Martin St. Louis said he was "expecting the worst" in his return to Tampa Bay as a member of the New York Rangers Wednesday night.
And he got it ... sort of.
The once beloved Lightning star was booed whenever he touched the puck and even during a video board tribute to the diminutive goal scorer.
The once beloved Lightning star was booed whenever he touched the puck and even during a video board tribute to the diminutive goal scorer.
St. Louis asked to be traded last season and then helped the Rangers get to the Stanley Cup Final. Lightning fans, who have not forgotten, seemed to have mixed feelings about his return to Amalie Arena.
"[The boos] were expected," St. Louis said. "But I understand. They care. They're great fans. They care."
Some fans tried to overtake the boo-birds with cheers by the time "Thank you Marty" appeared on the video board.
"It was great," St. Louis said. "Brought a lot of memories and I felt I wanted to give them the thank you that they deserved . . . I was very flattered by the ovation."
St. Louis was held without a shot all night while former Rangers captain Ryan Callahan — the other side of last season's blockbuster trade who has replaced St. Louis as a Tampa Bay fan favorite — scored the tying goal late in the first period and the go-ahead score at 10:17 of the second of the Lightning's 4-3 victory.
Welcome to your new life as a snowbird, Marty.