen are out with injuries.

Dan Boyle remains sidelined with an injured right ankle, while Kubina left Monday's game in the first period with an apparent left leg injury. Boyle is listed as day to day, but doesn't appear close to returning. Kubina's status is being evaluated on a daily basis, but there is no timetable for his return. The injury was serious enough that he didn't return Monday even though Kubina knew there was a gaping hole in the defense with Boyle's injury.

So one day after calling up defenseman Doug O'Brien from minor-league Springfield to fill in for Boyle, the Lightning on Tuesday recalled defenseman Timo Helbling to take Kubina's spot.

That means when the Lightning takes the ice for Thursday's showdown with Atlanta, half of Tampa Bay's defense will be made up of players with less than a season of NHL experience. Of that group, Paul Ranger, 21, would be considered the veteran with 66 games - all this season. Meantime, Helbling, 24, has five games of NHL experience and O'Brien, 22, has three.

"Obviously, we are missing two of our key players on defense," forward Marty St. Louis said. "They are two important parts, but now we have to play on without them."

Helbling won the Lightning's battle for a sixth defenseman in training camp, but was sent to the minors after five games and replaced by Ranger. In 60 games with Springfield, Helbling has seven goals and 14 assists.

Forward Fredrik Modin, the team's second-leading goal scorer, also is day to day with a lower-body injury.

These days, however, the main concern is on defense. Boyle and Kubina lead the team in minutes played and account for 82 percent of the defense's goals (19 of 23) and 55 percent of its assists (66 of 119).

"Everyone is going to have to step their game up," defenseman Nolan Pratt said. "Not only just the defense, but everybody. Those are two key guys and hopefully they'll be back soon."

[Last modified March 29, 2006, 01:24:18]