head coach: Terry Crisp

roster: C - Jeff Toms, Paul Ysebaert, Daymond Langkow, Brian Bradley. RW - Mikael Renberg, Mick Vukota, Dino Ciccarelli, Alexander Selivanov, Mikael Anderson. LW - Rob Zamuner, Troy Mallette, Jason Wiemer, Patrick Poulin, Vladimir Vujtek. D - Cory Cross. Jeff Norton, Jamie Huscroft, Karl Dykhuis, David Shaw, Yves Racine, Roman Hamrlik, Igor Ulanov. G - Daren Puppa, Corey Schwab.

injuries: None.

transactions: Signed Troy Mallette, lw, as free agent; assigned Louie Debrusk, lw, to Millwaukee (IHL); Claimed Mick Vukota, rw, on waivers from Islanders; assigned Brent Peterson, rw, to Millwaukee (IHL).

standings:

GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA   HOME      ROAD
 3   1   1   1     3    8    7  1-1-1     0-0-0

game results:

10/01  Carolina    W 4-2
10/03  New Jersey  L 4-3

team news:

by Seth Lerman, Tampa Bay Correspondent

Usually a 4-2 victory on opening night in front of a capacity crowd would be the top sports story of the day. Not so for the Tampa Bay Lightning whose victory over the Carolina Hurricanes was overshadowed by the appearance of forward John Cullen, who is about to undergo the next phase of his battle against Cancer.

Cullen, who was originally hoping to play this season, was there to drop the ceremonial opening puck and was greeted to a standing ovation from the 17,808 fans in attendance.

"One day, I hope to get back on the ice. I am not going to let go of that goal," said Cullen after the game.

Cullen was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma back in March after complaining of chest pains following a game. He then underwent six weeks of chemotherapy within a five-month period to remove the baseball size tumor. Unfortunately, the procedure did not work completely and Cullen now finds himself in a fight for his life.

"The bottom-line is that I went through six chemotherapy treatments and, I guess what I'm trying to say is, it did a pretty good job, but it didn't do the whole thing - not like they thought it would."

The next plan of action calls for bone marrow to be harvested from Cullen's body and frozen. He will head to Boston where he will undergo three-to-five days of intense chemotherapy. In November, he will be a patient at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute undergoing a bone marrow transplant.

The transplant serves as a preventive measure against the return of the disease which attacks the lymph nodes and is capable of spreading throughout the body. If the procedure goes as planned, Cullen's white blood cell count will return to normal.

"We don't want to take any chances," said Dr. Lee Nadler, of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, "because if the disease comes back after the radiation it's tough."

Cullen's chance for survival is 50-75 per cent. When the Cancer was originally diagnosed, it was listed at 92 per cent. "You try not to think about it too much," said Cullen.

As expected, the support that Cullen and his family have received from fans has been tremendous. Thousand of letters and cards have arrived from around the world.

"It has been amazing, because my wife and I do need help. We need the support. We try to support each other, but you also need support from your family."

Cullen, whose father Barry and Uncle's Ron and Brian also spent time in the NHL, is in his third season with the Lightning. At the time of the diagnosis last Mmarch, he had 18 goals and 37 assists.

Originally drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1986 supplemental draft, Cullen signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins and scored more than 90 points in two-of-three seasons in the steel city. He was traded to the Hartford Whalers as part of a package for Ron Francis and Ulf Samuelsson. He has also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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