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Keefe in stitches two times

By KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 3, 2000

TAMPA -- Sheldon Keefe strode into the Ice Palace Saturday looking equal parts businessman and hockey player.

Dark suit. White shirt. Tie. Shined shoes. Hair combed and gelled to perfection. Two-inch gash across his forehead held together by more than 20 stitches.

Tampa Bay's rookie lasted about 15 minutes against Detroit before needing five more stitches, this time on his chin, thanks to a high stick by Red Wings left wing Kirk Maltby in the first period.

"I love this guy," coach Steve Ludzik said. "You couldn't have more than four or five of them. ... because there would be no one left to play on the other team."

Keefe caught the opposition's attention early and the distraction helped Tampa Bay.

The right wing leveled Boyd Devereaux against the boards five minutes in, and just after a series of big hits by Detroit. Keefe was called for charging, but the hit ignited Lightning fans and players.

"That's what I try to do," he said.

More than 10 minutes later, Maltby drew two high-sticking penalties for his hit on Keefe. As trainers tended to the cut, Todd Warriner scored on the power play for a 3-0 lead.

Y RETURN: Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman, who had arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee Oct. 16, played for the first time in 23 games and third time this season.

The 35-year-old center was injured in an exhibition Sept. 28.

"My knee felt fine," said Yzerman, who played 17 shifts. "I just felt slow and the timing and all that just isn't there."

O'REE ALL-STARS: Derrick Garrish, a Tampa 10-year-old who plays in a Pee Wee league in Bradenton, was one of 24 children nationwide selected to play in the sixth Willie O'Ree All-Star weekend Feb. 16-17 at the Ice Palace.

O'Ree, the first minority player in the NHL, played in 45 games with the Bruins from 1958-1961 and scored four goals. He made his NHL debut Jan. 18, 1958.

"I'm having more fun. ... giving these boys and girls in the inner city the opportunity to play a sport that they never had the opportunity to play before," said O'Ree, youth development director for the NHL Diversity Task Force.

ROSTER REPORT: Right wing Alexander Kharitonov was activated from injured reserve. ... Defenseman Sergey Gusev was assigned to the IHL's Detroit Vipers and defenseman Kaspars Astashenko was recalled. ... Andrei Zyuzin (post-concussion syndrome) was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Wednesday. ... Center Ryan Johnson (virus), right wing Stan Drulia (sore back) and Astashenko were scratches. ... Defenseman Paul Mara (abdominal strain reaggravated in the third period) and right wing Mike Johnson (bruised ribs) are day to day.

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