It seems defenseman Mike Lundin is out for tomorrow‘s Stanley Cup Super Sunday matinée against the St. Louis Blues. Mike’s been playing through pain the past through games — starting before the All-Star break.
But with the injury (not to mention Mattias Ohlund playing through pain of his own), it looks like the Lightning will make a recall from the Norfolk Admirals (who play the Binghamton Senators tonight at Scope arena in Norfolk).
That Recall beign Marc-Andre Bergeron.
Bergeron scored his first goal of the season just last night in Norfolk, and notched the game-winner as well.
The curious aspects about this recall is that Lundin (and Ohlund for that matter) not only are usually paired together defensively, but they aren’t looked at as offensive contributors. That is Bergeron’s strength. He is not normally credited as being a shutdown defenseman as Lundin is.
My guess is that Tampa Bay plays with seven defensemen tomorrow afternoon — with Matt Smaby and Bergeron both in the lineup. That is, if the recall does indeed happen as reported.
[Note by John Fontana, 02/05/11 6:02 PM EST ]The recall has now been made official. The press release is below the jump.
TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron from the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League today, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced.
Bergeron, 5-foot-9, 198 pounds, has played in 13 games with the Admirals this season, posting two goals and eight points after being signed as a free agent on January 4. He played in 60 games with the Montreal Canadiens last season, recording 13 goals and 34 points. He led all Montreal defensemen in goals and was tied for the lead in points. Bergeron was tied for the team lead for game-winning goals with four and third for power play goals with seven. He was tied for ninth in the NHL for goals among defensemen. Bergeron also played in three games with Montreal’s AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs, notching six assists.
A native of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Bergeron has played in 399 career NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild and the Canadiens. He has amassed 75 goals, 43 power play goals and 194 points. During the previous two seasons the offensive defenseman has ranked tied for fourth in the NHL among defensemen in goals with 27 and fifth for goals per game with .205. Bergeron has eclipsed the 10-goal barrier on three occasions since the 2005-06 season (2005-06, 15; 2008-09, 14; 2009-10, 13). Bergeron has also played in 43 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, recording five goals and 12 points, including 19 games last season with Montreal.
Bergeron was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Oilers on July 20, 2001.
Bergeron’s NHL.com Player Page: http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8469765#&navid=nhl-keymatch
Bergeron’s AHL.com Player Page: http://theahl.com/stats/player.php?id=3362
