Bergeron getting better with age

To some, Marc-Andre Bergeron is a defenseman by name only.

Bergeron was tagged with that label almost from the moment he arrived in the NHL with Edmonton in 2002-03. And after scoring 42 goals and 101 points in his final season of junior hockey, offense was Bergeron's obvious strength. As a result, many have questioned Bergeron's ability to manage the puck in his own end and whether the reward was worth the risk.

Throughout his eight-year NHL career, Bergeron was branded a one-dimensional player during stops with Edmonton, the New York Islanders, Anaheim, Minnesota, Montreal and, now, Tampa Bay. He entered Friday leading all defensemen in scoring with nine points through seven games and carries a five-game scoring streak into tonight's game against Buffalo.

While offense – and a blistering slap shot – always will be his biggest strength, it might be a bit unfair to say defense is a major weakness.

In fact, it wouldn't be cliché to say that as Bergeron has gotten older – he turned xxxx on Oct. 13 – he's gotten wiser.

"I just had my birthday and my dad told me that, 'It's good that you are getting older because you need to get smarter,' " Bergeron said. "So, I guess that with the age you are a little more mature and you understand the game better, and that's really the way I feel.

"When I was younger, I was kind of an all-out and not so much thinking, whereas now I'm trying to be a little bit smarter and use my strengths when it's time to use them and not trying to do too much.''

Instead of forcing plays, Bergeron is picking his spots.

"The big difference I've noticed is that he is managing the puck so much better in the defensive zone and making smart plays,'' said Lightning defenseman Bruno Gervais, Bergeron's teammate from 2007-08 with the Islanders. "He knows that he is going to get his chances off the rush or on the power play, but he has been really strong defensively and he competes every night.

"In New York that was maybe some stuff they would say, that he would try to create something out of nothing. And he's always been fairly good with the puck, but he's brought it to a new level right now.''

A year ago, Bergeron wasn't sure what his future held. After tearing the ACL in his right knee during the playoffs with Montreal in May 2010, Bergeron underwent surgery and intensive rehabilitation. He was unsigned until Tampa Bay offered him a contract in January.

Coming off the injury, however, Bergeron had a minimal impact with two goals and eight points in 23 regular season games. But in the playoffs, Bergeron showed his overall game no longer resembles the label placed on him early in his career as he was counted on to play more minutes after Pavel Kubina was sidelined with a concussion early in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Seventeen months after his surgery, Bergeron feels the difference between his right and left knees while stretching or training, but not on the ice.

"I don't think that it's affected my game," Bergeron said. "Obviously, last year when I came back for the first little while, it's in your head. It's a serious injury and it's a big surgery, a long road to recovery and it's not something that you want to happen again.

"I've tried to do everything right. It feels like everything is right. So, you try to respect it, take care of it and hopefully it stays healthy.''

In the offseason, Tampa Bay signed Bergeron to a two-year contract. In the early going, he has proven to be worth the commitment with the nine points and an average of just more than 19 minutes of ice time.

"It's a real good chance and for two years it's even better,'' Bergeron said. "With the family, not having to move around and being able to settle down a little means a lot to me. So, I want to give back to the Lightning and prove that I'm someone they can count on.''