Lightning forward Roy kept away from ice

The Lightning did not say it suspended left wing Andre Roy, but that was basically what happened Monday, when the team gave him the week off while it contemplates his future.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Published March 11, 2008

TAMPA - The Lightning did not say it suspended left wing Andre Roy, but that was basically what happened Monday, when the team gave him the week off while it contemplates his future.

"I have directed Andre to take the week off away from the team, with pay, while our internal discussions and overall review continues," general manager Jay Feaster said in a statement.

Roy will miss at least five games after being sent home Friday because of several incidents during Thursday's game at Philadelphia.

Roy jawed with the Flyers bench in the third period and made several throat-slashing gestures before being grabbed and pushed into his seat by coach John Tortorella. That after he apparently would not calm down in the locker room between the second and third periods after losing a fight with Riley Cote that was repeatedly shown on the Wachovia Center scoreboard.

Feaster said he met with Roy, Tortorella and the coaching staff "regarding not just the incident that took place between periods and on the bench during the third period in Philadelphia but also other situations that have taken place this season involving Andre."

Roy was a three-game scratch for disciplinary reasons in February after having words with Tortorella on the bench during a game against the Panthers in which he fought and then jawed with Branislav Mezei.

[Last modified March 10, 2008, 23:44:44]