Ohlund to injured reserve as roster cut-down looms [UPDATED]

The game of musical chairs will continue for one more day.

The music is still playing and that means no one needs to grab a seat yet. But one player who was due to have a seat waiting for him is temporarily absent from the game.

Times beat reporter Damian Cristodero alerted followers on Twitter today that defenseman Mattias Ohlund has been placed on injured reserve by the team for his continuing knee issues. This is the second season in a row that Ohlund will be absent from the season start; he was placed on IR exactly one year ago today, and missed two weeks. For immediate purposes, that reduces the roster to 25 players. 24, if you do not include defenseman Scott Jackson (who is injured, himself).

So Mattias Ritola, Blair Jones, Brett Connolly, Dana Tyrell and Tom Pyatt are now left to wonder which one among them will be left standing when the music ends tomorrow? Erik Erlendsson at the Tampa Tribune believes that signs - because fo the lack of waiver action by the team today, point to Tyrell being the odd man out, as he does not need to pass through waivers. But nothing is certain.

Baring the unexpected (a trade, or someone we did not predict to be cut being placed on waivers), we'll find out who the last man standing is sometime tomorrow.

UPDATE [by Cassie McClellan]:

As per the Lightning's Twitter page....

@TBLightning: The Lightning are expected to assign Dana Tyrell to Norfolk this afternoon.

And they did. The roster is now down to 23 players. For more, please read Lightning Launch to kickoff season for fans, players alike (includes the roster update).