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Niskala's Play Impresses Bolts

News Channel 8 photo by PETER MASA

Last season with Milwaukee of the American Hockey League, Niskala tallied 19 goals and 44 points in 80 games in his first season in North America.

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 22, 2008

TAMPA - According to a Finnish journalist visiting Tampa this week familiar with Lightning defenseman Janne Niskala, the would-be Tampa Bay blue liner possesses a strong sense of humor.

But when it comes to trying to earn one of the open spots on Tampa Bay's defense, the 26-year-old Niskala is dead serious.

"He's come here to make the team and he's doing everything he can do," Lightning coach Barry Melrose said of Niskala.

In Saturday's preseason opening victory at Pittsburgh, Niskala stood out for all the right reasons. On the power play he made good decisions and showed he can make a crisp pass. And Niskala certainly helped his cause by scoring the first Lightning goal of the game early in the second period to tie the score.

"I haven't talked to the coach or anything, but I think I had a good game," said Niskala, who also added an assist in the game while logging 24 minutes of ice time. "It was a huge game for me, but it will be that way tonight, too."

Indeed, Niskala will get another opportunity to be back in the lineup for tonight's home preseason opener against the Penguins as he battles for one a spot on the blue line.

But the offensive side of Niskala's game was the known. He ran a point position on the power play for Finland at the World Championships earlier this year where he finished with two goals and four points in nine games. Last season with Milwaukee of the American Hockey League, Niskala tallied 19 goals and 44 points in 80 games in his first season in North America.

The unknown was how he would perform in his own end against NHL talent at even strength. After Saturday's showing in Pittsburgh, which ran out most of its top players including Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Melrose liked what he saw.

"We knew he was a very skilled player, but what we didn't know was can he play five-on-five against NHL players," Melrose said. "He showed a lot of poise, he was good defensively, and again, if you can play defense against that group of forwards you can play defense against anybody in the world. I was very impressed with Janne.

"And he's been good all camp, he's really come in on mission, in great shape, and right from day one he really jumped out at you."

Tampa Bay acquired the 6-foot, 190-pound defenseman from Philadelphia for a sixth-round pick in the 2009 draft. The Flyers traded for him earlier in the summer from Nashville.

Niskala, 26, was caught in a numbers game with the Predators last season, stuck behind a solid list of young defenseman in the Nashville system. When the Predators were unwilling to give Niskala a one-way contract, he gave strong indications he would return to Europe this season.

But Tampa Bay immediately signed him to a one-year, one-way contract worth $600,000 that includes an European-out clause which allows Niskala to return to Europe if he doesn't make the team. That's not anything he's thinking about right now.

"I'm glad Tampa Bay brought me in and gave me this chance because this is a better place for me," he said. "I'm thinking of staying here all season."

CUTS: The Lightning assigned six players to Norfolk on Sunday: D Andy Rogers along with forwards Blair Jones, Chris Lawrence, Brandon Segal and training camp invitees D Jamie Heward and RW Sean O'Connor.

GAME ROSTER: G Olie Kolzig will start tonight's game and is expected to play the entire game. Others scheduled to play include C Steven Stamkos, LW Ryan Malone, RW Radim Vrbata, LW Vinny Prospal and defensemen Andrej Meszaros, Matt Carle and Ty Wishart.

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

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