ANAHEIM, Calif. — For the better part of the past month Jonathan Drouin felt like a distant cousin, part of the Lightning family but rarely invited to the reunion.
“Mentally, you don’t feel part of the group, that was the hardest part for me,’’ said Drouin, who missed 11 of 15 gamed due to injuries before returning against Anaheim on Wednesday. “You are not in the video sessions before the game, you are not in this or that. So, definitely a little harder.’’
Drouin put himself back on the invite list in a strong return, picking up a goal and an assist in Tampa Bay’s 2-1 victory against Anaheim late Wednesday.