5 random players you forgot were on the Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay Lightning: Olaf Kolzig

Kolzig’s Tampa Bay tenure was almost as brief as Barry Melrose’s concomitant and more publicized attempt at a coaching comeback.

A prime candidate for understatement of the decade was that the 2008-09 Melrose could not rekindle the formula that brought his Los Angeles pupils to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final. Likewise, Kolzig was nowhere near his form from Washington’s run to the 1998 final, his 2000 Vezina Trophy campaign, or his other two appearances among that prize’s top 10 candidates.

Nor could the goalie they called Godzilla char opposing offenses on Tampa’s behalf the way he used to habitually short-circuit the Lightning.

As a Capitals prospect or staple for 19 years, Kolzig got the better of the Bolts more than any other opponent except the Islanders and Hurricanes/Whalers. His 25 career victories over the Lightning fall one shy of a tie with his 26 at the Isles’ or the Carolina/Hartford franchise’s expense.

But in a way, after leaving the Capitals, he did improve Washington to 26 victories over Tampa in games involving him. On November 10, 2008, he made his fourth of eight appearances in the Lightning crease, and conceded four goals on 30 shots in a 4-2 loss at his former workplace.

Three nights later, Kolzig and the Bolts brooked another loss, and Melrose was out as Tampa Bay’s coach the next day after 14 games.

Barely a month later, Kolzig played his final NHL game. Six days after beating Montreal, he ruptured an arm tendon in practice and underwent season-ending surgery. The Bolts sent his rights to Toronto later that winter, but he retired before he could dress for the Maple Leafs.

With the Lightning, the 38-year-old Kolzig went 2-4-1 in eight appearances. His 3.66 goals-against average was his most swollen since 1993-94, when he was still a rookie in Washington’s system.