MacDonald has surgery

The center, hit by a shot Thursday, has chipped teeth and lots of stitches.

By EDUARDO A. ENCINA
Published December 22, 2007

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TAMPA - Lightning forward Craig MacDonald fractured nine teeth and needed about 50 stitches inside his mouth when a shot hit him late in Thursday's win over Toronto.

But his injuries could have been worse.

And despite Friday's intensive oral surgery to save three of the teeth, which included three root canals, MacDonald is day to day and might play tonightagainst Carolina.

MacDonald, a fourth-line center who was unavailable for comment, was hit by a wrist shot of defenseman Hal Gill.

Besides the lost teeth, all in the front of his mouth, he cut his tongue - needing about 25 stitches - as well as the inside of his lips and gums.

"It caught him directly on the teeth," Lightning head trainer Tommy Mulligan said.

Mulligan said because MacDonald was wearing a mouthpiece, it prevented an injury to MacDonald's jaw, which could have caused a concussion.

Meanwhile, Lightning center Chris Gratton, out the past two games with a hip injury, returned to practice and also is day to day. He could play tonight if MacDonald doesn't.