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Lightning goalie Kristers Gudlevskis hurt in prospect tournament

 
Kristers Gudlevskis is aiming to be Tampa Bay’s No. 2 goalie.
Kristers Gudlevskis is aiming to be Tampa Bay’s No. 2 goalie.
Published Sept. 16, 2015

When last season ended, Lightning goalie coach Frantz Jean would have never thought that the crease would be a major area of concern heading into training camp, which opens Thursday.

"But, always in the sports we're in, one injury and everything changes," he said.

How about two?

With backup goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy out 2-3 months after early September surgery to remove a blood clot, Kristers Gudlevskis was the leading in-house candidate to temporarily replace him.

Then, on Tuesday, Gudlevskis suffered an upper body injury in the first period of the Lightning's 4-1 victory over the Panthers in the prospect tournament in Estero.

It raises the question: How unlucky can one team be?

Gudlevskis appeared to hurt his right arm getting bumped during a scramble in the crease. He skated off under his own power but never returned. While the injury is not initially believed to be serious, Gudlevskis will be re-evaluated today.

"He's a little bit sore but he seems to be okay," Lightning prospects coach Rob Zettler told reporters in Estero. "You first see him go down and it's 'Oh boy' but after talking to him, he doesn't feel like it's anything crazy but we'll wait to see what the doc says."

With Gudlevskis out, veteran Ray Emery, 32, on a training camp tryout invite, could step to the forefront as the most experienced remaining option. Only two other goalies on NHL contracts are in camp, starter Ben Bishop and Adam Wilcox, the former University of Minnesota star entering his first pro season. Allen York and 20-year-old Philippe Cadorette from the QMJHL are also in camp.

Emery, fittingly, joined the Lightning informal skates Tuesday morning.

It had been a summer of uncertainty for Emery, who was without a job a few weeks before camp, noting he had an overseas option. But he jumped at the chance when Tampa Bay called after Vasilevskiy's procedure Sept. 3.

"Anytime you get a chance to play in the best league in the world, it's exciting," Emery said. "All I can control is doing as well as I can in training camp, and hopefully get good results."

Emery has played in 287 games for four teams, serving as the backup the past two seasons for the Flyers. He has been on a Stanley Cup final team three times, with the Senators in 2007, the Flyers in 2010 and backing up Corey Crawford in Chicago on the Blackhawks' 2013 championship team.

Emery, who suffered a career-threatening right hip injury (avascular necrosis) in 2010, said he feels great, and health was not a factor in a disappointing season in Philadelphia last year. Emery went 10-11 with a 3.06 goals-against average and .894 save percentage in 31 games.

"It was a frustrating year on that team," Emery said. "My season definitely reflected that as well. When you don't make the playoffs, that's normally how your season is. You've got some good parts, but they don't outweigh the bad parts.

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"I feel good. Last year, I was disappointed in it, but I don't think it was a result of me being done or anything. I just think it was a tough year for the team."

Gudlevskis had embraced his opportunity, showing up in great shape and performing well early in the tournament. Gudlevskis, who gained national acclaim for his spectacular 55-save effort for Latvia against Canada in the 2014 Olympics, has been inconsistent the past two seasons at AHL Syracuse, going 25-14-4 with a 2.81 GAA last season.

"Hopefully (the injury) isn't serious and he's back in a couple days," GM Steve Yzerman said. "We'll see."

Prospect camp: The Lightning wrapped up the prospect tournament with a 4-1 win over the Panthers, finishing the four-team draw 2-1. Wilcox stopped 30 of 31 shots in relief of Gudlevskis. Matthew Peca, Adam Erne, Jake Dotchin and Joel Vermin scored for Tampa Bay.

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_JSmith.