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Lightning's Gudas out for rest of regular season

 
Lightning defenseman Radko Gudas had arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday after being injured Dec. 29.
Lightning defenseman Radko Gudas had arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday after being injured Dec. 29.
Published Jan. 7, 2015

MONTREAL — The Lightning will be without D Radko Gudas for the rest of the regular season.

The team announced Tuesday that Gudas will be out about four months after Tuesday's arthroscopic knee surgery. General manager Steve Yzerman said the good news is that some damaged cartilage was repaired, the bad part is that it takes some time.

Coach Jon Cooper said Gudas' absence leaves a "big hole," considering the gritty 6-foot, 200-pounder is the team's most physical defenseman, Gudas hasn't played since hitting the boards awkwardly in a game Dec. 29.

"It's a little tough to digest right now, just because clearly it's more serious than we thought," Cooper said. "I've had him for a long time, so I know what he means to us. So it's tough. You feel for him because he's really finding his (way) in the league."

With Gudas out, Yzerman said the short-term plan is to see how the young defensemen play, with Andrej Sustr, Mark Barberio and rookie Nikita Nesterov getting more of an opportunity. Yzerman said they could call up a right-shooting defenseman from AHL Syracuse, but points out Barberio, Nesterov, Matt Carle and Jason Garrison can play the right side.

But depth is thin after Tampa Bay traded veteran D Eric Brewer in late November. After that deal, Yzerman said they might look into adding another defenseman or "maybe something bigger." But Tuesday, Yzerman said while trading for a defenseman is worth exploring, "that type of opportunity isn't out there at this time."

"Top-four (defensemen) are extremely hard to find," Yzerman said. "Teams aren't giving them away, aren't trading them, either."

Still, that should make Tampa Bay interesting to watch before the trade deadline.

Still here: Gudas' injury means a longer stay for Nesterov, 21, who has played two games since getting called up last week.

"I'm sure he was maybe thinking this might be the end of the road for him, after this trip," Cooper said. "But clearly not now."

A new look: The Lightning might have found its answer to an often stagnant power play.

Cooper put out a new combination in the second period, having the "triplets" line of C Tyler Johnson, LW Ondrej Palat and RW Nikita Kucherov joining captain Steven Stamkos and D Anton Stralman. Stamkos set up in the slot.

What resulted was two power-play goals, both by Johnson, and tons of other good looks.

"We haven't practiced (together), just got in there and switched it up," Stamkos said. "Hope we get some practice together, get even better. There's a lot of skill on there, lot of smart guys."

Ice chips: G Ben Bishop started. RW J.T. Brown returned for the first time since Dec. 27, taking the spot of LW Brenden Morrow on the fourth line. Nesterov was also scratched. … Nesterov and C Vladislav Namestnikov were named AHL All-Stars. … LW Jonathan Drouin, who grew up about 60 miles outside of Montreal, played his first game at the Bell Centre and picked up an assist on Brown's second-period goal.

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Contact Joe Smith at joesmith@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_JSmith.