Martin St. Louis Honored By Tampa Bay Lightning With Tribute

Martin St. Louis Honored By Tampa Bay Lightning With Tribute Video

May 17, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; New York Rangers forward Martin St-Louis (26) gets first star of the game in game one of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports /

Tampa Bay Lightning pay tribute to team veteran Martin St. Louis during his return to Florida

Something about Martin St. Louis always turns every NHL fan into an emotional wreck.

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He won the hearts of New York Rangers fans during the Stanley Cup Playoffs when he lit the lamp on Mother’s Day, leading the team to victory in honor of his recently passed mother. He then led the team all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, playing a huge part in the team’s multiple-overtime battles against the Los Angeles Kings both at MSG and Staples Center.

Now, he’s back at it.

During his first game back in Tampa Bay post-blockbuster trade (which sent him to New York and Rangers captain Ryan Callahan to the Lightning), his former team paid tribute to him with a touching video during a TV break. It highlighted the thirteen years he spent with the club, ending with him winning the Cup in Tampa back back in 2004.

St. Louis got a chance to skate around and salute the crowd, receiving his standing ovation with a salute before heading back to the Rangers bench.

I know, Marty. I’m having trouble holding it together, too.

Although both teams are in the Eastern Conference, the NHL season is set up so teams from one division only play teams from the other division three times apiece; this year, two of the three games in this particular season-series are held in New York. That undoubtedly made this return all the more special; unless the teams face each other in the post-season, Martin St. Louis won’t have a chance to head back to Tampa Bay until next season.

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