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Khabibulin may get another call before finale

By KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 2, 2001

TAMPA -- His muscles were a little sore.

But Nikolai Khabibulin expected as much after playing his first NHL game in nearly two seasons.

The Lightning goaltender, who was acquired from Phoenix on March 5 and later signed to a four-year contract worth $14.75-million, stopped 32 shots in a winning debut against Florida on Friday.

"It's definitely good to get the first game out of the way, especially a win so it was even better," Khabibulin said. "Now it's over. So there's going to be a new day, a new game."

Kevin Weekes started Sunday against Buffalo at the Ice Palace.

Coach John Tortorella said Khabibulin, who was a healthy scratch, may get another start before the season ends. Tampa Bay has one home game remaining -- Thursday against the Rangers.

"I'm not going to say yes, I'm not going to say no," Tortorella said when asked if Khabibulin will play again this season. "The way we do it, we just go day by day. It's tough to project what your goaltending is going to be. We'll see how he feels as we go through the rest of the week and we'll make a decision."

NO HARM, NO FOUL: It may have looked like a cheap shot, but Florida defenseman Bret Hedican did not intend to slash Matthew Barnaby after the right wing scored in the second period Friday.

"I think he was mad that I got a breakaway," Barnaby said. "He slashed the board and in his follow-through kind of hit my ankle. ... He actually said, 'Sorry' as he was going by."

Barnaby's fifth goal of the season was redemption after making two mistakes that led to goals against Montreal on Thursday.

"To come back the next night and be able to get one makes you get over it a lot easier," he said.

SPRING FORWARD: Lightning players not only lost an hour of sleep Sunday because of daylight saving, they also held their morning skate 45 minutes earlier than normal because of the 6 p.m. start against Buffalo.

"It's not great scheduling," Tortorella said. "I'm not sure if the schedule makers knew that this was going to be the day of daylight saving as far as moving it up and then a 6 o'clock game. Buffalo was sitting here waiting for us."

ODDS AND ENDS: Center Brian Holzinger (bruised foot) and defenseman Kristian Kudroc were scratched for Tampa Bay. Center Chris Taylor, left wing Eric Boulton, left wing Vladimir Tsyplakov, right wing Rob Ray and defenseman Richard Smehlik were scratches for Buffalo. ... The Lightning presented the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute with a check for $72,000 before the game. The money was raised by The Lightning Foundation through various fundraisers this season.

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