Lack gets chance to resurrect career

He never quite got there, posting a 5.29 GAA and .813 save percentage in four outings before being waived and subsequently demoted to AHL Stockton in late November.

“They sent me down to tell me that I was going down to play and get my game back, and then I barely got any starts down there either, except the back-tobacks,” said Lack, who said Thursday it was then that he asked for a trade.

“I don’t really want to get into it and throw dirt in any way, but it wasn’t the situation I was looking for, so I wanted out. They were obviously looking for something else and they didn’t get it in me and it was just time to move on.”

The Flames swapped Lack, who were only paying half of his $2.75 million salary, for minor league defenceman Dalton Prout. Things have certainly worked out brilliantly for the Flames as David Rittich, who started for the Flames Thursday night, has been rock solid as Smith’s caddie.

Before Thursday’s game, Rittich was 4-1-2 for the Flames with a sparkling 2.23 GAA and .926 save percentage.

Just what the team needed.

Lack, meanwhile, got some much-needed confidence back by posting a 2.13 GAA in five starts with the Devils’ AHL farm team in Binghampton before being summoned to the parent club Sunday. He allowed just one goal in 30 minutes of relief in Tuesday’s 5-3 loss in Ottawa and was Keith Kinkaid’s backup Thursday against Calgary.

Although happy to be back on the NHL in time to see his former teammates at the Prudential Center Thursday morning, the reunion wasn’t sentimental.

“Yeah, it would have been different if I would have been there a long time, but I was there such a short period of time,” smiled Lack, a laid-back type whose tattoo collection includes a taco — his favourite food — on his right arm.

“The guys were great in the room so it’s good seeing them again. I wish them all the best, except for tonight.”

Regardless of where his career goes from here, there’s no denying the pending unrestricted free agent is in a better place. Reunited with goalie coach Rollie Melanson, who helped Lack post a pair of impressive seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, he feels there’s hope his NHL career can be resurrected.

After all, he was barely NHL material in Carolina the previous two seasons where his save percentage of .901 and .902 respectively earned him a scathing review from coach Bill Peters at one point.

“It’s been really good so far,” said the lanky, 6-foot-4 goalie who was never drafted.

“From Day 1, Rollie has had a good plan for me. When I was down (in Binghampton) I was playing every game, trying to get back on track. I’m back now and healthy and here we go.” recalled from the Toronto Marlies, and whether he has been on the ice at evenstrength or while the Leafs are down a man, he has been a factor.

None of this comes as a surprise to Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe.

“There has been a lot of maturing that has gone on with Kappy, in everything,” Keefe said. “How he prepares to play every day, the effort that he gives, figuring out what he is or what he needs to do to be able to play every day for the Leafs. With (the Marlies), it was focusing on his time on the penalty kill, focusing on being good away from the puck, focusing on being competitive, all those little things.

“You add the fact he is a dynamic player and he has elite speed. He has created a real defensive foundation.”

Keefe believes Kapanen will be able to sustain his play with the Leafs.

“When things get tight and are at the most competitive, when you have legs, you can really skate, it creates opportunity for you and it creates challenges for the opposition,” Keefe said.

Said Kapanen: “Speed is something I work on mostly in the summers and coming in this year, I felt faster than ever.”