Lightning return Segal to Norfolk

nor_200.jpgThe Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL parent club of the Norfolk Admirals, have reassigned right wing Brandon Segal to the Admirals, Lightning Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced today.

Segal, 6-foot-2, 214-pounds, has appeared in his first two career NHL games over the last week with Tampa Bay. He appeared in his first career NHL game Tuesday night against Pittsburgh, skating 14:45 and recording one hit, one takeaway and one blocked shot. He also skated for the Lightning last night versus St. Louis, recording two shots and three hits in 12:50 of ice time.

Segal has appeared in 52 games with the Admirals this season. His 21 goals rank second on the club while his 41 points are tied for fourth. Those marks are also AHL career highs for the sixth-year professional. This season, Segal also has a +1 rating, 70 penalty minutes, four power play goals, one shorthanded goal and two game-winning goals with the Admirals, and he appeared in the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic.

A native of North Delta, British Columbia, Segal is a veteran of 387 American Hockey League games between Norfolk, Portland and Milwaukee. He has 89 goals and 77 assists with 448 penalty minutes in those games. Segal has played in 41 career Calder Cup Playoff games with five goals and eight points. He helped the Milwaukee Admirals win the 2004 Calder Cup and also helped them to reach the 2006 Calder Cup Finals.

Segal, 25, was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the fourth-round, 102nd overall, of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He was acquired by the Tampa Bay Lightning from the Anaheim Ducks on February 26, 2008. He played 242 career games in the Western Hockey League with the Calgary Hitmen, scoring 108 goals and 198 points with 358 penalty minutes.

Tonight, the Admirals and Lowell Devils will square off once again in a rematch of last night’s game at Scope. The puck drops at 7:15 p.m.