Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Mike Smith has a scare in first full game back after post-concussion syndrome

LOVELAND, Colo. — Mike Smith, a mischievous smile on his face, greeted an acquaintance Wednesday in a falsetto voice.

You could have predicted it from the Lightning goaltender, who spent plenty of time after Tuesday's 2-1 preseason victory over the Coyotes in Everett, Wash., feigning horror about being hit in his private parts by the skates of teammate Ryan Craig.

There was the line about no longer being able to have kids and the worry about how that conversation would go with longtime girlfriend Brigitte Acton.

Mostly, though, there was satisfaction that Smith survived a fairly violent collision without ill effects.

There was concern when it happened. Smith, coming off an eight-month recovery from post-concussion syndrome, lay on the ice while trainers came running after Craig, who made a nice block of a pass and slid hard, skates-first, into Smith.

"It was just the way he came into me with his skates," Smith said of why he stayed down. "I didn't know if I was cut. That was my first thought, 'Am I cut somewhere?' Kind of the wrong area to be cut in. But everything is good to go. Good to know I can take a hit, even like that."

Smith, who played 60 minutes for the first time, stopped 32 of 33 shots against Phoenix, and the lone goal appeared to be illegally kicked in. He has stopped 50 of 52 shots in two preseason games and goes again tonight in Winnipeg against the Oilers.

Coach Rick Tocchet said he has no doubts Smith will be ready to resume as the No. 1 goalie.

"Every practice and every game he goes through, he passes a test," Tocchet said. "It's great."

"I feel good," Smith said. "A little tired after (Tuesday's) game, but that's to be expected. It's nice to get back and play a full game and feel good about what's happening. But it's a process. I'm not where I want to be yet, but it's like riding a bike: You can't forget about how to do it."

More important than building his confidence has been regaining the confidence of teammates, Smith said:

"That's the biggest thing, showing them that I'm ready and I'm going to be the guy back there this year, and I'm back to the Smitty I was at the start of last year."

But, Craig said, "I don't think we ever lost confidence. We know he's one of the elite goalies in the league. To see him back there in the crease is a big boost for our hockey club."

Nothing false about that.

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.