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Bolts' Goalie Depth Is Thin

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 30, 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. - Following the loss of G Olie Kolzig for the season to surgery to repair a ruptured biceps tendon, the Lightning are left with little depth in net in terms of backup experience.

The easiest choice would be to use Karri Ramo, who was sent to AHL Norfolk on Thursday to begin serving a six-game suspension, as the backup to Mike Smith for the remainder of the season. But the team wants Ramo, 22, to play at least 50 games this season. So far he has appeared in 29 between Norfolk and Tampa Bay this season, and if he remained with the Lightning the rest of the season he would likely not see much playing time and miss the 50-game mark.

The only other goaltender under an NHL contract is 20-year-old Riku Helenius, who was called up from Norfolk to back up Smith, but the 2006 first-round pick is in his first professional season.

Tampa Bay could sign Norfolk G Mike McKenna, 25, to an NHL contract and bring him up and allow Ramo to carry the load in Norfolk. Lightning general manager Brian Lawton also could swing a deal for an experienced backup or keep an eye on the waiver wire or re-entry waivers for help from somebody like Curtis Sanford, who was recently demoted to the minors by Vancouver.

No matter what course Lawton decides, he'd like to have a plan executed before the team leaves next week for a two-game road trip.

"It's a tough call," Lawton said. "I'm not trying to be vague. I just want to get all the information. Once we have it, then I'll make a decision."

RIKU'S RECALL: Helenius' first professional season has seen the rookie bounce around the southeastern part of the country playing for four different teams.

Helenius started the season with Augusta of the ECHL before the franchise folded. Helenius then went to Norfolk before being loaned to Mississippi of the ECHL. He's shuffled between Norfolk and Mississippi the past couple of weeks before getting called up to Tampa on Thursday.

Upon walking into the RBC Center on Thursday morning, he was every part of the wide-eyed rookie.

"It was a big surprise that I got called up," he said. "I think it's good to be here and see what it's like up here and good for me to see what it takes to get here and see how good these guys are."

Barring something unexpected, Helenius won't see any playing time while he's up and likely won't be with the Lightning for an extended time as he's played in just 11 games this season. But he's happy for the experiences he has already gained this year.

"I've been a little all over the map so far," Helenius said. "But there are a lot of positives I can take out of everything - seeing all three levels - and it can teach me how to handle these situations."

O-FOR-AN-ERA: Lightning LW/C Jussi Jokinen has gone 30 games without scoring a goal, the longest drought of his career. His last goal came on Nov. 13 against Detroit, one day before Barry Melrose was fired as head coach, which means Jokinen has yet to score a goal in Rick Tocchet's coaching tenure.

NUTS AND BOLTS: C Steven Stamkos and D David Koci were scratched. ... D Matt Smaby returned after missing three games with a lower-body injury. ... RW Mark Recchi scored his 533rd career goal, tying him with former Montreal legend Frank Mahovlich for 29th on the all-time list. Recchi's two points tied him with Doug Gilmour for 16th on the all-time list with 1,414 points.

Erik Erlendsson

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