Ryan Malone done for the season

Posted Apr 7, 2009 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Apr 7, 2009 at 08:16 PM

TAMPA - The Lightning will be without the services of left wing Ryan Malone for the remaining two games of the season after he suffered a broken right hand during the second period of Tuesday’s game against Pittsburgh. It is unclear when Malone suffered the injury, but he left after playing 4:03 in the second period and did not return.

Malone finishes his first season with the Lightning third on the team with 26 goals - one short of his career high - and tied for third with 45 points. he has been a mainstay on the power play, standing in front of the net and has been a top penalty killer. He joins a list of injured starts including center Vinny Lecavalier (wrist), goaltender Mike Smith (concussion) and defensemen Paul Ranger (shoulder) and Andrej Meszaros (shoulder). The Lightning acquired the rights to Malone from Pittsburgh before he became an unrestricted free agent this summer and signed him to seven-year contract worth $31.5 million prior to hitting the open market.