2010 Winter Olympics: Tampa Bay's Ryan Malone Brings Home The Silver

It definitely wasn't the ending Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Malone had envisioned when he dreamed of his participation in the Vancouver games but as a silver medalist, he won't be complaining.

Malone was a key cog in Team U.S.A.'s drive to the gold medal game, putting up five points in the six games, including three goals.

He factored in U.S.A.'s first win of the tournament, getting a power play goal that put the Americans up 3-0 on Switzerland. They would go on to win 3-1.

Malone assisted on Phil Kessel's opening goal and added one of his own against Norway in game two, one the U.S. won going away, 6-1. 

He factored again in the semi-final matchup against Finland, scoring the game opening goal and adding a power play assist as Team U.S.A. blitzed the Fins in a six-goal first period and went on to advance to the goal medal match, 6-1.

While Sidney Crosby ended his gold medal dreams, the Lightning certainly hope Malone continues to find his scoring touch for the stretch run.

While Malone can enjoy being a silver medalist, he isn't the only member of the Lightning to bring home a medal this Olympics. Antero Niittymaki's Finland team defeated Andrej Meszaros' Slovakia in the Bronze medal game in the Vancouver games.

Niitty saw no playing time for the Fins, but maybe he should have, as Miikka Kiprusoff gave up 11 goals in six games, including four to Malone's team U.S.A. before he was pulled. In Kiprusoff's defense, he did put up a shut out against the Czech Republic.

Meszaros played about 18 minutes a game for Slovakia, not getting any points and putting up six penalty minutes.

Mattais Ohlund played around 19 minutes a game for team Sweden, scoring a goal as his team cleared the tournament preliminary round undefeated. Unfortunately for the Swedes, they would be upset by Slovakia in the quarterfinals and fail to advance to the medal round.

Lightning prospect Martins Karsam's Latvia team would go winless in the tournament, but Karsams did add two points, assists against Russia and the Czech Republic.

Tampa Bay resumes their NHL schedule and the push for the postseason Tuesday night with a crucial "four point game" with the Philadelphia Flyers.