Wed May 7 12:44:15 2008

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Lightning C Halpern injures knee at World Championship

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Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - Tampa Bay Lightning center Jeff Halpern injured his right knee in Team USA's loss to Canada on Tuesday at the World Championship, and will likely require surgery, the Lightning announced Wednesday.

Halpern, the American team captain, was hurt in the third period of the 5-4 loss. He is done for the remainder of the World Championship, and may miss some time at the beginning of the 2008-09 season.

The 32-year-old is expected to travel to Washington, DC to meet with Dr. Benjamin Shaffer, the team physician for the Washington Capitals, for an MRI and evaluation. Dr. Shaffer performed surgery on Halpern's left knee in 2002 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Halpern scored 20 goals and tallied 22 assists in 83 games for the Stars and Lightning last season. Dallas dealt the veteran center to Tampa in February in the deal that sent Brad Richards to the Stars. Halpern has scored 115 goals and added 166 assists over eight seasons with the Lightning, Stars, and Capitals.