Stamkos, Malone out on a day-to-day basis, not ruled out for Friday

Posted Dec 10, 2009 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Dec 10, 2009 at 02:58 PM

BRANDON – The Lightning received some positive news before the team boarded an airplane to embark on a 6-game, 12-day road trip when it was learned the injuries to top scorers Steven Stamkos and Ryan Malone are not as bad as feared when each left Wednesday’s loss against Edmonton.

Stamkos and Malone have combined to score 33 goals this season, nearly half the team’s total offense, and are the second-highest scoring duo in the league behind San Jose’s Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley.

While neither Lightning stars practice on Thursday, neither is expected to miss any significant length of time and are being listed by the team as being out day-to-day, Malone with an unspecified lower body injury and Stamkos and upper-body injury. Of the two, Malone might be more likely to play tomorrow in Denver against the Avalanche.

“With Ryan it was better news day as he is day-to-day, which is good,’’ Lighting coach Rick Tocchet said. “They are both day-to-day and whether that means one day, or three or four days, to that extent I don’t know, but a little more positive news today on that front.’’

Malone left Wednesday’s game in the first period and did not return. He underwent an MRI on Thursday morning and the early indication is that there is nothing to keep him out long term.

Stamkos, meanwhile, was injured during the first period as well and was not on the bench to start the second period. He tried to return, taking his first shift midway through the second period, but played just two shifts before heading back to the locker room for the rest of the game. Stamkos underwent an X-ray that came back negative.

Neither player practiced on Thursday and both were unavailable to discuss their situation.

“There’s a possibility that Ryan could play on (Friday), which is good news for us because last night we were not quite sure, but today a lot better,’’ Tocchet said. Stamkos “:maybe not quite as much. Anytime your big guys go out of a game you are concerned all of the time, those are two big goal scorers out of your lineup and 50 minutes of ice time.’’

With uncertainty about the availability of both players, and the team heading to the Midwest for five games, the Lightning are expected to call-up C Blair Jones from Norfolk of the American Hockey League.