Ramo up amid quandary

At the least, the goalie arrives at an interesting time of year.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published March 20, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Getty Images] Lightning management says the callup of Karri Ramo from Springfield has nothing to do with Tampa Bay's 7-1 loss.

TAMPA

Karri Ramo said he has no indication about when, or if, he will play for the Lightning this season.

But considering what coach John Tortorella had to say, the goaltender, called up Monday from AHL Springfield, better keep his game face ready.

"He is part of the equation," Tortorella said. "He's not here to see his teammates so he knows them better during camp next year. We're going to make decisions accordingly. Do I want someone to take the ball and run with this and be consistent? That's what we need."

Tortorella and general manager Jay Feaster stressed Ramo's callup was not a reaction to Sunday's brutal 7-1 loss to the Capitals. Feaster said the decision was made Friday. Tortorella said he has wanted to bring up Ramo "for weeks."

Feaster said with Springfield out of the playoffs, it was time to give the 20-year-old Finn some NHL exposure and exposure to the Lightning's way of doing things.

That said, Tampa Bay's goaltending situation is muddled as ever after Johan Holmqvist and Marc Denis allowed Washington seven goals on 29 shots.

Neither has showed the consistency Tortorella sought after he said he wanted one to emerge and carry the team into the playoffs. And Tampa Bay's .884 save percentage is last in the league.

Still, it would be shortsighted to believe Ramo starts tonight against the Islanders at the St. Pete Times Forum. He has not played since Thursday and has one practice in his new environment.

But if the goaltending struggles against New York, Ramo perhaps gets a chance or at least dresses as a backup.

"I'm ready to play if I have to," he said. "I'm not going to think about it. If I have a chance to play, I just play."

"He is in the equation," was all Tortorella would say. "If people are upset with it, tough - play. That is what's going to make the decision for me."

Ramo was sound for Springfield.

The 191st overall pick of the 2004 draft was 15-24-1 with a 3.13 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage in 45 games and was the last-place Falcons' only representative at the AHL All-Star Game.

He stopped 16 of 18 shots in his only NHL appearance, Dec. 2 at Ottawa, after Holmqvist was pulled in a 5-2 loss.

"The reports we have on Ramo since the turn of the year, are that he is ready to play at this level now," Feaster said.

The Lightning, sixth in the East but just four points from ninth and being out of the playoffs, has plenty of other problems.

Right wing Marty St. Louis has 39 goals but hasn't scored in seven games. Center Brad Richards has one goal in eight. Secondary scoring from Ruslan Fedotenko, Eric Perrin and Ryan Craig almost is non-existent and the blue line is banged up.

But as Holmqvist acknowledged, "Goalie is the position that pretty much wins and loses hockey games."

The question is, which Lightning goalie will play ... and when?

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.

[Last modified March 20, 2007, 01:07:02]