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SUNRISE - With a few hours left in a six-day trip that took the Lightning from Canada to South Florida, Martin St. Louis wanted to be home with his wife and new baby as much as any husband and father.
Yet there is a value to extended periods on the road. It's when teams find out who is whom. "This is a good time for the new guys, to get to know them," the right wing said. "It benefits us. You find out what kind of character everybody has."
Then there's the opportunity to re-establish the comraderie of the team's core.
"It never hurts to get all the guys together," defenseman Cory Sarich said. "There are no distractions out here on the road. It's just playing hockey and trying to get geared up and straightened out for the regular season.
"There are lots of jokes told on the road, lots of good times. Lots of things happen out here that don't happen at home. So it's a good way to kind of break the ice."
LINE UP: Coach John Tortorella has a lot of video to watch and line combinations to consider after mixing and matching during Saturday's preseason finale, a 3-2 loss to Florida. The only thing he's certain of is nothing is certain.
"I don't know what the lines are going to be," he said. "Even when we do start with some lines, those could change within the game, too. There are a number of options I have in mind."
Left wing Cory Stillman figures prominently in at least two. Stillman scored in the first period while playing with center Vinny Lecavalier and Dmitry Afanasenkov and in the third with St. Louis and center Brad Richards.
"I think (Tortorella) was trying to play everybody with everyone to see who has some chemistry," Stillman said. "I think if he throws you out on a line, you'll find out right away if it's working."
SURPRISE: Afanasenkov earned a roster spot playing on the right, his off wing. He said he learned the position last summer.
"The right side is probably better for me in my defensive zone because I am on my forehand," he said. "It's a little bit different in the offensive zone when you enter it, but if you adjust to it, you can play your game."
Afanasenkov assisted on Stillman's first goal and finished the preseason with a goal and two assists.
"He has created offense, battled for the pucks, has consciously tried to play away from the puck defensively," Tortorella said. "And he's matured."
RICK'S RETURN: In case you missed it, Panthers general manager Rick Dudley made his first appearance at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa since being forced to resign as Lightning GM in February 2002.
"It was nice to see the people around the building," he said before the Sept. 28 game.
Dudley said he still has a soft spot for Tampa Bay.
"I can't look at Martin St. Louis or Dan Boyle or Dave Andreychuk or any of those guys and not be very proud of them," he said. "They've accomplished great things."
Dudley said he has no lingering resentment about the way he and the Lightning parted.
"When you're general manager of an NHL team, you can't lament what was," he said.
MEMORIES: They were vivid for defenseman Darren Rumble and director of player personnel Bill Barber when the Lightning faced the Sabres Tuesday at Memorial Auditorium in Kitchener, Ontario.
Rumble played junior hockey for the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League from 1986-89. Barber played from 1968-72 and is in the OHL Hall of Fame.
"Awesome," Rumble said of his time with the team. "They really draw well. Great fan support and a good town."
It was the first time back in the building for Rumble, who met wife Jennifer while playing there.
"Just a great junior arena," Barber said.
ODDS AND ENDS: Boyle played Saturday after missing three games with a contusion under his collarbone. ... Tampa Bay opens at home Friday against the Bruins. ... Sunshine Network's preseason special is at 8 tonight. ... The team hosts a chamber of commerce luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Times Forum. It costs $25 for members of a Tampa Bay area chamber, $35 for nonmembers and $225 for groups of 10. For information, call Jude Tarris at (813) 301-6736.