The goaltending carousel landed Karri Ramo between the pipes Tuesday night, an area he could guard for the time being while the team waits to find out status of No. 1 goaltender Mike Smith.
Smith did not join the team in New York and is unlikely to join the team for tonight's game in Pittsburgh. The team's established top goaltender missed the past two days of practice with an undisclosed upper body injury, but Lightning interim coach Rick Tocchet said he doesn't believe Smith will miss an extended period of time. The coach said there were positive reports following extra treatment Smith received in Tampa on Monday.
Tocchet also clarified that Smith was not injured during a stick-slamming tirade after he was pulled in the third period against Philadelphia.
"No, no, no, no," Tocchet said when asked if Smith hurt himself heading to the locker room on Friday. "It wasn't from him smashing his sticks. It's something he's been dealing with, and after a couple of days he should be ready to go."
Ramo was tagged before the game to get the opportunity in Smith's absence, even after Mike McKenna was signed to an NHL contract for the rest of the season. However, Ramo didn't make it out of the second period after allowing three goals in a span of 3:25.
Tocchet said he was strongly considering giving McKenna, who has been the No. 1 goaltender for AHL Norfolk most of this season, the start on Tuesday, but he opted to go with Ramo. Tocchet was non-committal about who would start tonight at Pittsburgh.
Ramo had not played since Jan. 23 after being hit with a six-game suspension after coming off the bench and getting involved in an altercation at the end of a game with Norfolk.
"Karri did get some practice time in over the weekend and he was in the NHL last year, so he deserves to get the ball here and I'm going to give him the ball," Tocchet said. "I felt it was important that Karri had the confidence from me and let him know it's his game."
Ramo, who has been shuffled between Tampa and Norfolk four times since Jan. 16, hopes he can still show what he has got.
"It's just one game," he said. "I have to be ready the next time they call for me."
OTHER INJURIES: D Marek Malik skated with the team Tuesday, his second full practice since suffering an ankle injury against Philadelphia on Jan. 15 that has kept him out of the past six games. Malik said he's feeling better but had no timetable for a possible return as he continues to undergo treatment.
C Paul Szczechura also skated Tuesday for about 45 minutes, jumping on the ice toward the end of the morning skate to work with the scratches. Szczechura has missed seven games with a leg injury suffered on Jan. 13 in San Jose.
With LW Gary Roberts just about set to come back, the team will have decisions to make as the Lightning are currently scratching two healthy forwards.
Smith did not join the team in New York and is unlikely to join the team for tonight's game in Pittsburgh. The team's established top goaltender missed the past two days of practice with an undisclosed upper body injury, but Lightning interim coach Rick Tocchet said he doesn't believe Smith will miss an extended period of time. The coach said there were positive reports following extra treatment Smith received in Tampa on Monday.
Tocchet also clarified that Smith was not injured during a stick-slamming tirade after he was pulled in the third period against Philadelphia.
"No, no, no, no," Tocchet said when asked if Smith hurt himself heading to the locker room on Friday. "It wasn't from him smashing his sticks. It's something he's been dealing with, and after a couple of days he should be ready to go."
Ramo was tagged before the game to get the opportunity in Smith's absence, even after Mike McKenna was signed to an NHL contract for the rest of the season. However, Ramo didn't make it out of the second period after allowing three goals in a span of 3:25.
Tocchet said he was strongly considering giving McKenna, who has been the No. 1 goaltender for AHL Norfolk most of this season, the start on Tuesday, but he opted to go with Ramo. Tocchet was non-committal about who would start tonight at Pittsburgh.
Ramo had not played since Jan. 23 after being hit with a six-game suspension after coming off the bench and getting involved in an altercation at the end of a game with Norfolk.
"Karri did get some practice time in over the weekend and he was in the NHL last year, so he deserves to get the ball here and I'm going to give him the ball," Tocchet said. "I felt it was important that Karri had the confidence from me and let him know it's his game."
Ramo, who has been shuffled between Tampa and Norfolk four times since Jan. 16, hopes he can still show what he has got.
"It's just one game," he said. "I have to be ready the next time they call for me."
OTHER INJURIES: D Marek Malik skated with the team Tuesday, his second full practice since suffering an ankle injury against Philadelphia on Jan. 15 that has kept him out of the past six games. Malik said he's feeling better but had no timetable for a possible return as he continues to undergo treatment.
C Paul Szczechura also skated Tuesday for about 45 minutes, jumping on the ice toward the end of the morning skate to work with the scratches. Szczechura has missed seven games with a leg injury suffered on Jan. 13 in San Jose.
With LW Gary Roberts just about set to come back, the team will have decisions to make as the Lightning are currently scratching two healthy forwards.
