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

[Rudy]

Its look like you going Saturday se Rangers Herb.

[Herb]

I come in to my bedroom to check the blog and low and behold they go up 3-2 and shortly thereafter Tarnasty scores. Forgive me if I don't get too excited with a lead going into the 3rd period but the Bolts give up leads in the 3rd like bar patrons go to the bathroom. Bad analogy but it's what works at the moment.

[Nils]

Since the trade:

Halpern 4G 5A -1 .222 Sh. %

Richards 1G 7A E .125 Sh. %

[Herb]

I would give them to a fellow blogger but I don't want to give away any personal info over this forum.

[Herb]

No way do I have any good insight on who is going to win but if I were to put money on ANY of the Bolts games for the rest of the season, it would not be placed on the Bolts. I was going to go to the Rags game on Sat. night but now that the Bolts blew another lead I will re-think my intentions on going to any more games this season. Going to a game means a 100 mile round trip and with the price of gas nowadays I doubt I will see the inside of the SPT Forum again this season. I really think I will throw my remaining 5 home game tickets in the trash.

[Rudy]

So what you think, you guys think we can do it today?
Herb? You have god predictions usually?

[Rudy]

Don’t mention it

But I love try that grog

[olin]

Rudy- no I didn't until you mention- thank's alot-tack's se myket ! Yeah I miss him being here alot- I walked with him and Capt.Dave back to the marriott that morning after skate, and told them I just had a premonition that they would win that game 7 that nite- a dream maybe nite before but somehow I knew they were gonna win that game. Two of the best guy's one could ever meet- I just knew they would do it and for sure they did! Maybe it was that lucky Njurunda shirt I alway's wore... yeah it would be nice to get him back for he's alway's such a nice guy, plus maybe he'd give me some of that birchbark grog for my vanilla ice cream.
Ajax, easy on my swede...I know he hasn't produced, as he did in Sweden, don't understand why- but they do play a softer game over there. My cousin's there say he's to go back to Hv71 next season- He has had his shot here and didn't make it.
Thank's Rudy.

[Rudy]

I think "Whiskey Bar" will do it for now.
And don't ask why.

[boltflasher]

Anybody know what's going on with Artukhin? You could actually see the fear in the other teams when he was out there...would like to see him back in a Lightning uniform...

[ajax]

Karlsson. Have you seen him kill penalties lately. Talk about desperately trying to make this guy work. He plays the equivalent of a zone. Never pressures anyone, never blocks a shot, never hits anyone. A zero. Everywhere they have tried him he has failed miserably. What if they resign him(500k!!!!!) The figure most of us throw around is they need 6 new faces. 4 forwards and 2 D. If they are minimum wage 30yr old Europeans we are in trouble. Get three guys at least 6'2 220lbs. Got to get away from the Darche, McDonald Hvalet Karlsson mindset. Your twelve minute a night guys need to iritate and kill penalties, goals are secondary. You've been talking about making this team harder to play against. Get rid of 190lb Lundin and Janik. BUILD A TEAM

[leo]

Too depressing, Rudy. Clock ran out on it. But I like the Doors angle.
How 'bout "Light my Fire"?
Either that or show me the way to the next,
"Whiskey Bar".
And don't ask why.
BBR

[Rudy]

Big Dog, did you se interview with your boy Freddy?
http://www.sptimes.com/2008/03/11/Lightning/Good_times_are_nothin.shtml

[Herb]

Olin now that's funny!

[Herb]

Look out Isles, the Bolts 4th line will scare you, Stewart, Karlsson and Lessard. If that doesn't strike fear into the Isles I don't know what will. What a waste of time that is. That 4th line wouldn't even be a good 4th line in the AHL. This team is a joke that they are putting on the ice tonight. The only bum missing is Capt. Wraparound a.k.a. Tim Taylor.

[olin]

Herb, clic the preview and view what you wrote before it goes online, but to correct thing's ya gotta go back to comment box or you lose what you've written if you try to correct on the preview... Once you get it all the way you want then clic post....even a cave man from srq can do it.

[Rudy]

Leo how about your favorite, which I keep hearing now: This is the END….

[leo]

What about AC/DC's "Thunderstruck"?
With some cracks of strobe-lightning across the arena?
That'd be cool, no?
BBR

[Herb]

"Neither" instead of "either" needs to be corrected in my previous post. I have got to remember to proof read my posts better.

[Herb]

Yes Philip I agree. The "Let's play hockey" thing is about as lame as you can get. I gave up being vocal at the games when the team gave up last year. I have no drive at the game. I just wonder when they will blow the game or not even show up. I may not be the best fan in the house but the team has no heart so in turn either do I on any given game night. During the cup run and maybe even the early 2005-06 season I had it going bigtime but that was the extent of it. When they sputtered at the end of the '06 season and drew the Sens instead of the 'Canes I really was let down by the team.

[tundo]

Good point Phillip. The best we have is "Lets go Lightning" which only about 25% of the crowd ever gets into. We have no chant after goals, no songs we sing, nothing. When I was growing up going to minor league hockey games as a boy, the crowd unity was incredible. When a penalty was called on an opponent, there would be a roaring "ohhhhhhhhhhhhh" until he got into the box then everyone would yell "SIT DOWN", much like you see in college basketball. It would be awesome to have something like that. But our crowd is boring, one of the most boring in the league it seems at times. At least the playoffs were great...

[Rudy]

That is what I saying about Ramo, he has to play, he can’t be backup.

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

[David]

NTMM for president!

[GP]

Ramo is best served next year playing full time in the AHL. Sitting on the bench will not help him whatsoever in his career progression. Veteran backups are available as free agents this summer and they could probably get them at the veteran minimum salary. Robert Esche and Ed Belfour are both playing in Europe. Either one of those guys would look good as Smith's backup.

[Not The Marlboro Man]

I think at this point of the season every story published about the team is a moot point. Until this team completely rededicates itself to rebuilding and competeing in a professional manner, what's the use.

I don't think I will be interested in what sports writers have to say until they say this, " The new ownership is steadfast on keeping the Lightning in Tampa and have just fired John Tortarella and Jay Feaster." But I guess we first we have to have a new owner.

Here's a challenge...someone call out the NHL commissioner on the pathetic job he's done about moving along this franchise to a new ownership. This season wouldn't have been nearly the catastrophe that is has been if we had a commissioner who could understand how to operate a professional sports league and manage its problems.

The St. Pete Times needs to investigate and report, not just publish cutesy little stories about times forgotten. Push the envelope people! Discover what's really going on here. Truly, it would take a fool at this jecture to not realize that there is something rotten stinky and disguting going on with this team... with this organization and the league in whole.

[Finn]

Halpern being played as a second line center is suicide, sure you'll see his stats increase, but what about the team record ?
Halpern is at best a third line checking center. Team won't win at all if players are not used correctly.
Coaching 101 Torts.
BTW, I too am starting to believe that Halpern will always be on a losing team, 7 years in the show and nothing worth talking about.

[Philip]

I have been to the Blue Jacket arena. Nice place, but tough to get a full house. The cannon they shoot scared me each time I heard it. In fact, they place a warning note on your seat that states they shoot it off after a goal is scored! I wish Tampa had SOME tradition besides "Let's Play Hockey!" that even after 3 years does not go over well. I hope that OK Hockey will bring about some Hollywood presence to our graphics, and create a new tradition in Tampa that excites fans.