Lundin surprises himself, works back into lineup

The last NHL game D Mike Lundin played for Tampa Bay came last Dec. 10 in Buffalo. The 25-year-old was pretty sure that was going to be his last game in a Lightning uniform.

"My wife always gets on me for being too pessimistic (because I was) saying that I didn't ever see myself playing in Tampa again," Lundin said Sunday.

Over the summer, Lundin saw his name falling further down the depth chart as Tampa Bay addressed needs on the blue line. Thinking he wasn't in the Lightning's plans, he and his agent were hoping he could be moved and didn't sign a contract until just before the start of training camp.

But a day after being called up from Norfolk of the American Hockey League, Lundin was in the lineup against the Thrashers and had 13 minutes, 29 seconds of ice time.

After appearing in 81 games as a rookie out of the University of Maine in 2007-08, Lundin was sent to the minors midway through last season, was never brought back up and didn't make the team out of training camp. He said while the demotion was a blow to his pride, he used the time in the AHL to improve his game.

"I think I kind of got in the habit while I was up (in the NHL) of trying not to make mistakes, so when you play like that you are not going to do a whole lot of good," he said. "So I went down there, started having fun, starting getting confident and with the confidence and a little more passion for the game comes the aggressiveness and wanting to be up there making plays, wanting to be in guys' faces."

Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said that was one of the elements Lundin needed to work on.

"He has to get in people's faces and strip pucks from people and that's the aggressiveness we're looking for from him," Tocchet said. "With Lunds, we would like to see him hit but we are looking for more of the aggressiveness of stripping pucks, getting on the right side of the pile, box guys out and don't let somebody outmuscle you in front of the net. That's the kind of physicality we are looking for."

If not for bad luck ...

The long, strange trip that is the 2009-10 season for D Matt Smaby took another twist over the weekend when he was injured on his second conditioning stint of the season with Norfolk.

Smaby has yet to play a game for Tampa Bay this season. He had his first conditioning assignment cut short because of injury last month and his latest attempt ended with an injury to his left hand that Smaby said didn't even occur during a game.

"I feel really frustrated right now," he said. "I feel that I went down the last time and played really well and showed that I am an NHL player, and then two games in this time this happens.

"It might sound strange, but the more I think about this season, the crazier it would make me right now. But it is what it is."

Smaby said he hopes the injury will only keep him out for a couple more days.

Nuts and bolts

LW Todd Fedoruk was a healthy scratch. ... Tampa Bay's 15 shots in the first period were the most in a period this season since Oct. 10 against Carolina. ... With 11 forwards dressed, D Kurtis Foster took shifts at forward. ... LW Stephane's Veilleux's second-period goal was his first since March 22. ... C Steven Stamkos appeared in his 100th game. ... RW Marty St. Louis had his first multi-point game since Oct. 12.

Erik Erlendsson