Lightning/NHL

Burke's comeback will begin on bench

By TOM JONES
Published March 31, 2006

TAMPA - Goalie Sean Burke was in uniform Thursday for the first time since fracturing his right index finger March 15, but when he will play is another story.

Lightning coach John Tortorella has put his trust back in John Grahame and Burke will have to wait his turn to get a start. That likely will only happen if Grahame falters or the Lightning clinches a playoff spot. Either way, entering Thursday's game, Tortorella likes how Grahame seems to be working back into a groove after a slow start out of the Olympics.

"I'm going to let them make the decision for me," Tortorella said. "I'm concerned about Burkey (being out for two weeks). I think he has worked his (tail) off to get to a situation where he can play again, but Johnny has played pretty well. ... We'll go day to day as we always have here and see where it goes."

With Burke back, the team sent goalie Gerald Coleman back to minor-league Springfield.

PLANNING AHEAD: Tickets for the first two possible home playoff games go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. If the Lightning makes the playoffs, those games likely will be the third and fourth games in an opening-round best-of-seven series.

Tickets for the first two home postseason games can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, by calling Ticketmaster at 813-288-BOLT (2658) or at the McDonald's Box Office at the St. Pete Times Forum.

A limited number of seats will be available for each game in the plaza, club and terrace levels of the arena. Playoff tickets for additional games will go on sale at a later date that has yet to be determined.

NOT HERE: With Atlanta starting to get playoff fever, the Thrashers' flagship station (680-AM The Fan) wanted to broadcast its afternoon drive-time talk show with hosts Buck Belue and John Kincade from Andreychuk's restaurant across the street from the Times Forum.

It isn't known whether the station was denied permission or there were technical problems, but the station did not broadcast from Andreychuk's. The station then tried to move on to Newk's restaurant, but was denied permission there.

The show ended up being broadcast from the press box of the Times Forum.

INJURY UPDATE: Defensemen Dan Boyle and Pavel Kubina and forward Fredrik Modin missed Thursday's game. Neither of them participated in the morning skate. All are listed as day to day with lower-body injuries. There are murmurs Boyle and Kubina could return soon, perhaps this weekend, but that Modin might miss a few more games with what is believed to be a groin injury.

[Last modified March 31, 2006, 01:09:18]