*Lightning G Daren Puppa wins in rehab assignment*

-------------------------------------------------- 



Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Daren Puppa, whose ailing back
has kept him out of all but two games this season, stopped 19
shots tonight in a rehabilitation assignment with Adirondack of
the American Hockey League.



"He wasn't tested a lot.  He said he felt comfortable in nets,"
said Tony Esposito, Tampa Bay's director of hockey development
who watched today's game at Greensboro, North Carolina.  "He
moved well, he was fluid.  I didn't see any difference in him
from last year." 



Puppa, who turns 32 on March 23rd, will return to Tampa Bay to
meet with team officials.  He is expected to joing the Lightning
on their three-game Western road swing. 



Puppa played in Tampa Bay's season opener, but aggravated a back
injury and underwent surgery November 11th to remove a herniated
disc.  He returned to the lineup February 14th against
Washington, but lasted only 34 minutes after giving up four
goals on 18 shots. 



The Lightning rode Puppa's stellar goaltending to their
first-ever playoff berth last season.  In his absence, rookie
Corey Schwab handled most of the work before Tampa Bay acquired
veteran Rick Tabaracci from Calgary in November. 



Tabaracci is 19-24-5 with a 2.76 goals-against average, while
Schwab is 9-12-1 with a 3.12 GAA.  The Lightning have lost three
straight and five of their last six games and trail Hartford and
Montreal by three points for the final Eastern Conference
playoff berth. 



Puppa was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy last season after
going 29-16-9 with a 2.46 GAA in 57 games.  He also had back
trouble in last season's playoffs, missing Games Three and Four
of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against Philadelphia.
The Flyers won the series, 4-2.