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Ramo Quick To Give Glimpse Of Potential

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 22, 2007

Updated: 12/22/2007 12:14 am

TAMPA - Karri Ramo got to bed at a decent hour Thursday night, woke up Friday morning in plenty of time to get a good breakfast and arrive in plenty of time for practice.

Yup, he's human.

One day after picking up his first career victory in his first career start while stopping 31 of 32 shots, Ramo went right back to work as the Lightning get set to host Carolina tonight in the final game for both teams before a three-day break for Christmas.

During the three days off, the 21-year-old Finn has no intention of feeling the warmth of a Florida Christmas. Instead he's going to take advantage of the break and fly with friends to Elmira, N.Y., for two days.

"I'm going to see some snow for Christmas," Ramo said.

Yup, he's human all right.

And the Lightning coaching staff need not worry. The weather forecast for Elmira should not hinder Ramo's return to Tampa on Christmas Day before the team departs for Washington on Wednesday morning.

Before that, however, Ramo took a few more hours Friday to bask in the brief glory of gaining his first NHL victory - before practice, of course - as he called to his hometown of Asikkala, Finland, and spoke to his parents, who were the talk of the small town with an estimated population of less than 9,000, according to Wikipedia.

"They were really happy for me about my first win," Ramo said of his parents. "And the whole town, they were really surprised to hear of what happened. I'm the first player from my hometown to make it here and I know that's a big deal for a lot of young kids there for them to see that they can make the jump from a small town."

Yup, he's a role model at a young age. Oh, and he's human, too.

Ramo appears to be taking his very early success in stride in the same manner in which he approaches the game by not letting the situation affect him - good or bad.

"Not a whole heck of a lot bothers him and I think that's the proper mind-set at that position," Lightning coach John Tortorella said. "We're going to figure out what he's all about here as we go through here. We've had great reports on him. He played a good game Thursday. I thought the team played well in front of him but now we just have to get ready for Carolina.

"We can't get too excited. There's a lot of things going on with our hockey club that we have to get straightened out so we just have to take it day-by-day."

It's difficult, however, not to look at Ramo and the job he did against the Maple Leafs and envision what could be if he can do that on a consistent basis. For two years fans have been seeking a sense of stability in goal and seemed to let out a loud roar with each of Ramo's 31 saves.

But what happens should he slip up tonight? What will the reaction be if a weak wrist shot from the point eludes Ramo? What if Thursday night was just a case of a one-night act without any kind of a similar encore?

"By no means should anyone look at this guy like he's a savior," Lightning general manager Jay Feaster said. "And having said that, if he doesn't show that he's ready to be here now and to carry the ball in any way, it doesn't mean he stops being a prospect for us. This isn't his one screen test and if he fails it he's out, that's not the case at all."

Given the air of confidence and the positive aura which surrounds Ramo, it's unlikely he has that kind of an extended rough stretch in him. But even if he does - and shows that indeed he is human - it's likely he would just shrug it off and get ready for his next shot.

GRUESOME SIGHT: Center Craig MacDonald amazingly has not been ruled out of tonight's game despite suffering severe damage to the inside of his mouth as the result of taking a puck directly to his mouth late Thursday.

MacDonald was hit by a wrist shot from Toronto defenseman Hal Gill that fractured nine of MacDonald's teeth, only three of which were able to be salvaged. He also required 25-30 stitches to close a cut in his tongue and an additional 50 or so to sew together wounds to the inside of his lip and gums, according to team trainer Tom Mulligan. MacDonald also underwent three root canal surgeries Friday morning.

Mulligan said it is conceivable MacDonald could play tonight, although Chris Gratton, who was expected to miss up to two weeks with a hip injury, returned to practice and appears to be ready to return.

Defenseman Brad Lukowich will also be a gametime decision after missing practice Friday with a shoulder injury.

PROSPECT ARRESTED: According to the Binghamton (N.Y.) Press and & Sun Bulletin, Lightning minor-league defenseman Jay Rosehill was arrested early Friday and charged with third-degree grand larceny for stealing a car, a felony.

Rosehill, a seventh-round pick by the Lightning in 2003 in town with the Norfolk Admirals for an American Hockey League game Friday night, was arrested allegedly hopping into a car that a bar employee had started and left running in order to allow the engine to warm up. Rosehill reportedly drove the car to Xhibition Gentleman's club and fled when deputies spotted him.

Rosehill, in his third year with the Lightning organization, posted bail Friday and was released from jail. He was not in the lineup for Norfolk.

In a statement, Feaster said Rosehill would be subject to discipline for breaking team rules.

"We are deeply disappointed and embarrassed by the fact that Mr. Rosehill put himself into a position where such action was necessary on the part of law enforcement," Feaster said. "We are fully supportive of the American judicial system and we will allow the legal process to take its course in this matter. We will not have any further comment on the case until it has reached a dispositive legal conclusion."

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835 or eerlendsson@tampatrib.com.

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