Lightning pregame notes vs. Ottawa

Posted Sep 21, 2009 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Sep 21, 2009 at 02:30 PM

Regina, Saskatchewan - Free agent signee D Matt Walker will make his preseason debut tonight for Tampa Bay as the Lightning faceoff against Ottawa.

Walker sat out the first two games of the preseason as a precautionary measure with a minor lower body ailment. After skating over the weekend, Walker said he is ready to get into a game.

“I’m excited, I haven’t played a game in a while,” Walker said Monday. “I just want to keep things fairly simple and I’m excited to play with my new teammates.”

Walker said he is still undergoing therapy on his left middle finger after he broke it during the playoffs with Chicago last season. While he still can’t bend it all the way down, Walker said he is able to grip his stick fully and can do everything he needs to on the ice, although he hasn’t tested the finger in a fight.

“I guess that’s the last test really, he said. “But I’ve been grabbing jerseys and stuff just goofing around in practice with no problems. And I still fought with it during the playoffs, so I don’t think it will be a problem.”

WRIGHT STUFF: C James Wright will see his first action in a Lightning jersey. The 19-year-old former fourth-round pick in 2008 has enjoyed a strong first training camp with the team and gets the reward of playing his first preseason game close to his hometown of Saskatoon.

“I’ve got two of my aunts, two cousins and my parents coming down to see me” Wright said. “I know it’s going to be special for me and I hope it will be special for them as well.”

Wright had 21 goals and 47 points with Vancouver of the WHL last season.

TUKONEN GONE: The Team officially reassigned LW Lauri Tukonen to Lukka Ruoma of the Finnish Elite League on Monday after he cleared waivers.

Tukonen was acquired from Dallas in exchange for D Andrew Hutchinson. After not seeing in any action in either of the team’s first two preseason games while still suffering from the effects of a knee injury suffered last season, Tukonen opted to return to his native country to play.

In addition to undergoing knee surgery last year, Lightning general manager Brian Lawton said Tukonen, a former first-round pick by Los Angeles, had the knee scoped in August.

Tukonen had a European-out clause in his contract.

ROTATION: Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said the plan for Monday’s game was to rotate goaltenders Antero Niittymaki and Riku Helenius against Ottawa.

But starting Tuesday in Everett, Washington, against Phoenix Tocchet said the plan was to give the goalies a full 60-minutes of action in the remaining four exhibition games, not including Friday’s scrimmage game in Norfolk.