Hedman improves joining the rush

During the early parts of the season, rookie D Victor Hedman needed the reigns pulled back on him when it came to jumping up the ice to join the rush.

Too often the soon-to-be 19-year-old would get caught too far up the ice.

Lately, however, Hedman has been picking his spots well when getting up the ice, a big reason the No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 draft has two goals in four games heading into Sunday's game against the Blackhawks.

"I think his decisions on when to go are getting better, the past couple of games he's making the right time to go up, where maybe a month ago he was going up anytime he wanted and that's why he was getting caught," Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said. "Now he's starting to recognize the right time to go and being the fourth guy. And we really need to get that fourth guy in the play."

While shifting back to the left side of the ice, a more comfortable setting for the rookie, has helped his game, knowing when to pick his spots comes from discussions with the coaching staff about his decision making and also from experience.

"You have ups and downs, but it feels like I've been coming back pretty strong the last couple of games and I feel like I'm more calm on the ice and with the puck," Hedman said. "It all comes with experience, but you still have to make good reads out there, too. My two goals I felt like they were good plays, both of those, but of course you have to choose the right time to join the rushes. And obviously you get more and more used to it and more confident in joining the rush."

Return trip

D Matt Walker only spent one season playing for the Blackhawks, and although he was part of a team that reached the Western Conference final last season, returning to United Center for the first time didn't give him a sentimental feeling.

"No special thoughts, really, I spent one year here and had a lot of fun, had a good playoffs so it was pretty exciting," Walker said.

While Walker said he still is close to many of the players on the Blackhawks, returning to St. Louis, where he played parts of five seasons with the Blues, still holds a special meaning for him.

"Going back to St. Louis last year with Chicago, that was a little bit of a goofy feeling because you know so many people around the building," he said. "I know so many people outside of the players, they have changed a lot, but the staff around the arena, security guards, I just know so many people there."

Unbalanced

In the previous four games entering Sunday, the Bolts had 11 power-play chances compared to 18 for the opposition. While the penalty kill has been solid during that time, killing off 17 of 18 chances, Tocchet said Tampa Bay is not doing enough to earn enough chances.

"To get penalties, you have to go to contact areas," Tocchet said. "If you play an outside game, the odds of getting penalties are decreased. We have to generate some penalties. How do you do that? Go through people, go to the net, hit. That's where you get dragged down. That's where you get hooked. If you sit around the boards all night there's no reason for a team to take a penalty."

Nuts and bolts

Lightning scratches were D Lukas Krajicek and D David Hale. ... The Lightning will donate various street hockey equipment, including goalie pads and masks, sticks, nets and street hockey balls, to the Tampa Police Athletic League community center this morning.

Erik Erlendsson