Guess it as too much to ask of Craig MacDonald after taking a puck in the mouth, losing nine teeth and getting his tongue and lower lip stitched back together to expect him to play. But it wasn't official until today that he would sit out tonight's game against the Hurricanes.

He actually sounds better than you would think. His speech is a little slurred considering the swelling and stitching and lack of teeth. But he was fairly upbeat while talking in the hallway outside the Lightning locker room after the morning skate.

"No Christmas pictures,'' he joked.

MacDonald said getting hit like that was the worst thing he ever has gone through, worse, even, than when someone skated over his hand. He said he remembers the entire thing and knew there was a real problem after he felt around in his mouth and didn't feel anything, as in no teeth. He also said four nerves in his upper gum were exposed.

He said he can still eat as long as the food is chopped up small because he can still chew with his back teeth. But with his tongue a mess, he said transferring the food from the front of his mouth to the back is a bit of a chore.

So, MacDonald sits. But Chris Gratton, who has missed only three games seems as if he'll play. Karri Ramo, too, as if you didn't know.