"Tampa Bay played Saturday without LW Simon Gagne, who stayed behind in Montreal to receive further treatment to the neck injury that kept him out for 18 games earlier this season. The situation in not new, but rather a step in ensuring the issues that kept Gagne off the ice for more than a month from October until the end of November do not reoccur. Gagne received the treatment on Friday in Montreal and rejoined the team in Ottawa, but was not made available to speak to the media. As long as Gagne has no side effects from the treatment, he could be ready to return on Tuesday when Tampa Bay hosts the New York Islanders. But he should be available no later than Friday when the Lightning host Carolina in the front half of a home-and-home series. "He had a little injection before Christmas and it lasted him a long time and we knew he would need another one at some point, so now was the time,'' Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. "Well, I guess there really never is a good time, but I guess we have to do it now." A big part of why Gagne is getting the treatment now, and why the team is waiting as long as possible with LW Ryan Malone and RW Steve Downie is to ensure they are completely healthy and ready to go when the playoffs begin in less than a month. Malone, who took part in the full morning skate Saturday including taking full drills and line rushes, has been out since Feb. 8 but is expected back by the first of April. Downie, meanwhile, has been out since suffering a lower body injury on March 3. But he is expected to begin skating early this week and is penciled in to return in one of Tampa Bay's three games this week. So despite having just two victories in the previous nine games entering Saturday - Tampa Bay went 2-4-3 in that span - Boucher said the team is looking at a bigger picture." Read more: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/ma...readiness-keys-prudence-wit/sports-lightning/
