Hlavac ends 10-game scoring slump

By EDUARDO A. ENCINA and DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writers
Published November 8, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Dirk Shadd | Times ] Jan Hlavac celebrates his first goal since Oct. 13, and second ofthe season, which put the Lightning up 1-0 1:48 into the game.

TAMPA - As pucks hit the post, flew wide or found a goaltender, the key for Jan Hlavac was knowing that one eventually would end up in the net.

There's little doubt in Lightning coach John Tortorella'smind that Hlavac can score key goals. That's why he was brought to Tampa Bay in the offseason.

Hlavac was among the team leaders in scoring opportunities but had just one goal ... until 1:48 into Wednesday's game. His first goal in 10 games came on a nice backhanded pass from Brad Richards.

"I feel relieved," Hlavac said. "For a forward, there's a lot of frustration. I usually score from those chances. I was frustrated, but I was trying to stay with my game. Hopefully, now I can string them together a few games in a row."

He had 26 shots since his last goal, Oct. 13 against the Panthers, including a six-shot game, a five-shot game and a breakaway early in the loss to the Islanders last week he couldn't bury.

"Goal scorers, they want to score," Tortorella said. "They measure themselves with that, and it affects their whole game when they're going through a slump as he's been."

BOYLE SURGERY SET: Defenseman Dan Boyle is scheduled for surgery Friday to repair two tendons in his left wrist that developed complications after his original Sept. 23 surgery.

The procedure will be performed by Thomas Graham, chief of hand surgery at Baltimore's Union Memorial Hospital. The Lightning said Graham was recommended by Tampa Bay's medical director, Ira Guttentag, and his associate, Richard Gray, who did the original surgery.

Boyle's agent, George Bazos, said Graham also was recommended by the Players Association. The Lightning said it will not release a timetable for Boyle's return. He missed the season's first nine games then played in four before sitting again.

"He's feeling better," Bazos said of his client, who did not respond to a phone message. "He's still upset that he can't play and he has to go through another surgery and another rehab. But he knows he has to do it."

RAMO HAS MRI: Good news for minor-league goaltender Karri Ramo, who has been out four weeks with a high ankle sprain and was in town for an MRI exam. The Lightning said it showed the injury to Ramo's left ankle is progressing as expected and Ramo should be out another two to three weeks.

ODDS AND ENDS: The announced crowd of 16,526 was the smallest at home since 15,644 on Feb. 12, 2004. ... The Lightning won 62 percent of faceoffs. Vinny Lecavalier won 11 of 17. ... Defenseman Matt Smaby and center Craig MacDonald were healthy scratches.

Eduardo A. Encina can be reached at eencina@tampabay.com Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.

[Last modified November 8, 2007, 01:03:14]