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With Smith Hurt, Lightning Tend To Net Concerns

Tribune file photo by JASON BEHNKEN

Karri Ramo, who is serving a six-game AHL suspension, is being called up and would be eligible to start tonight at the Islanders.

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON

eerlendsson@tampatrib.com

Published: February 2, 2009

Updated: 02/02/2009 11:34 pm

UNIONDALE, N.Y. - Before boarding an airplane in the pouring rain Monday afternoon, the Tampa Bay Lightning played a shell game with their goaltenders, moving players around faster than a street-corner shuffler.

There were so many moving parts, it was hard to track all that was going on.

Mike Smith was missing in action, Riku Helenius was still in town for the time being, Mike McKenna arrived on the scene and Karri Ramo will suspend his suspension to return to the team.

Confused?

It starts with Smith, who has started 19 of the past 21 games, but his status for tonight's 7 o'clock game at the New York Islanders is unclear. He missed his second consecutive practice on Monday with an undisclosed upper-body injury. The injury may have come following his actions on Friday when Smith was pulled from a loss to Philadelphia with a little more than six minutes remaining after allowing six goals on 30 shots.

After allowing the final goal, Smith took his frustrations out by swinging his stick and hitting the water bottle on top of his net at least three times. When he made it to the bench, he slammed his stick down onto the ground at least a half-dozen times before slamming it over a cart that rests behind the team bench.

It is unclear whether his tirade led to the injury, but Lightning general manager Brian Lawton said Monday that Smith is unlikely to be available tonight after he stayed behind in Tampa for some extra work and therapy.

"I think Smith is only a couple of days away, personally," Lawton said. "We wanted him to do a little workout with somebody Monday, so we'll see ... but that doesn't mean he won't be on the trip."

With Olie Kolzig out for the season following arm surgery, the team signed McKenna to an NHL contract. McKenna could spend the rest of the season with the Lightning.

The 25-year-old, who was drafted in the sixth round by Nashville in 2002 but never signed, spent four years at St. Lawrence University before signing a free-agent deal in 2005 with Las Vegas of the East Coast Hockey League. After spending two seasons split between the ECHL and American Hockey League, McKenna signed with Norfolk this season in a backup role but has outplayed Ramo with an 11-10-1 record, a 2.97 goals-against average and .904 save percentage.

Ramo, who still has three games of a six-game AHL suspension to serve, was called up today. The team spoke with the league about their goaltending situation, and Ramo, who has 27 games of NHL experience, would be eligible to start tonight's game. Lightning interim coach Rick Tocchet did not rule out calling on McKenna to make his NHL debut.

"We'll put our heads together, talk it over and decide what is our best way to beat the Islanders," Tocchet said. "I would have no problem going with McKenna. I hear he's been playing well down there and sometimes you are dealt the cards, and maybe this is his chance. There's been other goalies in the league that haven't got their chance until they were 25 or 26 years old and went on to have NHL careers, so who knows, maybe he just needs a chance."

Helenius was sent down to Norfolk today. So with Smith out, McKenna in the fold and Ramo called up, the team had its share of rotating parts regarding one position.

"Just another weekend for the Lightning," Lawton said, jokingly.

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835.

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