TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier will have surgery on his right wrist and miss the last five games of the season.
The arthroscopic procedure will be done in Philadelphia on Friday. The team said Thursday the operation originally was scheduled for last summer but was delayed because Lecavalier needed shoulder surgery.
He also had surgery on his left wrist two years ago.
Lecavalier is a four-time all-star centre who has played in all 77 games this season. He leads his last-place team with 29 goals and is second with 67 points.
“We feel that it is in both his and the team’s best interest to have the wrist operated on now,” general manager Brian Lawton said. “Vinny has been battling this injury all season and I really can’t say enough about his ability to play through the pain and discomfort.”
Lecavalier signed an 11-year, US$85-million contract extension last July. He led Tampa Bay to its only Stanley Cup title five years ago.