GLENDALE, Ariz. -- It doesn't matter Miikka Kiprusoff dropped the gloves with Tomas Vokoun and fought him a few seasons ago.
Goaltenders are a fraternity.
So watching the way Vokoun was hurt -- Florida Panthers teammate Keith Ballard swung his own stick in baseball-bat-like fashion to hit the post but nailed the goalie in the head -- was tough to see.
"It's scary. He's OK, now, right?" Kiprusoff said. "(Ballard) must feel bad."
Ballard's outburst appeared worse that it was, since Vokoun was taken off the ice via stretcher but just had a nasty cut on the ear. Still, it's caught attention around the league.
Ballard spent three seasons with the Phoenix Coyotes, and his former teammates are quick to defend him.
"There isn't anybody who cares about his teammates or does more for his teammates than Bally," said Coyotes captain Shane Doan.
LUNDMARK SENT DOWN
Jamie Lundmark was sent to the AHL's Abbotsford Heat in anticipation of Rene Bourque's return to the lineup tonight.
In six games, Lundmark collected a goal -- the game-winner in a 3-0 victory over Detroit -- and two assists.
He also scored the shootout winner in Columbus to give the team its second victory of the road trip.
His demotion is strictly a matter of numbers, said head coach Brent Sutter.
"Jamie played well. He did a really good job. He scored a big goal for us in the shootout and played well for the most part with Jarome (Iginla) and Olli (Jokinen)," Sutter said.
"It's nice to see you can have someone come into your lineup and give us production like he did. Not just production on the scoresheet, but he was really focused and wanted to be a good defensive player, too. That's a good thing."
NO BEAUTY FOR DOAN
Coyotes captain Shane Doan scored his 265th career goal with the overtime winner against Anaheim a few days ago. It moved him into third spot on the Coyotes/Winnipeg Jets all-time list.
However, it wasn't pretty.
Jim Vandermeer's point shot went off Doan's waist and into the net.
"I think it was Jimmy, being the type of person he is, recognizing I can't put one in on my own, so he had to bounce one off me," said Doan, who has just seven goals this season.
RANDY.SPORTAK@SUNMEDIA.CA
