Backup goalie gets first start

Posted Oct 10, 2009 by Tribune Sports

Updated Oct 10, 2009 at 12:46 PM

TAMPA—No. 2 goalie Antero Nittymaki will make his first start for the Lightning tonight, as the team goes for its first win of the season against Carolina at the Forum.

Coach Rick Tocchet said this morning that top goalie Mike Smith is “fine” and that Nittymaki would have started even if Smith hadn’t taken a hard fall to the ice Thursday night against New Jersey. But Smith, who remained down for several anxious seconds after Jamie Langenbrunner crashed into him, apparently has some residual back soreness.

Lukas Krajicek also will play for the first time, but fellow defenseman Kurtis Foster will miss a third consecutive game with a lower body injury. Tocchet said Foster is still day-to-day. David Hale has the flu and isn’t expected to play.

After the morning skate, the Lightning announced they’re getting let wing Radek Smolenak back. They claimed him off waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks, who claimed him from Tampa Bay on Sept. 25 after a training camp roster reduction. Smolenak, 22, was Tampa Bay’s second choice (75th overall) in the 2005 draft and made his NHL debut with the Lightning last year, posting one assist and 10 penalty minutes in six games. He also scored 24 goals last year for the AHL Norfolk Admirals.