"When it comes to goaltenders, two is company and three is definitely a crowd.

That's the case, however, after Tampa Bay acquired Dwayne Roloson from the New York Islanders, pushing Tampa Bay's inventory of NHL goaltenders from two — Dan Ellis and Mike Smith — to three. Carrying three goaltenders on the roster can create an awkward and uncomfortable situation, particularly if it's for any length of time.

And while that's not the case yet, as Smith is out for at least another week as he recovers from a knee strain, at one point somebody will wind up as the third member of a goaltending duo.

"Right now we don't have three goalies, we have two, so there is nothing different than usual,'' Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. "It's the day that we have three, that's the day we'll have to address some things. But right now, nothing has changed. What's going to change is when we have three healthy goalies and we'll cross that bridge when we get there.''

So far, any sense of being uncomfortable has been minimal, if at all.

"I think maybe (a little), but since (Roloson) has been here I haven't felt really any awkwardness,'' Ellis said. "I'm still really good friends with Smitty and I know Rolie from the past, and getting to talk with him has been great.

"Right now it's no.''

That likely will change, however, when Smith returns from his knee injury, which could be next week. With Roloson, who pitched a shutout in his debut on Tuesday in Washington, expected to get a bulk of the playing time in the second half of the season, it's going to pit Ellis and Smith into a mini-competition to see who might be the other guy and who might be the odd man out."