Despite back-to-back starts in which he held the Avalanche to four goals on 62 shots, his ticket is just about punched for a return to the IHL's Detroit Vipers.

Because he was called up on an emergency basis when Kevin Weekes went on injured reserve with a sprained knee, Kochan must return to the minors when Weekes returns. That is expected to be Thursday.

"I'm kind of the odd man out," Kochan said Tuesday, one day after his 31-save effort helped forge a 2-2 tie at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

Kochan may get a reprieve if Dan Cloutier, who backed up Kochan on Monday, continues to feel the effects of a viral infection that gave Kochan the opportunity to start.

Either way, Kochan has given the team depth in net, something it hasn't had in a while. When you factor in 19-year-old Evgeny Konstantinov, also in Detroit, goaltender may be Tampa Bay's deepest position.

Kochan, 26, back and forth from Detroit as an injury fill-in, has been terrific. In seven games, he has a 2.08 goals-against average, and is tied for fourth in the league with a .933 save percentage.

"He's making an impression on us," assistant general manager Jay Feaster said.

Kochan was a mystery man last season when the Lightning signed him from the Binghamton Icemen of the United Hockey League. He allowed three goals in seven minutes against the Stars in his first game.

"I don't think people understood what a big jump that is," coach Steve Ludzik said.

"It's like going from high school football to the NFL."

But after working with goaltenders coach Jeff Reese -- get larger pads, Reese told him, and white pads that appear bigger in net -- Kochan is showing confidence, athleticism and much better technique.

"If I'm going to be sent down, I want it to be on my own terms, not because I'm playing badly," Kochan said.

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