Sports: Weekestaking it easy

Weekestaking it easy

By KEVIN KELLY

PHILADELPHIA -- The knee injury that prevented Lightning goalie Kevin Weekes from facing Philadelphia will not keep him out long.

Head trainer Dave Boyer said Wednesday that Weekes' right knee will be re-evaluated today and he should be ready for Friday's game against Colorado.

"You've got to be cautious with anything in the knees," Boyer said.

Weekes (7-9-1, 3.59 goals-against average) experienced pain and swelling after the SuperSkills competition Monday at the Ice Palace and left practice early Tuesday.

"He said he kind of kicked out during the skills competition (and the knee) just kind of caught on him a little bit," Boyer said. "He's a guy who's pretty aware of his body. I didn't even see him after the skills competition so it wasn't a big deal for him. Even before he went out and practiced Tuesday, it wasn't a big deal. Obviously, being functional out there it kind of hindered him. You would hate to lose that guy for a month."

Coach Steve Ludzik said he had planned for Dan Cloutier to start his second straight game.

"This would've been Cloutier's game anyway," he said. "It (didn't) really put a wrinkle in our plans."

Weekes' injury forced the team to recall goalie Dieter Kochan from the IHL's Detroit Vipers under emergency conditions.

FAMILIAR FACES: Mike and Peg Primeau probably watched Wednesday's game a little more closely than usual.

Their sons, Lightning right wing Wayne Primeau and Flyers center Keith Primeau, played the first of four games against each other this season. The brothers first played one another during the 1996-1997 season when Wayne was a rookie with Buffalo and Keith played for Hartford.

"When you're playing you don't really think about it too, too much," said Wayne, 41/2 years younger. "We both have our jobs out there and we've just got to go out there and play it like it's any other game."

SVOBODA RETURNS: After missing five games with a pinched nerve in his neck, defenseman Petr Svoboda returned against his former team.

Svoboda played five seasons for the Flyers and was traded to the Lightning in December 1998. To make room on the active roster, defenseman Kristian Kudroc was reassigned to Detroit.

ODDS AND ENDS: Stan Drulia was scratched for the second straight game with a sore back. The right wing, listed as day to day, had an MRI on Monday that showed nothing significant, Boyer said. ... Andrei Zyuzin (post concussion syndrome) could practice Friday. ... Defenseman Kaspars Astashenko made his NHL debut.