There are reports coming in that goaltender Mike Smith was injured following inadvertant contact with forward Simon Gagne during this morning’s skate at the St. Pete Times Forum in preparation for tonight’s game agaqinst the Carolina Hurricanes.
Ironically, earlier the team announced they had recalled goalie Cedric Desjardins from their minor league affiliate in Norfolk.
From an official team press release:
LIGHTNING RECALL G CEDRICK DESJARDINS FROM NORFOLK
TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled goaltender Cedrick Desjardins (SHE-DRIHK deh-ZHAHR-dai) from the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League today, Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman announced. Desjardins joins the Lightning with Norfolk on a break until December 26.
“With Norfolk having a week off we thought it was a good opportunity to have Cedrick join us for a few days to work with Frantz Jean and practice with our team,” Yzerman said. “Whether he sees any playing time will be Guy Boucher’s decision.”
Desjardins, 6-foot, 192 pounds, has played in 18 games with the Admirals this season, posting an 12-5-1 record with a 2.63 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage. He is 8-1-0 in his previous nine decisions with a .909 save percentage. Desjardins is tied for fourth in the AHL for wins.
Last season he led the AHL in goals-against average, ranked second in shutouts, fourth in wins and was tied for sixth in save percentage. His success earned him an appearance in the 2010 AHL All-Star Classic, in which he was named top goaltender during the skills competition, as well as landed him on the 2010 AHL Second All-Star Team following the season.
A native of Edmunston, New Brunswick, Desjardins played in 128 QMJHL games with the Rimouski Oceanic and Quebec Remparts during his junior career, posting a 67-47-4 record. In 2006, he helped backstop Quebec to the CHL’s Memorial Cup by posting a 3-1 record with a .926 save percentage en route to being named top goaltender and to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team. Desjardins also aided the Oceanic, along with Sidney Crosby, to the 2005 Memorial Cup where they fell to the London Knights.
Desjardins went undrafted and was signed as a free agent by Montreal on March 7, 2008.