SUNRISE, Fla. _ Ryan Callahan's momentum sent him into boards on his back. He threw out his hands and screamed. That goal felt good.
The Lightning winger came back from the All-Star break at the end of January, ready to play. Then he was told otherwise. The 33-year-old, veteran of 745 career games, was out of the lineup. He had been in the rotation of three forwards, but now he was No. 13 of 12.
Callahan called it a gut punch. He said he'd just have to make sure he was ready next time he got in the lineup. And the fourth-line winger did exactly that. He capitalized with a goal in his return to the lineup Sunday.
"It's always good to get an opportunity to get back in," Callahan said after the 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers. "You want to contribute so seeing that one go in is always good."
It looked good too. Callahan beat Aaron Ekblad in a foot race for the puck after Mathieu Joseph poked it away form Vincent Trocheck. With Trocheck closing in behind him, Callahan switched between forehand and backhand six times. He then flipped the puck over James Reimer on the backhand to score the game-winner.
This wasn't just Callahan's first goal since Jan. 10, it was also his first since Callahan was taken out of the regular lineup rotation.
"You have two options in that situation," he said. "You can get the poor-me's and sulk or you go in, work, wait for the next opportunity and make sure when that opportunity comes your ready. I just tried to take the approach of working every day."
Last week, Callahan said all he could do was try to prove himself in the games he did play. An upper-body injury to Ondrej Palat (day-to-day) gave Callahan that chance, and he seized it.
Callahan has only played two of the seven games since the break (he played in last Saturday's win over the Rangers when Brayden Point was hurt). It's not a simple as this, but the Lightning is 17-2-1 in Callahan's last 20 games. Tampa Bay is 6-4 in the 10 games without him in that stretch.
"It's not fun, let's just put it that way," Stamkos said. "He wants to be out there battling with the guys. He's an ultimate professional where he's going to work his (butt) off when he's not in the lineup. Obviously we love what he brings when he is in the lineup. He's been playing great.
In addition to the goal, Callahan made a season-high seven hits on Sunday. He also has three goals and three assists in his last eight games. He's been productive.
Even out of the lineup, Callahan has maintained his presence as a leader in the dressing room.
"That's the word, he has a presence," coach Jon Cooper said. "He's so well-respected in our room. Everyone respects him."
This was a great game for Callahan, but it doesn't necessarily change anything. He played because of an injury. Cooper has previously said Callahan will play again, but without any specificity of when. He's also said that young players, like Joseph and Adam Erne, need an opportunity to prove themselves.
So now, Callahan is back playing the waiting game.
"I felt good tonight," he said, "and if I get another opportunity in the next game, I need to do it again."
