Sports: Muir back in lineup

Muir back in lineup

By TOM JONES

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The past seven weeks have been the longest of Bryan Muir's life. For the first time in his career, Muir, a defenseman, was forced to sit and watch with a broken left ankle.

After missing 19 games, Muir returned to the lineup Wednesday night.

"The hardest part is watching the team go through a slump and not being able to help, other than pat them on the back," Muir said. "You try to keep the guys staying positive, but it's hard to when you're not playing and helping."

Muir, acquired Nov. 16 from Chicago, broke the ankle in his first period with the Lightning on Nov. 17.

"It helped to watch and learn our system, but you still have to get out there and play," Muir said. "I'm so eager to get back in there. I can't wait to start playing again."

Coach Steve Ludzik is looking forward to it, too.

"Our defense is so young, and he's an older guy (26) even though he's only played really a year or two (in the NHL)," Ludzik said. "But it will be nice to have an older guy in there."

FACE THE FACTS: Forward Robert Petrovicky is wearing a full face shield because of a cracked bone in his forehead. He took a Chris Gratton slap shot to the head in practice on Dec. 28 and probably will have to wear the shield for at least three more weeks, or about three weeks too long for Petrovicky.

"I hate it," he said. "I wanted to go to a half-shield, but (trainer) Dave Boyer said no way, that I can't afford to take another shot."

Petrovicky wore a full shield as a youngster in his native Slovakia, and wore a half-shield in his first couple of seasons in North America because of problems after a broken nose. Once healthy, though, he scrapped the face gear, even though he admits it probably isn't the smartest thing.

"You never know what can happen," Petrovicky said. "You could take a stick or a puck and lose an eye. I guess it's what you are used to, and what makes you comfortable. ... The full shield is awful. When you're looking down, then have to look up again, it takes a second to like zoom in on what you are seeing. I can't wait to get rid of this thing."

HOMECOMING: This is a homecoming of sorts for forward Dan Kesa, who was raised in Vancouver, where he maintains his summer home. In fact, Kesa uses Grouse Mountain, a popular ski resort, as an exercise machine in the off-season. He climbs the mountain three days a week -- something known by locals as the "Grouse Crawl."

"The record is like 28 minutes," Kesa said. "The quickest I've done it is like 42 minutes or something. But it's a good workout, and it's not boring like working in a gym or riding a (stationary) bike. Here, when you get to the top, you see deer and stuff. That beats a gym any day."

STANLEY CUP IN TAMPA: The Stanley Cup, given annually to the league champion, is scheduled to be at the Ice Palace Tuesday when the Lightning host the New Jersey Devils at 7:30 p.m. Fans can take a photo with the Cup for $5 to benefit the Lightning Foundation.

ODDS AND ENDS: It's official. Defenseman Sergey Gusev will have surgery on his torn right ACL and will miss the rest of the season. ... Forward Steve Martins, who has missed the past 11 games, has had a couple of setbacks with his sprained right ankle, but says, finally, he may be able to play either Friday or Saturday.