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From Center Ice - Erik Erlendsson

Atlanta morning update


ATLANTA - There was no morning skate today with the quick turnaround. But it looks like Lukas Krajicek and Andrej Meszaros will be in the lineup. Rick Tocchet said both will skate warmups and see how they feel, but he expects that both will play.

Sounds like Jussi Jokinen will be in tonight after allegedly sitting out with a lower-body injury on Saturday. Not sure who will be out if Jokinen does play.

Also, Mike Smith jumps right back between the pipes tonight. Tampa Bay needs victories, and Smith is their No. 1 guy.

Spoke briefly with Meszaros just to see how he was feeling and he said he was good and would play. His upper lip is obviously very swollen and there’s a nice mark where he has his stitches.

On a completely different day, the Houston Rockets played the Hawks here last night, so it’s not everyday you can get into an elevator with Yao Ming. Man, he is tall!!!!!

Send Us Your Comments

Posted by  Brittany, Orlando on 01/04  at  06:50 PM

Eh, I enjoy Smitty playing the puck. Sure he makes some boneheaded moves sometimes, but I think it is worth it. He will get stuck out of position, but he also single handedly killed off a penalty against the Habs the other day. He cleared it 3 times in a row, every time the Habs shot it into our end. I’ll take his screw ups because I think the benefits out way his occasional gaffe. Of course, he also has lucked out a few times. Sometimes he just needs to make a decision right away. The longer he holds it, the more trouble he gets into.


Posted by  Bolt Fan, S. Pasadena, FL on 01/04  at  04:57 PM

I agree that Smith gives the best chance to win; however, he needs to stick to being a goalie and stay in the crease instead of giving the puck away for empty net goals.

Marty Brodeur, he ain’t.


Posted by  Brittany, Orlando on 01/04  at  03:58 PM

The problem is that we dug ourselves a huge hole. The only way to get out of it is to win games. Smitty gives us the best chance to win so we have to play him. Of course, that means he has to play 9, 10, whatevere games in a row and he is going to get tired, but we have to run with him. Putting Ramo infront of our half AHL defense isn’t going to do anything to help us unfortunately. Hope the boys play well tonight and beat Atl to gain something for this road trip.


Posted by  Katya, Tampa, FL on 01/04  at  03:45 PM

There is nothing ridiculous about Smitty playing, he needs to play and to win.  If we jerk back and forth goalies that’s ridiculous!  Backup will play as needed, let number 1 be number1!


Posted by  Dustin, Oldsmar on 01/04  at  01:22 PM

For the love of all things… START RAMO, Smith is beat and his play is showing it. This is ridiculous. 189% ridiculous, I don’t even know if I want to watch this game now.


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Erik Erlendsson covers the Tampa Bay Lightning for The Tampa Tribune.


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