Brett Connolly has been seeing more ice time of late due to injuries and trades. Prior to logging double-digit ice time in five of his past six games, the 19-year-old rookie had averaged less than 10 minutes per game for 16 straight outings and he sat as a healthy scratch three times. The Tampa Bay Lightning had the option of returning him to junior before the trade deadline, but the team's brass never appeared to be very interested in that scenario. "The bottom line is he's going to play," GM Steve Yzerman said. "We are thinner up front and (now) he's taking a regular shift. He's playing on the power play. With (17) games left in the season, and if we make the playoffs, he'll get more experience. Playing in the NHL as a regular we think is a positive thing for him and he looks comfortable on the ice."