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The following are the official statistics for Lightning prospects playing within the Canadian Hockey League. Leading all prospects – for any team – is Stanislav Lascek with nine points in four games. Lascek finished seventh in scoring in the “Q” last season. Stats as of Monday, September 26:

Lightning 2005 third round pick Radek Smolenak, trying to build on his 32-goals last season, notched his first goal of the year Sunday in a 5-3 Kingston win over Mississauga. Smolenak scored the game’s first goal, 2:20 into the first period and finished plus-one in the game. In all, four Lightning prospects played on Sunday. In other action, the Lightning’s second third round pick in the 2005 draft, Chris Lawrence, scored his first this year as Sault Ste. Marie beat Erie 4-1. Lawrence, who had 11 goals and 40 assists last year, also registered a plus-one rating.

Tampabaylightning.com is reporting that the Lightning [url=http://www.tampabaylightning.com/prdetail.cfm?category=3&pressreleaseID=1161]have cut nine more players from their roster.[/url] All nine have been assigned to Springfield of the AHL whose training camp begins tomorrow. The nine players are: C/LW Ryan Craig C/W Andre Deveaux G Brian Eklund LW Mitch Fritz C Jason Jaspers RW Marek Kvapil D Doug O'Brien D Todd Rohloff C Nick Tarnasky

Eurohockey.net is reporting defenseman Henrik Bergfors, after being released from a tryout with Brynas of the Elitserien, [url=http://www.eurohockey.net/transfers/transfers.html?nationality=&country=&lastname=B&days=31]has signed with IK Comet of the Norwegian league. [/url]

Final cuts will reportedly be made Monday so this is the last chance for some of the Lightning's youth to make an impression. All eyes will be on the Lightning's three young defensemen battling for jobs in Tampa: [i]Andy Rogers[/i], Timo Helbling and [i]Doug O'Brien.[/i] TB-2 BUF-3 (Final-SO) [b]1st Period[/b] 1. Tampa Bay- [i]Artyukhin[/i], (Sydor, Helbling) (PP) [b]2nd Period[/b] 2. Buffalo- Hecht, (Fitzpatrick) 3. Buffalo- Vanek, (McKee, Gaustad) [b]3rd Period[/b] 4. Tampa Bay- [i]Artyukhin[/i], (Afanasenkov, Sydor) (PP) Shootout Loss- John Grahame, 31/33 (8/11) [b]Shootout[/b] TB-2 BUF-3 1. [i]Kvapil[/i] (0) 2. Fedotenko (X) 3. Afanasenkov (0) 4. Cibak (0) 5. Jaspers (0) 6. DiMaio (0) 7. [i]Craig[/i] (0) 8. Dingman (X) 9. Helbling (0) 10. Sydor (0) 11. [i]Artyukhin[/i] (0)

Stanislav Lascek netted three straight goals to start Chicoutimi’s Saturday night game against Acadie-Bathurst. Unfortunately, Lascek couldn’t get another in the post-overtime shootout as the Titan beat the Sagueneens 5-4 in a shootout. Lascek opened the scoring in the first with a shorthanded goal, then followed that up minutes later with a power play marker. He completed the hattrick at the end of the first with his fifth goal of the season. Lascek was named the game’s first star. In other action Saturday night…

Lightning center prospect Karri Akkanen [url=http://193.229.88.86/cgi-bin/06_kausi/jaakiekko/rt_team_roster.pl?LID=17&GID=148&TID=185857083&LANG=FI&TYPE=8&TIG=82&BIND=0]has turned up with HCM of the Finnish Suomi-Sarja Eastern Division.[/url] The Suomi-Sarja is Finland's third tier league behind the SM-liiga and the Mestis. A dated, but adequate, explanation of the Suomi-Sarja [url=http://www.eurohockey.net/leagues/national/fi/suomisarja/home.shtml]can be found at Eurohockey.net.[/url] Akkanen had an assist and 2 PIMs in his first game in the league, a 5-4 loss to VG-62 on Saturday.

Eero Somervuori notched an assist Friday in Ambri-Piotta's 4-1 win over Kloten. Eric Perrin recorded two assists in Bern's 4-1 win over SCL Tigers on Friday. His SC Bern club mow sits in first on the NLA table. Shane Willis had 3 assists Friday in Davos' 4-1 win over Lugano. He notched another helper in the team's 5-4 loss to EV Zug. Shane Willis, 5GP, 0-6-6 Eero Somervuori, 6GP, 1-4-5 Eric Perrin, 6GP, 0-5-5

In the morning write up of the Lightning's victory over the Panthers, Erik Erlendssson [url=http://bolts.tbo.com/lightning/MGBMB1AS0EE.html]writes that John Tortorella is now seriously considering carrying seven defensemen on the roster.[/url] Tortorella also indicates the decision may hinge on what is available on the waiver wire. The remaining young defensemen in camp, Timo Helbling, Doug O'Brien and Andy Rogers, are expected to suit up again tonight for the game against the Buffalo Sabres. Rogers, an unsigned former first round draft pick, would need a contract to begin the year in Tampa. By rule, he could still be sent back to junior after playing up to 10 NHL games. The team's final cuts will occur on Monday, which also is the day the Springfield Falcons' camp will open.

TB-5 FLA-0 (Final) [b]1st Period[/b] 1. Tampa Bay- Cibak, (Kubina) 2. Tampa Bay- Kubina, (Modin, Prospal) (PP) [b]2nd Period[/b] 3. Tampa Bay- Andreychuk, (Dingman, Taylor) 4. Tampa Bay- Afanasenkov, (Prospal, Lecavalier) [b]3rd Period[/b] 5. Tampa Bay- Cibak, ([i]Craig[/i], Boyle) WIN- Sean Burke, 26/26 (2/3) SO-Burke [b]Shootout[/b] TB-0 FLA-1 1. Richards (0) 2. Lecavalier (0) 3. St. Louis (0)