Smith is number one in Tampa

From Damian Cristodero of the St. Petersburg Times:

So much for the idea the Lightning lacked confidence in goaltender Mike Smith. Brian Lawton, the team’s vice president of hockey operations said Monday that the No. 1 job “is Mike’s job to lose,” and that the two-year, $4.4-million contract extension was a way “to instill some confidence in him. … We wanted to eliminate any doubt where we stand. We are behind him 1,000 percent.”

Read the entire entry from Lightning Strikes here.

Good decision on Lawton’s part. Smith should be capable of carrying the load in Tampa and giving him confidence heading into the season can only help matters.