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Malik Gets Out On Ice

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 17, 2008

TAMPA - Free-agent defenseman Marek Malik skated with the Lightning on Thursday morning as the team assesses where the 6-foot-6, 240-pound Czech Republic native stands with his conditioning. Tampa Bay vice president of hockey operations Brian Lawton said it could be anywhere from three-to-five days, depending on how Malik performs on his physical, before the defenseman is signed. Lightning coach Barry Melrose is targeting Tuesday's game against the Thrashers for Malik to make his debut.

Malik, who said he's been skating up to six days a week for two months, said he had other offers but chose the Lightning because of all the additions the team made over the summer.

"With the signings in the summer, the team looks really, really good; really, really positive," said Malik, who will wear jersey No. 22. "There's a good mix of players."

WHO SCORED

Tampa Bay - Vinny Lecavalier (2), Vinny Prospal (1), Ryan Malone (1)

New York - Mike Comrie (2), Doug Weight (2), Trent Hunter (3, 4)

SWITCHING IT UP

At the start of the third period, Lightning coach Barry Melrose switched the line combinations putting Vinny Prospal back on the top line with Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis, switching Ryan Malone to left wing with Jussi Jokinen and Evgeny Artyukhin while Mark Recchi went to the line with rookie Steven Stamkos and Radim Vrbata. Tampa Bay answered with three goals in the third period and came back twice to force overtime.

TOO MANY MINORS

The Lightning were whistled for 10 minor penalties on Thursday, the second consecutive game in which Tampa Bay has been called for at least nine penalties. In four games, the Lightning have taken 31 penalties. "If you look at the tape, they are penalties," Lightning coach Barry Melrose said. "They might be ticky-tack or whatever, but that's what the referees have come over and said when we asked him, the letter of the law is the letter of the law."

TAKING A SEAT

Veteran Gary Roberts, who was just behind Mike Comrie on the first Islanders' goal, didn't take a shift the rest of the first period after the goal and finished with one minute, 37 seconds of ice time. Lightning coach Barry Melrose said Roberts ice time was hurt by the all the penalty calls in the first two periods and Melrose's desire to stick with three lines in the third period.

Erik Erlendsson

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