Severyn Is in Swing of Things Again

Enforcer Brent Severyn returned to the Duck lineup Saturday after a 32-game absence because of a herniated disk in his back. But it took a couple of shifts before he really went to work.

Tampa Bay tough guy Mick Vukota lined up next to Severyn before a faceoff and asked two important questions. First, he wondered if Severyn’s back was OK. When Severyn said it was, Vukota asked, “You wanna go?”

After 32 games, Severyn was eager to practice his craft at long last. Down went the sticks, off went the gloves and up came the fists. Vukota earned a close decision, landing several quick blows before Severyn rallied.

It wasn’t Severyn’s only scrap of the night. He found himself facing off against three Tampa Bay players after his check sent Yves Racine falling to the ice with a injury to his right leg.

Racine was taken to a nearby hospital for further evaluation.

“It was a clean hit as far as I’m concerned,” Severyn said. “I was just pushing him out of the way and for some reason he dug his pick [on the front of his skate] into the ice.”

Severyn and Tampa Bay’s Dino Ciccarelli each received roughing penalties after a scrum threatened to develop into something more violent.

“I’m a little sore after getting punched in the head about 40 times by three different guys,” Severyn said. “[But] it was a fun game to watch. Very entertaining. I know I had fun out there.”

Tampa Bay center Daymond Langkow suffered a concussion when he ran head-first into Tomas Sandstrom’s elbow late in the second period. Sandstrom was penalized for elbowing, although it appeared to be accidental.

“He has a severe concussion,” Lightning Coach Jacques Demers said. “He didn’t even know where he was.”

TODAY

at Florida

* 3 PST

* Fox Sports West 2

Site--Miami Arena.

Radio--KRLA 1110, KCKC 1350, KPLS 830.

Records--Ducks 14-21-7, Panthers 15-20-7.

Record vs. Panthers (1996-97)--2-0.

Update--Today’s game is the last on the Ducks’ six-game, nine-day trip. Ray Whitney leads the Panthers with 16 goals and 33 points. John Vanbiesbrouck, expected to be Team USA’s starting goaltender at the Olympics, is 13-13-4 with a 2.78 goals-against average and only one shutout. The Ducks are undefeated in three consecutive against the Panthers (2-0-1).