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A Loss, But Much To Like For Bolts

By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 23, 2008

TAMPA - Though the presumed second scoring line failed to score, there was plenty to like on Monday.

Although Tampa Bay lost its home preseason debut 3-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the line combination of Ryan Malone, Steven Stamkos and Radim Vrbata created is fair share of havoc all night.

The trio combined for 11 of the Lightning's 39 shots on goal - six from Vrbata - while Stamkos, the overall No. 1 pick in the draft, had four shots and had several others clang off the iron among his seven missed shots.

"The only thing missing was a couple of goals," said Vrbata, signed to a three-year, $9-million free-agent contract over the summer. "The bottom line is wins or losses, but for now it's our first preseason game and for our first game I think things went well, some good chemistry there."

Stamkos, who also played Saturday and will play along with Malone and Vrbata tonight against the New York Rangers, still is looking for his first point of the preseason.

"I think we're starting to get some chemistry, I mean you don't usually hit three or four posts in a game, eventually those have to start going in the net," Stamkos said.

Jussi Jokinen scored for the second consecutive game while Michel Ouellet scored his first goal of the preseason. Olie Kolzig stopped 21 shots in his debut in a Lightning jersey.

HELENIUS MOMENT: G Riku Helenius checked into the Lightning team hotel before the start of training camp and had his feet propped up on the bed watching television. He popped his head up when he heard the door to his room open only to see Kolzig walk into the room.

"That was a surprise," Helenius said. "He walked in like just an average guy. And I've learned so much just by watching him and stuff like that. He's such a great guy."

On Monday, Helenius served as Kolzig's backup in Tampa Bay's home preseason debut against Pittsburgh. And while Helenius, the team's first-round pick in 2006, won't see any preseason action of his own, he has done enough in camp to show that the shoulder injury that sidelined him for most of 2006 is not a hindrance.

"The kid has been awesome," Melrose said. "He's had a really good camp, we're very happy with him, he's come in with a great attitude and worked really hard. He's going to be a backup in a NHL preseason game and that's pretty good for a 20-year-old goaltender in one year. So that will give him something for wherever he ends up this season to start a good building block."

NUTS AND BOLTS: Along with the Stamkos line, those who will play tonight are: Jokinen between Vinny Prospal and Marty St. Louis; Chris Gratton between Gary Roberts and Mark Recchi; Ryan Craig between Jason Ward and Adam Hall; the defensemen are Andrej Meszaros, Mike Lundin, Shane O'Brien, Janne Niskala, Vladimir Mihalik and Matt Carle. Mike Smith will start in goal.