Injuries mount and moves to be made

The Lightning beat the Predators 4-1 on Friday night but sustained a lot of nicks and bumps for the efforts.

Goalie Mike Smith apparently sustained some kind of lower body injury that was not revealed until Saturday. He did not practice. Defenseman Lukas Krajicek also has a lower body injury and did not practice. Coach Rick Tocchet said neither will dress Sunday against the Devils.

That means goalie Karri Ramo will be brought up from AHL Norfolk and a defenseman. Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said it could be either Jamie Heward or Andrew Hutchinson as both are right-handed shots.

With the Lightning already at the 23-man roster limit, two corresponding moves will have to be made to create room. Tocchet said center Chris Gratton (knee) and LW Gary Roberts (upper body) likely will go on injured reserve, which means they are unavailable for at least seven days from their start dates, which could be retroactive. Gratton actually practiced on Saturday, as did Ryan Malone, who was held out of the third period Friday as a precaution, Tocchet said. Tocchet also said Malone was fine.

Olie Kolzig will get the start in net against the Devils.

Tocchet insisted all the injuries are "not major stuff, one maybe two gems." He called Smith's injury a "nagging" ailment that he has had for several games. With the team not even practicing Monday, Tocchet said he sees this as a chance for both Smith and Krajicek to get 48 hours of therapy and get well.

Of Smith, Tocchet said, "If he had to play tomorrow, he could play. ... Let's nip it in the bud now and Olie gets some work."

Other stuff: Mike Sullivan would not confirm he is talking to the Lightning about returning as an assistant, but he did not deny it either. "You know how I operate," he said. "I'd rather not comment at all." It makes sense, though, as Tampa Bay has an assistant spot open with the firing of Barry Melrose and the promotion of Tocchet, and the Lightning already is paying him for the final year of his contract. He also played with Tocchet from 1998-2000 with the Coyotes. Sullivan said he "loved" living and working in Tampa, and has spent the down time "coaching his kids" and looking to get back into the league "as quickly as possible." ... Enforcer David Koci, claimed Thursday off waivers from the Blues practiced. He said the bouncing around does not hurt him, and might even help. "It's a life challenge and you have to learn from that," he said. "This is going to make me stronger in the future and make me an even better player. For the the mental side of the game it's good. You learn how to stay mentally tough, don't let other things matter. I look at it in a positive way."

Comments

[Oscar]

Ramo can stay.

Send out Heward, another guy justified by Le Mullet, and bring up the young guns on defense.

We need a coach, backed by strong and silent owners. Not the loud and meddlesome type.

More desperately, we need a Captain.

Ah well, hang in there everyone...

The sun doesn't shine on the same dog's hind-end every day.

Go Bolts!

[Coach Bill]

Pd- 6-7:30 at Shots on Dec 18. check in!
Bill

[Boltflasher]

Like Herb, glad I didn't make the drive tonight. Yes, Ajax, the drop off is very noticeable. Olie no longer has the reflexes like Smitty....I'm sorry for the guy. Doesn't help when NO one shows up to play on your team...Ramo hasn't exactly been tearing it up at Norfolk either...hope Smitty can play 60 games...

[Ajax]

NJ 4-0 embarrassing effort, though Kolzig needs to be let go, which I have stated numerous times. The drop off between him and Smith is so noticable it ain't funny. Goal number 4 should of been the end of the night for the MVP line. I think they are all a minus 3 and look like they must of stayed at Vinny's wine tasting show a bit to long. Horrible effort by Vinny on that last goal. Sit all of them.

[PD]

Ajax on the Leafs its a win win, playing very energetic hockey, great young kids, a high draft choice and Brian Burke arriving shortly..

They played another pretty good hockey team last night, the Hawks.OT loss
I certainly don't expect them to contend yet and they don't have to contend to save the franchise , unlike some.

[PD]

Uh Ajax I was upset because it seemed that only about 5 of us made the transition.

On Picard , agree that he should have been kept..playing extremely well.
Mucho Gracias Coach Bill
What time will you guys be there?

[Ajax]

You now have to sign in and be accountable for your statements and PD doesn't like it. One guess why folks?
I was reading an article about Ottawa. The fewest 5 on 5 goals in the NHL. The fact that Picard and Kuba are their top Dmen might have something to do with their awful start PD. Kuba has alot of PPlay assists, and your assumption is he is the next Bobby Orr. No way. They have exactly the same problems as we do, no flow, no transition. A five game losing streak with only 4 real Dmen on their roster. That is why Picard is getting so many minutes. Necessity. The Dallas deal, HO HO, HA HA. No Brainer to all with brains. Jokinen by himself might have been a fair trade. Just kidding, but let's not go down that insane path on a beautiful Sunday. Anyone else get the idea that Roberts and Gratton are sitting for something other than a minor injury(like a trade?) They said Gratton has skated two days in a row but is a scratch. I told ya's. Now lets bring in another Eminger type trade to help the D. The blog hasn't come to a halt the crapola has, very refreshing. Leafs blew another one last night. How sweet it is. The league should be looking very proactively about some flexibility in salary cap to help small market teams. Don't wait for the bomb to hit, start planning for it now. But they won't.

[Boltflasher]

The other team that may be looking at a new coach or GM change after XMAS is Dallas. Dallas wanting Smith back?...Lots of speculation on the Dallas situation on last night's Hot Stove(What!! did I hear right? the Canadian guys admitting TB may have gotten the better end that deal?)

[Boltflasher]

I, for one, am very glad for the sign in. Its a couple of key strokes more work but, hey, if I wanted to read that vulgarity I would go to a porn site.

I'm fine with the Picard updates, they don't bother me. I'm glad he's playing well for a team that's had similar problems to this one. I wish we still had him and hated he was included in that trade. A little more patience here and that trade may not have been needed (though Meszaros has held his own). I still think that team, however, may be the future home for Torts after XMAS...

[Coach Bill]

PD -I'm glad you clarrified "goof". Nothing "good"came out of the insulting,vulgar worthless posts we've had to put up with this season. I can see how many are upset with you, but I do think you're worth reading. Hang in there. Call us at Shots on Dec 18th (813)301-6705 You too, Leo

[PD]

make that some goof

[PD]

Differ with you on Picard Mike
Don said he would be in Binghampton within 2 months, Ajax panned him.

I think this blog has come to a screeching halt due to the Blog security police.

All because some good wanted to play impersonator for awhile.

I think we have overreacted.

[mike p]

PD, I never said you were bashing...that was bingo. I just said I was tired of the Picard updates. They are meaningless. Again, yea he USED to be on our team and for the most part he was liked. I wasn't being sarcastic about your article, I actually found it very informative, if that is what you are referring to with your 'get a life' comment.

[Steve K]

Is that the same Picard HNIC picked apart a few weeks ago for his poor play? Why yes, it is. Is that the same Picard that was a -1, just like Kuba, in Ottawa's 4-1 WIN? Yes it is, but I guess PD missed that.

[PD]

Heh MP all the sunbelt teams are on the revenue sharing plan.
That's bashing?, get a life

[bingo]

PD please stop with the tampa bashing...... There is not a mention of a single team in the article outside of the fact that some North American teams are not doing very good. They must be pointing to the Wings..... empty house many games.... get over yourself.

Bingo

[Marcel]

The first news about Halpern skating was over a month ago, NO way has he been "progressing" so well, otherwise he'd be with the team by now.

He'll be lucky to be back by January and luckier to remain playing at all.

Sorry folks, he's finished.

[mike p]

Interesting article PD...but could you knock it off with the picard updates. Tampa didn't get rid of him because they wanted to. We all knew he was good. They just wanted to get something they hoped was far better in Mez. Nobody in Tampa that I heard from really doubted Picard.

[PD]

Flasher try this one too
http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081119.wspt_shoalts20/GSStory/GlobeSportsHockey/home

There are 12 US teams on league welfare including Tampa. With the CDN dollar dropping that ends so the league will have no problem with relocation.

Huge hit in salary cap after next year.

The league should be kissing Ballsilies butt.

[PD]

Picard named 1st star in Montreal game Friday , 3rd Star tonght vs Rangers
Three Stars
1. D. Alfredsson - OTT (Goals: 1, Assists: 0)
2. J. Ruutu - OTT (Goals: 0, Assists: 1)
3. A. Picard - OTT (Goals: 0, Assists: 1)

[Lightning Rod]

I heard that the coaching staff had to force Halpren take a day off from skating, as he was pushing to hard. They also said he was progressing very well. All sounded good to me.

[Boltflasher]

Not sure can make the Devils game tomorrow night, but the new 3rd jersey is OK...much better than several other teams 3rds (did you see the Penguins?)

Again, wondering on how Halpern's skating workouts are going...

On other fronts, Balsillie is again after the Preds:

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=982129

[bingo]

Just what we do not need at the moment, injuries. The game last night was good for a change they had the lead, held it stuffed a bunch of shots and scored 4 goals. The fact that there are injuries takes some of the joy from the 'W'. Let us hope they can go on without Lucas and Smitty and put another 'W' on the board.

A note for fans take a piece of paper and count each bad pass with a slash, behind the back no see um pass with an 'X' you will see the reason why we struggle getting things out of our end and why the PP sucks!.

Coach "T" that is what could use some work.

Bingo

I'll be at the game section 101 as usual c ya all there Sunday.