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Moves Include Waiving Lundin

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON eerlendsson@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 13, 2008

OTTAWA - Tampa Bay's transaction wire continues to crackle with life.

The Lightning placed D Mike Lundin on waivers Friday, sending him back to Tampa while he waits to see if he clears. Also, RW Steve Downie was reassigned to AHL Norfolk. In addition, LW Matt Pettinger was activated from injured reserve and C Zenon Konopka's status changed from an emergency recall to a regular recall.

The biggest surprise was waiving Lundin, who last season took part in the NHL YoungStars Game as part of the All-Star Game festivities. The 24-year-old appeared in 81 games last season as a rookie, and for stretches this season he played as a top-four defenseman, logging 18-20 minutes a night.

But the 6-foot-2, 188-pounder was a healthy scratch in the Bolts' past two home games, and he played less than seven minutes in each of the past two games he played. He has until noon today to be picked up by another team or he will be reassigned to Norfolk.

"Mike's at a little bit of a crossroads right now," interim coach Rick Tocchet said. "We are looking for a little more aggressiveness out of him. I'm obviously not talking about fighting, and he's not somebody who is going to crush guys, but more closing on the puck, a little harder on the puck."

Downie, acquired in a deal from Philadelphia, was called up Nov. 27 and appeared in eight games with one goal.

OLIE THE GOALIE

Lost in the glow of Marty St. Louis and Vinny Lecavalier scoring all three goals in Thursday's victory at Montreal was the play of G Olie Kolzig.

In his previous two starts, Kolzig didn't make it to the third period, being pulled in each start after allowing a total of eight goals on 38 shots. In his previous four starts, Kolzig was 0-4, having allowed 16 goals on 107 shots (.851 save percentage) for a 5.64 goals-against.

However, after allowing a first-period goal to the Canadiens on Thursday, Kolzig was the difference, stopping 24 shots during the final two periods to secure the victory.

"I was joking that I was just happy to make it through the second period," Kolzig said. "But I've been around long enough to know that after the first one, to just shake it off and move forward. I've had a couple of really good weeks of practice, and I feel good about my game."

NUTS AND BOLTS

Tampa Bay has been credited with 42 blocked shots in the past two games, including 25 Thursday in Montreal. ... Before Thursday, the Lightning had been 0-6-2 this season when St. Louis scored a goal. ... RW Mark Recchi logged a season-high 21:12 of ice time Thursday, the second time this season he's had more than 20 minutes.

Erik Erlendsson

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