Tampa Times
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Tampa, FL. - The Lightnings wiining streak has reached 7 games and currently are the hottest team in the league. Two games ago, when All Star forward Scott Walker was given a 5 game suspenison for his actions against Kyle McLaren of the Florida Panthers, the Lightning were expected to struggle without him in the lineup. Despite missing Walker in the lineup the Lightning continued there winning ways winning the next 2 games.
Now the Lightning face another test with Daniel Sedin suffering an injury in a 7-4 win over the Nashville Predators. He is expected to miss a week after suffering a vicious hit from Scott Hartnell of the Predators. Hartnell was issued a charging minor and a game misconduct on the play but no suspension.
With Scott Walker and Daniel Sedin now out of the lineup for at leat the next 2 games, the Lightnings depth will indeed be tested. Ryan Craig is a player that has benefited from the recent injuries. Since his callup he has registered 2 assists in 2 games and now with the injury to Daniel Sedin he will be counted on even more.
Coach Tortorella used a variety of lines in practice with all the injuries including dropping the Lightning's leading scorer Patrick Elias to the second line.
Talking to the press after practice Coach Tortorella described his thought process "With these 2 key injuries it is vital for us to find some chemistry right away and with Craig playing the way he has we feel dropping Elias to the 2nd line will only create two lines to defend against instead of just one."
Tortorella released his lines for tomorrow nights game against the Atlanta Thrahers.
Craig - Savard - Murray
Elias - H. Sedin - Pyatt
Schaefer - Lombardi - Donovan
Rutuu - Halpern - McCarty