Tampa Bay Lightning's Andrej Meszaros back after facial, shoulder injuries

EVERETT, Wash. — Lightning defenseman Andrej Meszaros wasn't hit in the face with a slap shot from just anybody.

He was hit last season by a screamer from Carolina's Anton Babchuk, who once won the AHL's hardest shot contest.

So when Meszaros did not miss a game, playing the next day despite a fractured maxilla pushed back into place by hand, and 64 stitches in his upper lip, gums and tongue, his teammates took notice.

Not just of his pushed in mug — "I remember checking out myself in the mirror, and I was, like, 'Oh, my God, this is bad,' " Meszaros said — but his will and character.

"Guys really respected how tough he was," center Jeff Halpern said. "When you come to a new team, there always can be one thing that really makes guys appreciate you, and for him, that was it, just to see how much he wanted to be out there."

Now you know why the past seven months have been so brutal for Meszaros, who, Tuesday night against the Coyotes at Comcast Arena, saw his first real action since Feb. 4 when a torn left shoulder labrum ended his season and streak of 298 consecutive games.

"Every time I saw guys play, I wish I could be there," said Meszaros, who had surgery in March to repair the damage caused by a check from Penguins star Evgeny Malkin. "It was tough. Now, I'm looking forward to getting a new streak going."

And creating a new story line in which performance matches expectations, something that did not happen last season after he signed a six-year, $24 million free-agent contract.

Meszaros, 23, had 26 goals, 11 on the power play, and 110 points in three previous seasons with the Senators. Last season: two goals, 16 points in 52 games.

He also had a difficult time getting shots on net, especially early.

Meszaros said it simply is a matter of concentration. And coach Rick Tocchet said if Meszaros can be more consistent and continue to get into the traffic areas on defense, something Meszaros improved as last season progressed, he can be a force.

"He moves the puck. He has a terrific slap shot, he knows our penalty kill and can add to the power play, so you're adding a quality defenseman," Tocchet said.

As for Tuesday's game, "I'm just looking for him to go out there and get his feet wet and get his bearings," Tocchet added.

"I'm excited," Meszaros said before the game. "I can't wait to go out there and play."

Which brings us back to the second period on Jan. 3, when Meszaros was hit by Babchuk's slap shot; the bloody gash under his nose belying the damage under the skin.

Not only was there a fracture of the maxilla, which runs from the bottom of the nose to the top of the teeth, the bone was so severely displaced it pushed Meszaros' two top-right front teeth behind the two on the left.

Lightning trainer Tommy Mulligan said team oral surgeon Bob Orta, by hand, pushed the bone back in place and realigned the teeth.

"It was almost like they levered it back together," Tocchet said. "They pieced it back together. It looked bad. I wouldn't wish that on anybody."

Sixty-four stitches, a CT scan and 90 minutes later, Meszaros lobbied to return to the game, but with few minutes remaining, it was not worth it.

Meszaros told Tocchet, "If I'm not playing tonight, I'm definitely playing tomorrow."

He did, and wore a cage mask for 14 games until the shoulder injury took him off the ice.

"It showed me a lot about him," Tocchet said. "That day it was, like, 'Wow, he really is a team guy. He wants to play here and was willing to put it on the line for the team. He really showed us.' "

It's finally time to do it, again.

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com