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DAMIAN CRISTODEROThe right wing, the Lightning and (maybe) his 4-month-old believe he will have another big season.
TAMPA - Martin St. Louis isn't quite sure the smile on his son Ryan's face means the 4-month-old recognizes him. But the smile on St. Louis' face while considering the possibility indicated its effect.
St. Louis couldn't overstate how much he missed his son during Tampa Bay's recent six-day road trip. And while their time together is all quality, St. Louis said with a laugh that bynow, he expected Ryan to be sleeping eight hours straight.
"Having a kid changed my life for the good," the Lightning right wing said Monday at the St. Pete Times Forum. "Everything is a learning process. Every day, there's something new. It's pretty neat."
With that kind of Norman Rockwell vibe waiting for him at home, it isn't surprising St. Louis seemed unconcerned about an uneven preseason in which he had zero goals in five games.
St. Louis said his hands, timing and the way he sees the ice are not yet honed. But he expects no problems in Friday's opener against the Bruins.
"I wouldn't want to have six goals in the preseason and slump when the season starts," he said. "I'd rather heat up when the season starts. Everybody wants to score goals, but I'm not worried about that."
Preseason can be a confusing time to watch a team's stars.
Statistics don't mean much because teams try different line combinations and shuttle prospects and rookies in and out of the lineup. And with so many penalties called (The refs also are trying to find a rhythm.), games usually devolve into special-teams battles.
Still, when a player such as St. Louis, or Vinny Lecavalier, who went six games without a goal, comes up empty, little lights go on.
St. Louis tied Lecavalier last season with a team-high 33 goals and played in his first All-Star Game. His 70 points were fourth. His 12 power-play goals and five winners were second. His plus-10 was first.
St. Louis' three preseason assists put him one point behind the team leaders. But assists without goals, well, that's like waffles without syrup. And the next thing you know, people are pounding their utensils on the table.
"Whenever you raise the bar, it comes with the territory," St. Louis said. "I expect nothing less than what I did last year, and I'm sure no one expects less of me. Is that pressure? I guess so. I'd rather have that pressure. I want that."
"Eh, training camp," coach John Tortorella said when asked about St. Louis' play. "I know Marty doesn't have that pilot light completely turned up yet. I'm pretty sure he's going to be ready Oct. 10."
There is little reason to doubt. St. Louis, 28, in the final year of a two-year, $2.5-million deal that pays $1.5-million this season, is one of the Lightning's hardest workers.
He said his energy steadily increased as the preseason continued, and he has been around the puck. His 11 shots were fourth on the team.
"I feel like I'm getting chances with my speed," St. Louis said. "Knowing that the chances are there, that's a positive thing."
"As long as Marty is around the puck and pursuing the puck, he's going to get scoring chances," right wing Ben Clymer said. "And when he gets scoring chances, things are going to happen for anybody who plays with him and this team. As long as he's generating offense, it's going to help us win."
St. Louis said the team's goals are to defend its Southeast championship and go further in the playoffs than last season's demise in the East semifinals.
But that is the big picture.
"We have to play 82 games before we get there," he said of the postseason. "We can't just wait for that time because if we don't take care of this time, we won't experience that time again."
No distractions, though Ryan is an exception.
"Of course, I'll forget about things when I get home," St. Louis said. "Kids change your life. Somebody depends on you."
It was enough to make him smile.