McDonald Nominated For Masterton Award

TAMPA - Throughout Craig MacDonald's professional career, he has traveled on his fair share of planes, trains and automobiles playing in three different levels hockey.

And just when he started to earn some regular shifts at the NHL level in his 10th season, a puck to the face nearly derailed what has been an otherwise solid campaign for the 30-year-old in his first year with the Lightning.

For his seeing his hard work pay off in a regular shift this season, MacDonald has been nominated for the Bill Masterton Trophy by the Tampa Bay chapter of the Professional Hockey Writer's Association. The Masterton is awarded to a player who exemplifies the "qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey." The list of nominees is expected to be released by the league next week with the winner to be announced at the NHL awards show in June.

"To be nominated for an award like that, with the names of the people who are nominated, it's a tremendous honor," MacDonald said. "It's great to be able to put in a full year here and the opportunity they have given me."

Since leaving Harvard, MacDonald has played for seven different organizations and suited up for 12 different teams without playing in more than 35 games for an NHL team - that coming in 2002-03 with Carolina. This year with Tampa Bay, he has played in a career-high 55 and only missed one game after a puck hit him in the mouth, knocking out nine teeth which required four root canal surgeries.

"What I liked about him after that situation was that no matter what they did to him in the dentist chair, he wanted to play right away," Lightning coach John Tortorella said. "He's earned the respect of the coaching staff. ... He has certainly made the most of the time that he has been given to make a case to bring him back here next year."

CAPTAIN COMEBACK: Lightning captain Tim Taylor, who has been out all year following hip surgery, skated with the team for the first time this year Saturday morning and admitted to feeling some nervousness.

And while he's keeping his options open about the possibility of returning to the lineup for one or two games, weighing the risks is something he thinks about often.

"Is it very wise for me to come back and play to risk the rest of my life? I had this surgery so I could go the rest of my life without the pain I was going through," he said. "So I'm going to go out and practice and have fun with the guys."

NUTS AND BOLTS: C Jeff Halpern played Saturday despite being ruled out after the morning skate with a strained back muscle suffered Thursday in Boston. He increased his scoring streak to four games with a second-period assist and has points in seven of 10 games since coming from Dallas. ... D Mike Lundin suffered an injury to his left ankle in the second period after hitting the boards and did not return. He was walking with a limp after the game and will be re-evaluated Monday.

Erik Erlendsson