Advertisement

Injured Carle out indefinitely for Lightning

 
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Matt Carle (25) battles to control the puck as he goes down to the ice against Montreal Canadiens center Tomas Plekanec (14) during first period action in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa Wednesday evening (04/16/14).
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Matt Carle (25) battles to control the puck as he goes down to the ice against Montreal Canadiens center Tomas Plekanec (14) during first period action in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa Wednesday evening (04/16/14).
Published Jan. 18, 2015

TAMPA — D Matt Carle will likely be out through at least the All-Star break due to an undisclosed injury, coach Jon Cooper said Saturday.

Carle, 30, suffered the injury during Thursday's 3-2 win over Edmonton at Amalie Arena and is being evaluated.

Known for durability throughout his career, Carle on Saturday against the Avalanche missed his first game since March 27, 2010, snapping a streak of 347 consecutive regular-season games played. Cooper didn't know how long Carle would be out.

The good news for Tampa Bay is that D Victor Hedman, who missed two games with a lower-body injury, returned to the lineup.

Though Hedman was on the ice for both Avalanche goals and was minus-1 in the 3-2 shootout win, Cooper liked how he played 22:06 of ice time. "He's a horse back there for us," Cooper said. "I thought he had a really strong game, to be honest."

STEPPING IN: With Carle hurt, D Luke Witkowski got called up from AHL Syracuse. Witkowski brings a needed right-handed shot, a big body (6 feet 2, 200 pounds) and grit. Though Witkowski did not play Saturday, Cooper hopes to get him in for his NHL debut before the All-Star break, which begins Wednesday.

"The kid's passion for the game, his personality," Cooper said of Witkowski. "He's got that fire in the belly. You love kids like that."

Witkowski, 24, said his callup in October, when he didn't get into a game, was used as fuel for motivation to get back. Witkowski said he's playing a more simple game and his strong training camp — he was one of the final cuts — gave him confidence he can play at this level.

CLOSE CALL: Avalanche veteran RW Jarome Iginla, 37, said it was a tough decision to pick Colorado over the Lightning in free agency in July. Iginla signed a three-year, $16 million deal with the Avalanche.

"It was close," Iginla said. "I knew (the Lightning) were a very good young team and only getting better. They've proved it in how they've played the first half."

Making the decision tougher was Iginla's relationship with Lightning GM Steve Yzerman. The two played together for Canada in the 2002 Olympics, and Yzerman managed the 2010 team that included Iginla. Avalanche executive Joe Sakic also was on the 2002 team.

Iginla, an Edmonton native, said location played a role in his choice, having spent most of his career in Calgary, plus his three kids play hockey.

"A big part of it is it's closer to home and what we know," Iginla said. "Our kids like hockey, the winter sports, and I think that being able to have those for them definitely played a role."

ICE CHIPS: G Ben Bishop started Saturday, and Cooper indicated he'll also play Tuesday against the Canucks. … RW J.T. Brown also was scratched. … D Nikita Nesterov missed most of the first period after taking a deflected shot off the lip and nearly scoring. "The puck went off his face and bounced and hit the post," Cooper said. "I thought he kind of deserved that (goal)."… LW Jonathan Drouin and Avalanche RW Nathan MacKinnon, best friends and former junior linemates, had dinner Friday before playing against each other for the first time in the NHL. Drouin paid. "He'll get me back in Denver," said Drouin, who had two shots in 12:17.