Ramo won't go away

Goaltender Karri Ramo is such a nice guy, that when he said after Tuesday's morning skate that, basically, he is not going to allow Mike Smith to just take the No. 1 job, you knew it wasn't the kind of in-your-face challenge some might make, but just a statement of fact from a confident kid who has tons of talent and perhaps has been a little overlooked since the trade to bring in Smith.

"It's my job to challenge him every night and every game in practice,'' Ramo said. And when I get a chance to play, I have to show my skills.''

Ramo, who gets the start tonight against the Islanders, has played just three games since Feb. 12, but has done well. He is 1-1-1 but has stopped 77 of 82 shots for a .939 save percentage and a 1.63 goals-against average. He was outstanding in Friday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Devils. And it's not like Smith is tearing it up. He is 1-5-0 in six games with a 3.02 goals-against average and an .885 save percentage in six games since coming over from the Stars in the Brad Richards trade.

"Every game is important to me right now,'' Ramo said. "Every time I step onto the ice I have to show what I've learned from the past. It was a good game. I hadn't played for a couple of weeks there.

"It's good for me,'' Ramo said of the competition with Smith. "It's always fun to do things when something is on the line. Every day in this league you have to challenge yourself, and every day you're playing for something. Now we're going to have a bad situation here. We don't have any chance to get to the playoffs. The season is over but we have to start to rebuild here and battle every game. And everybody needs to learn from it, too.''

Pretty cool, huh?

I know he's just 21 and those are the things you have to say. But I believe he really means it. It's the same kind of fight we see in him during games. Like I said, no animosity. It's just the nature of the game. Good luck to him.

Other stuff from this morning: Coach John Tortorella talked about the funks of Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis (two goals in 24 combined games). "They care. They're two great players,'' Tortorella said. "But they're going through major funks at a time we defended very well. If we could have gotten a goal or two from that line, we win half the games we've lost here.'' ... Jussi Jokinen kind of shrugged and pushed out a long breath when asked about playing just 10 minutes against the Blue Jackets. "I'll just try to do whatever I can to help the team win,'' he said. ... Speaking of the Blue Jackets, did you know they shoot off a cannon in the arena when they score. A real cannon, as loud as a real cannon. You know it's coming. Scares the heck out of you every time. ...  The "marriage'' as Tortorella called it between center Jeff Halpern and right wing Michel Ouellet is going well. Halpern has three goals, three assists in seven games since coming over from the Stars. Ouellet has three gaols and two assists. But Ouellet was heating up even before Halpern showed up. He has five goals, three assists in his past eight games, and almost had another goal against the Blue Jackets. ... Saw center Chris Gratton, back from Vail, where he had hip surgery, limping around the locker room on crutches. ... Thought defenseman Dan Boyle was entertaining in today's story about how the players should not forget "just how it (stinks) to lose. ... "I just never want to be in this situation again,'' Boyle continued. "Hockey is a major part of our life. It seems to affect just going home at night, and doing things away from the rink is not fun. Hopefully, we go home this summer and come back hungry.''

Comments

[Casper]

Here's a fun thing on a off night: do a google on "Narcissistic personality disorder" and see what or whom pops into your mind...

[Lisa]

From everything that I have read, it takes time to adjust to Tort's system. Oulette needed time to adjust and then to recover from his shoulder injury. However, I don't think that he complimented the style of Richards, and works much better with Halpern, and from what I remember, he did pretty well with Gratton, as well.

With Vinny and Marty, I think that as long as Prospal was playing, they should have left that line alone. All the moving around and adjusting that they were doing (putting Richards on the line, etc) just messed with the chemistry and could have started the whole Marty and Vinny slump.

If Prospal could be signed for reasonable money, I would want it considered. I do think that Feaster would need to check with Marty and Vinny how they would feel about that. Duemig has said (don't know how true it is) that the team did not like the comments that Prospal made about shoving sticks into places they don't belong. If that is actually true, then it would need to be addressed.

[Herb]

Iceman that would be a novel idea. The song Lightning Strikes by Aerosmith as a song to go with it would be a good idea as well.

[Herb]

Some jerkweed is using my name and it's pissing me off. My last post was at 1:39. Cut the crap whoever you are. Go Army....hooah!

[Nils]

Disagree with stat padding comment. These other teams for the most part are fighting for playoff berths. No gimmes there. Give Darche-Halpern-Ouillet the credit they deserve.

[Herb]

"Oh yes and let's not look past the effort that Ouellet has been giving lately. All he needed was a good grinding center to feed him. He will be worth watching as the Bolts close out the season."

Herb,

Oulette played with three different centers for the part of the season that actually mattered and didn't do squat - he played with richards, lecavalier and gratton, three very different types of centers and was a major disappointment until recently.

I'm glad he's got some chemistry going with halpern, but it's basically just stat padding during inconsequential games for what it will be worth this year. We could make lots of excuses for him, all the changes that come with being traded, but there is no excuse for the amount of times he was in the slot and shot wide before he recent success. I hope I'm wrong and he continues to score consistently next year when the games matter again. But from what I've seen of him this year, his shooting accuracy in scoring situations reminds me a lot of Eric Perrin.

[IceMan]

About a tradition -- I've always wondered why they don't briefly flash strobe lights after each Bolts goal to look like real Lightning. It seems a no-brainer. It would be unique and sort of cool, or am I shouted down here?

[Hockey Chic]

Hey guys and gals pretty busy day at work but did have time to read the SPT write up on the game last night. I read that sully did the post game news conference and in my heart of hearts was wishing, praying and hoping that torts was being summoned by Koules office to receive his pink slip.

Ajax I agree that torts negative attitude and beating the guys down night after night has to go. He is never satisfied. I wonder if he does the same to his family? Coaching/management 101 first you emphasize what is good then you bring up the but what you may want to try is....Then again state what they did good or better than the last outing.

I also agree he needs to get smith in there and get his feet wet. So he has a couple of bad games do we care at this point of the season. Just get some positive vibes in the room and kick torts to the curb.

Go Bolts...

[ajax]

Jossi will take time to judge, seems like alot of the offensively talented Europeans who can fly on O and struggle on D. Smith sure looks good to me. Halpern? I like the way he plays the game. Nothing spectacular but checks and has a nose for the net. I watch him without the puck(a lost art) he is always moving. This will make him perfect for the PP. Hope Torts doesn't miss that. I remember our struggles on the PP when it was so obvious we needed a right handed shot down low and he refused to stick with Oullet. Bad move. Torts has such a short fuse about everything. Give the boys a chance to gel. Give them a chance to work with the same guys night after night. He even has been swapping D lately. Boyle with Lundin??PLEASE. Swapping goalies for the last 12 games. Doesn't he want to test Smith? Smith has never been a number one. Wouldn't you want to be more comfortable going into next year? Would you rather test him in real games or next training camp? Smith has played in 27 games this year, 23 last year. Give him the minutes. See what he has. They have to see what he is made of, what better time than now?

[JP]

Congrats to the Vinny! Finally.
I'll wait until games have meaning before judging Halpern.
Good that he's scoring and playing well

[Bear]

Leo I'm with you buddy
Big Gainy fan

[Casper]

Leo, I’m still LMAO. Good one, no I can’t recall the last mo-jo within the last 40 years. Wait, no I can’t---too much other clutter upstairs. Only been 1 or 2 ever, I think. I’m no Almanac, sorry.

Nah, just to keep from jones’n after the first week in April I have to go back to the root of the tree. I won’t disgrace our Bolts talking about those old times. That was then….

Nice little fantasy you’ve provided me about the Jack Adams.
I HOPE TORT’S REPLACEMENT WINS IT NEXT YEAR!!! Sorry for the caps and shouting, I would’ve preferred italics.

Go Bolts!

[Herb]

Oh yes and let's not look past the effort that Ouellet has been giving lately. All he needed was a good grinding center to feed him. He will be worth watching as the Bolts close out the season.

[Herb]

Maybe Torts' "pre-arranged" departure after last night's game was to look for a house in another state because he was told that he was getting FIRED! One can only hope huh?

[leo]

Silver Spoon?
Like I said to Lisa, I wish! Wouldn't have thought so in Anaheim where we played Great and the Pricberg shone, but an 8 to 3 questionable disparity in the calls SUNK us. Ain't cryin' about it. Just sayin'...them's the breaks.
If ANY team has the silver spoon, it would have to be, in my mind, the Rangers. Yes,no?
Can't really comment about how much my Boys get beneficial treatment cuz I'm biased. But I would still say, no way; that's quite ludicrous; I don't see it. Rangers, I tells ya.
Hey, more power to'em; them's the breaks.
But the question was, Bear,
Who will you root for after Bolt game 82?
Lisa says Dallas or Anaheim. Good picks.
Ajax says Buffalo, barring they don't make it, Detroit. Bad picks. But who can argue matters of the Heart?
And Casper says, brace yourself, Baahston. "Another" mojo on my Boys? ..snicker..snort..bwah-ha-ha!..sorry. When was the LAST ONE, pray tell? Casper, what gives? Crazy pick, even if Julien deserves the Jack Adams, far as I'm concerned, but HE ain't the one playin'. Chara? A Star. Against my Boys? A terrified little kitten, trembling under a pillow. Fuhgeddabowdit. Eh..when the Heart speaks.
But Bear, question was,
Who will you root for now?
Have YOU seen the Light, Bear?
BBR

[Herb]

Who cares about the east when it comes to THIS years cup. I'll say it again. "The top 4 west teams will crush ANY team from the east".The stats east vs. west this year dictates that. Last year was the same way and the Ducks disposed of the Sens rather quickly.

[Patrick]

As for rooting for teams in the playoffs, the canadian teams are near the bottom of my list. Being in America, I tend to root for the American teams to win the cup over Canadian teams... well except for philly. I wouldn't mind seeing either Calgary or Edmonton win though.

This year I will be rooting for Dallas. I'm looking forward to seeing what Richards does in the playoffs.

[bear]

No doubt about the silver spoon part.
Look out for the Rangers too..

[Patrick]

I don't see why swapping goalies in such a horrible thing. Isn't competition for positions in sports a good thing? Besides, they are trying to develop Ramo as well and he's not going to develop sitting on the bench.

[ajax]

SILVER SPOON FOR MONTREAL

[bear]

Montreal has quietly,other than here, been one of the best teams in the hunt.
Sell them short at your peril.

They have the mojo big time right now and those fans know how exactly to keep it going. 25 cups or so is the proof of the pudding.
Much as many would like to see Leo eat it he may well be the one with the spoon when its over.

[ajax]

Splitting goalie time. I concur. What is he thinking. He needs to put the fire on Smith and see how he performs. Crazy call by a crazy guy. I see where jossi only got 10 minutes Sunday. The games people play. Can Torts ever stop teaching lessons thru negativity? I have never seen so many line changes. I have never seen so many of the things Torts does. I guess he sees himself as a real innovator of the game.
Swaping goalies
30 minutes a night for stars
Forecheck without D
Playing 25 line combinations in ONE game.
So much to teach, so much to learn
No wonder they look so out of whack half the time!!! His greatest gift to the game? Easy answer. Splitting up Marty and Vinny about every 6-8 games just to keep em on their toes. YUK
Sign me up with the rest of ya, boo Montreal. Spoiled Brats all 20 of them, plus my man Leonardo.

[Another Joe]

Ramo's attitude is exactly what this team needs in goal. Smith also. hopefully next year these guys can push each other and this position wont be the liability it has been.

Go Bolts!

[Rudy]

So now they show us they can play and score, if Vincent Lecavalier’s mom is watching.

Both his parents was in yesterday.

[Herb]

Oh and by the way I would bet that the top 4 teams in the west would cream any team from the east.

[Herb]

Thanks Chic , he is doing well in Airborne school at Ft. Benning GA. Weather permitting, he will make his first jump out of a plane on Sunday. He is anxious to get a jump under his belt. The Bolts did good last night but to give up 4 against a team that doesn't score many goals is an omen like a previous blogger stated. The D or lack thereof is in dire need of help. The T Trib and EE put Ranger in as a "core player", is he on drugs or what? Ranger is a joke along with OB and they should start there with finding replacements. Go Army..hooah!

[leo]

Guess I do sound like a used-car salesman, don't I? But I ain't pushin' lemons over here. I got Ferraris, baby! And at a reasonable Price.
If you HATE us, fine. Ain't gonna even try to turn you around because I WANT your hate.
But if your heart still wavers. Then you should JOIN. Because this team has a nation of supporters that have always been REWARDED. These are THE GOOD GUYS. Always have been. No matter how insidious some of you PERCEIVE them to be.
In hockey anyway, THE GOOD GUYS have won ALOT!
Hey, I'm from MTL, true. I'm canadian, true. But I believe EVERYONE should love hockey cuz it's the Coolest game in the world. I'm trying to TEACH YOU.
That to love hockey best, to appeciate it the most, you should JOIN.
It's what Vinny would WANT you to do.
BBR

[keith]

I woke up from a nightmare last night, Vinny bagged three, team had 8 in a win. Then I thought, nah! Must be dreaming. Back to the nightmare!

[//]

Leave out of "embarrassment?" You've got to be kidding.

Bolts fans should be wearing bags over their heads and I hear you are a triple bagger.

[Casper]

That was a game between 2 AHL Clubs; the Islanders because of injury and the Bolts due to General Operations Mismanagement.

And the better coach lost. Oh, I'm happy for John Tortorella passing Badger Bob, yadda, yadda, but that act has long ago played itself out here in the Bay. (Forget Nolan around here, he had his chance right after Buffalo and said he preferred not to be here. So, bye…)

The comment in today’s mullet wrapper about still evaluating Smitty was quite unnerving. I think Smitty should be doing the evaluating, and tell Santa Claus (may as well, just fill in the blank___) about whom or what he needs and where, to accomplish his mission of rebuilding a wall back there that is up to code [sic].

I’m very happy Jeff Halpern is a Bolt now. And some of you know where you can stuff that loser jive…. Did see that guy trying his nuggets off, to lose or win a Cup? Always been a wolverine on the ice to play against---tough little bugger---he came to us at great cost but at a $5 million savings, what took so long to get him here? He never should have gone to Big D. Loser, jinx, bollocks! We were jinxed with a greater talent suppressing and saving himself, for four times the money… Now get some NHL type defense and some young, dangerous kids to score. (We already have a few-Keller, Lawrence, just coach them!)

UC is going to be fine, just don’t hold your stick so tight trying to make a splash in the pool; we know you can play, Kid.

Tarns just missed the hallowed Gordie Howe hat trick, darn and better luck next time!

Leo, some folks are born Montreal or N.Y. Yankee bandwagon fans and some just can’t stomach them. I’ll go back to hoping the Bruins fling another mo-jo on Le Candy@sses. (Never seen an entire club whirl around to the zebra so fast or so consistently whenever a ‘B’ skates past. Do they coach that, that borderline diving/whining? Ha-Ha, B’s no more---my B’s are Bolts!) Price looks OK with some defensive support, all right. (Wink, wink.)

Hope the rehab is going well for Tool Man, Craiger, Grats, and of course, the Chic herself!
Go Bolts! Put on a good show for Ramsey tomorrow, you know, just in case….

[Hockey Chic]

Morning to all fellow bloggers.. and a great one it is.. Love to be at that win/blow out for us...

First congrats to Vinny for the hatter that was to cool to see. Way to knock the crap out of Dipietro. There was an Islanders fan right behind us and she was so embarrased when the 8th goal came she got up and left.

The best part was I had my hockey playin sista friend with me and we were talking about diPietro and I said man he is awesome and she wanted to know how to get to him. I said get in his head and you got him. Man did you guys do that. Way to rock fellas!!

Guess I am going to have to wear the Vermont Jersey I got at the Vihny 4 fund raiser for the rest of the season.

Hope all is well with all fellow bloggers been real busy with the rehab, school and hockey.

Speaking of hockey my team is doing rink of dreams at the SPTF on the 29th at 4:00pm if anyone wants to come see us play.

Go Bolts!!!

ps Herb hope all is well with your son...

[GP]

"Tortorella said the goalies might split the final 12 games. "

So it begins .... Torts predicted mind games with his goalies. Mike Smith was aquired to be the man not split the final 12 games. It makes the Richards trade look like a farce if they are already questioning Mike Smith.

Great job Torts! You are truly an idiot and can't get out of Tampa fast enough.

[GP]

Leo,

You sound like a used car salesman pimping the habnots. Everyone knows that the Flyers will take them down in the first round. I will eventually make Lisa into a Flyers fan again. If you are born in Philly you can not escape being a Flyers fan!

Lisa,

You disappoint me. From Northeast but hate the Flyers? Ahhhhh!

[Ajax]

Kipp, welcome. Valid question, I see Lundin going back to the minors if they pick up some D in the off season, and never making it back to the NHL. I asked this two weeks ago. Have you ever seen the guy make a play? Rush the puck, big check? sneak in from the blue line for a goal? Even get a shot on goal from the point? Win a battle to clear a puck. I think Janik got in Torts doghouse and we all know it is very hard to get out of that once in. But I like your question and think it is right on. He has been only playing 10-12 minutes a night so that is good news. 195lbs? no way, I say about 180.
Game in and game out their are long long shifts when he literally can't get off the ice.
Anywho, great game and of course I wasn't their. Everyone needed a game like this, but like Lisa said, DON'T SCREW UP THE PICK. Leo, Leo Leo (shaking my head) everyone hates the habs(lower case out of respect) They have the silver spoon 4ever up da bootie. Can't root for a team that historically gets more calls than Larry Bird. Go Sabres and if not them go Red Wings.

[Tom M]

If Ramo proclaims that he needs to "show my skills" to challenge Smith for the #1 goalie job, he better watch the tape of tonight's game. Giving up 4 goals to a team that basically can't score isn't something that I would characterize as a "skillful" performance.

[//]

lisa mistakenly left in "the," leo.

[leo]

Now that's a hockey post!
Cool, Lisa.
BBR

[Kipp]

Why is this organization so hard on Doug Janik? He plays hard and is much more experienced than Mike Lundin.

[Lisa]

Leo, my 3 least favorite teams are Ottawa, Montreal and Philly. I really don't know which of these I hate the most, so I know that I will be rooting for a Western Conference team to win the cup. Preferably Dallas or Anaheim, even San Jose is OK with me.

I will never root for Montreal. After Latendresse and his dirty play and his classless behavior after, and the O'Byrne incident, I don't have any respect for the Canadiens.

[Habs Suck!!]

That will be the day! Sure leo, I'll join the habnots express It's my life's ambition to join a bunch of brador drinkin losers!

Take Off Hoser!!!!!!!

[Herb]

No doubt Lisa but LA just keeps losing as well. It will be a fight for last place LOL.

[leo]

Nice thumping by the Bolts over the Isles. A preview of events to come on Saturday at the Bell Center? Hope so.
Remember that birds of a feather flock together. The Islies, fer petessakes!
How was Halpern, by the by?
On another note,
The Bolt season is finished, agreed?
What are you gonna do after game 82? Hide under the bed and not watch hockey anymore?
No.
You will be confronted with the dilemma of SWITCHING allegiances. Rooting for a team that sort of, somewhat, somehow comes closest to your sense of hockey VALUES.
What will you do?
A Western team? Why? How? What for? What's the connection? Brad Richards? Ha! You won't root for a Western team.
Another southesterner? Carolina? Ha! You won't root for Carolina.
So who?
My point,
The Glorious Ones have taken over the first spot again. HockeyNews had'em pegged to finish what? 13th,14th? We are FIRST, with a Kovalev Cracker.
The Priceberg is BETTER than I had even VAUNTED at the beginning of the year, and that my friends, is SCARING me. SCARING Leo. (You remember, I said some goofy, goofy stuff, well, he's doin' it!)
They CRUSHED the Devils tonight, my friends. The Devils. Again. 3 games in a row for the 1st time since the 85-86 season. This is IT. One year ahead of schedule.
Remember the name Kostitsyn, my friends. Got it? Well, there are TWO of'em!
My friends,
JOIN US.
Join la nation Tricolore. We welcome one and all with open arms because they have seen the Light.
JOIN US.
Because if you love Destiny, then we love you. This is the ONLY team that represents everything that's BEAUTIFUL about this game. Who else will you root for?!
JOIN US.
Anyways,
Not telling you what to do, just outlining an alternative, is all. I mean...well, you gotta root for SOMEBODY, right?
Peace.
BBR

[Lisa]

That was fun to watch. Great to see Vinny with a smile on his face. But don't play too well: we still want to get Stamkos!

[Herb]

I also forgot to mention with ex #19's departure is how many goals does Ouellet have now with a grinding center to feed him? Ouellet is a difference maker on the ice now than when ex #19 was with him. I always thought that the more money you make that you should make the players around you better. Another point showing how the ex #19 trade worked in the Bolts favor.

[Herb]

Nils but the most important stat is $7.8 million for ex#19 and $2 million for Halpern. That is the key. The reason the Bolts were so bad this season is all that money went to 1 player and left no room for other quality players. Next season they have cap room even at a $42-$44 million payroll.

[olin]

...only da caveman in srq.....

[Casper]

Now 8-3?!!? I'm glad I stayed up for this one. Sombrero City for Vinny!

To quote Butch Cassidy, "Who ARE those guys?"

Halpern found a way to make his linemates play better huh? $5.8M saved there...

Oh, 8-4 now, They're starting to look familiar...

Nice job Bolts! Good team effort.

G'night.

[Herb]

I think that's only the 3rd game all season where the Bolts were not outscored in the third.

[Herb]

Excuse me I just wiped the egg off of my face to see the 8th goal. Who'd a thunk it huh?

[Rudy]

GO RAMO!!!
GO LIGTENING!!!
GO TORTS.. AWAY !!!!