LIGHTNING SIGN FREE AGENT GOALTENDER MATHIEU GARON

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE courtesy of the Tampa Bay Lightning
July 1, 2011

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed free agent goaltender
Mathieu Garon (gah-ROHN, MA-tyew) to a two-year contract today, vice
president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced.

Garon, 6-foot-1, 206 pounds, played in 36 games with the Columbus Blue
Jackets last season, posting a 10-14-6 record with a 2.72 goals-against
average and a .901 save percentage. He also recorded three shutouts.
Garon led the Blue Jackets in goals-against average and was tied for the
lead in save-percentage and shutouts. His three shutouts were the
second-highest of his career.

A native of Chandler, Quebec, Garon has appeared in 275 NHL games with the
Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings and
Montreal Canadiens. He has posted a 116-106-25 career record with a .904
save percentage and 2.82 goals against average. Garon has posted
double-digit wins in each of the previous two seasons with a save
percentage above .900 as well as a goals-against average below 3.00 in
each of the previous three. He has played in two Stanley Cup Playoff
games, both in relief roles.

Garon, 33, has played in 246 career AHL games with Fredericton, Quebec,
Hamilton and Manchester, posting a 117-94-24 record. He was named to the
AHL All-Star Classic on two occasions, both in 2004-05 with Manchester and
again in 2000-01 with Quebec. He played junior hockey with Victoriaville
of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1995-98, appearing in 151
games. In 1997-98 he was named the Canadian Major Junior Goaltender of
the Year, to the CHL First All-Star Team and a First-Team QMJHL All-Star.

He was drafted by Montreal in the second round, 44th overall, of the 1996
NHL Entry Draft.