LIGHTNING REASSIGN MATTIAS RITOLA TO NORFOLK

For immediate release courtesy of the Tampa Bay Lightning

March 30, 2011

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have reassigned forward Mattias Ritola
(REE-toh-lah) to the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League today,
vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced.

Ritola, 6-foot, 192 pounds, has appeared in a NHL career-high 31 games
this season with the Lightning, recording career-bests with four goals and
eight points. He has also averaged 10:03 in ice time per game. Ritola
recorded his first career multi-goal game March 14 at Toronto on his 24th
birthday. He has played in nine games with the Admirals this season,
recording two goals and 11 points with a plus-4 rating.

A native of Borlange, Sweden, Ritola is a veteran of 220 AHL games with
Norfolk and the Grand Rapids Griffins. He has amassed 43 goals and 117
points during his AHL career and had his best season in 2009-10 when he
tied for third on the Griffins with 42 points in 73 games, while ranking
third on the team with six power-play goals and also recording an AHL
career-high 178 shots. Ritola has played in eight career Calder Cup
Playoff games, recording two assists.

Ritola was originally selected by the Red Wings in the fourth round, 103rd
overall, at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He joined the Lightning after being
claimed off waivers from Detroit on October 5, 2010.

~ALL IN~