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Monday, November 29, 1999
'I just knew something was wrong'
Sore knee sidelines Tugnutt
Ron Tugnutt would rather take himself out of a game than put his team at risk.
Tugnutt left yesterday's Corel Centre matinee against the Philadelphia Flyers six minutes into the second period after feeling discomfort in his left knee -- the same knee that kept him from playing during the pre-season.
"I'm not sure it's the same injury," said Tugnutt. "We'll know more after it gets evaluated."
Tugnutt said he hurt the knee during a game against the New Jersey Devils nine days ago, but thought exercise would make it better.
"Usually it gets better with exercise," he said. "This time it seemed to get worse the more exercise I did."
The 32-year-old doesn't believe the injury to be anything too serious, but wants to make sure it's taken care of.
'NO SWELLING'
"The good news is there's no swelling," Tugnutt said. "It felt hot, like a pulsing, which means it might be bleeding inside. It might still be the ligament."
Tugnutt says he felt some pain on the Flyers' first goal and he seemed to hesitate on Philadelphia's third goal.
"It just didn't feel right," Tugnutt said. "I hesitated when I should have exploded."
Tugnutt said he told Kevin Wagner, the team's head therapist, that he felt pain in the knee as he skated hard to the bench to give the Senators the man advantage on a delayed penalty.
He told Wagner he'd go back out and see if it would get any better, but when it didn't he left the game after Marian Hossa scored the Senators' second goal.
"I just knew something was wrong."
Tugnutt will be re-examined today.
The injury will force the Senators to look to the minors for a back-up to Patrick Lalime, who finished yesterday's 3-3 tie.
Mike Fountain and Jani Hurme, who both play with Grand Rapids of the IHL, are the choices, but Fountain might get the nod as he has some NHL experience.
Both have played well, with Hurme boasting an 8-4-0 record with a 2.24 goals-against-average, while Fountain has a 7-3-1 record with a 2.89 GAA.
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