TAMPA BAY – Tampa Bay Lightning defensemen Paul Ranger and Andrej Meszaros will both undergo shoulder surgery on March 3, it was announced by Executive Vice President & General Manager Brian Lawton. Ranger and Meszaros will travel to Birmingham, Alabama where renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews will repair labrum tears in their left shoulders. Both players are expected to be fully healed within six months.

“Paul has been playing with his injury for the majority of the season and he missed games on several occasions because of it,” said Lawton in making the announcement. “Andrej suffered his injury after being hit by Evgeni Malkin earlier this month (February 4). For both players, we feel it important to get the shoulders repaired so they can be fully recovered and ready to go at the start of training camp for the 2009-10 season.”

Dr. Andrews performed a successful repair on a similar injury in Ranger’s right shoulder in April, and Ranger has experienced no problems with the shoulder this season, but he was unable to participate in game action until October 16. The surgery date is aimed at having both players 100 percent by August.

Dr. Andrews also repaired a labrum tear in Lightning center Vincent Lecavalier’s right shoulder last spring.