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Bolts captain Lecavalier (lower body) out indefinitely, headed to IR

Tampa Bay Lightning v Colorado Avalanche

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 23: Vincent Lecavalier #4 of the Tampa Bay Lightning looks on during a break in the action against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on December 23, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Lightning 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

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The Tampa Bay Lightning received some tough news on Thursday as it was learned captain Vincent Lecavalier would be out indefinitely with a lower-body injury.

Lecavalier, 32, suffered the injury during Tuesday’s 3-2 win over Florida.

Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune reports Lecavalier was knocked down late in the contest and went to the bench in discomfort -- of note, he only had three shifts in the final nine minutes with Tampa nursing a one-goal lead.

Erlendsson also notes the club expects the captain to go on injured reserve.

While his team has struggled this season, Lecavalier has enjoyed a good year in terms of production.

He’s notched 7G-15A-22PTS in 26 games while averaging close to 19 minutes a night and, in January, played his 1,000th NHL game, becoming just the fifth first overall pick to play 1,000 games with the team that originally drafted him.

UPDATE: According to Damian Cristodero of the St. Petersburg Times, Bolts head coach Guy Boucher said Lecavalier will be out longer than the minimum seven-day IR stint.

UPDATE 2: The Lightning have called up Tyler Johnson from AHL Syracuse.