MONTREAL - In an attempt to break a scoring drought of five goals in five games, the Lightning called up Shane Willis from AHL Hershey.
The right wing is expected to play tonight against the Canadiens. To make room, center Martin Cibak, scratched in seven consecutive games, was sent to Hershey.
"Maybe a guy like Willie gives us a little bit of a spark," Lightning general manager Jay Feaster said Monday.
"Whenever you change your lineup you look for a guy to be a spark," Willis said. "I don't think they expect me to score a lot of goals, but they expect me to bring some energy and create some scoring chances."
Willis, 26, provided that for Hershey with 10 goals and 10 assists in 23 games. He also is plus-7.
"Here's a player who has done everything we asked and put up numbers and scored pretty consistently," Feaster said. "He deserves that promotion."
Promotions have been almost non-existent for the only team in the NHL not to have a player sidelined because of injury. Center Alexander Svitov was called up but that was on merit.
"Given that," Feaster said, "we also don't want a guy putting up numbers to be discouraged. So with us needing a jump-start and seeing what (Willis) has done, the timing was right."
Tampa Bay also figured Cibak would not be claimed off waivers.
Easiest would have been to demote Svitov, who does not need to clear. But Feaster said he and coach John Tortorella believe Svitov is playing well. Cibak went on waivers Wednesday and cleared Friday.
WORLD CLASS: Prospects Mike Egener and Adam Henrich will attend Canada's tryout camp for the World Junior Championship.
