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UNCjigga
Lifer
W00T OVERTIME!!! LETS GO FLAMES!!!
Watching this game in HD...my first hockey game in HD!!! OMG I can never watch hockey on a normal TV again! And 60fps kicks ass!
Not only can you always see the puck (whether its on ice or up high) but you can actually see the wobble and even the SPIN on the puck!!!
Watching this game in HD...my first hockey game in HD!!! OMG I can never watch hockey on a normal TV again! And 60fps kicks ass!
Not only can you always see the puck (whether its on ice or up high) but you can actually see the wobble and even the SPIN on the puck!!!
Lightning vow to force Game 7
Canadian Press
6/4/2004
TAMPA, Fla. (CP) - The cliches were flying inside a dreary Tampa Bay dressing room Thursday night, but the numbers do support the Lightning's bid to force a seventh game in the Stanley Cup final.
``We will bounce back,'' said veteran captain Dave Andreychuk.
The Lightning have not lost back-to-back games in the entire playoffs, and they sport a 6-3 road record, including a Game 4 win in Calgary.
``Absolutely,'' said Tampa winger Fredrik Modin. ``We know we can win there. We have a good road record in the playoffs and have confidence we can do it.''
Modin's goal 37 seconds into the third period Thursday tied the game 2-2 and propelled the Lightning to their best period of the game, but the Bolts couldn't finish off the resilient Flames before dropping a heart-breaker in overtime.
``It's such a fine line between winning and losing,'' said Modin. ``There were chances going both ways, even in overtime. ...
``I thought we gained back the momentum after my goal ... but that's all history now. It doesn't matter.''
What's hard to believe is how flat the Lightning came out on home ice in their biggest game of the season, outplayed and outshot 25-12 through two periods but kept in the game by netminder Nikolai Khabibulin.
The Bolts were beaten to loose pucks and giving up the kind of odd-man breaks they're accustomed to having with their high-octane offence. But for 40 minutes, it was Calgary giving it to Tampa.
``When a team simply wins all the battles in the first 40 minutes, it comes back and grabs you,'' said Tampa head coach John Tortorella.
Tampa veteran Tim Taylor credits Flames coach Darryl Sutter for motivating his players with his `us against the world' rant the previous day. Taylor thinks it had an impact on the game.
``Their coach gave them a rallying cry, talking about the league and all that stuff, he was smart,'' Taylor said. ``It worked for them, and we didn't respond.''
Tortorella shuffled his forward lines after the second period and loaded up his first unit by putting Martin St. Louis with Brad Richards and Vincent Lecavalier, a line that created chances. The second line of Modin, Andreychuk and Ruslan Fedotenko also had the Flames on their heels in the third period and overtime.
``I really don't know why we couldn't get on them earlier,'' Modin said. ``But we did eventually fight back and get in the game. We had chances to win it. But we can't be crying about it, we need to focus on the next one - it's a big one.''
Fedotenko and defenceman Pavel Kubina returned after missing Game 4 through injury, but Tortorella surprised many by making healthy scratches of winger Cory Stillman and defenceman Brad Lukowich.
Stillman, an 80-point man in the regular season, has only one assist in his last eight games and Tortorella had enough.
Still, Tortorella wasn't pleased with any of the performances from his key forwards.
``If Martin Cibak, Chris Dingman and Ben Clymer is your best line, it's simply not going to happen for you, no offence to them,'' Tortorella said of his fourth line. ``Your best players need to be your best players.''
They will be on Saturday, because the Lightning count on playing Game 7 here Monday night.
``Yes, we will,'' Tortorella said.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
6/4/2004
TAMPA, Fla. (CP) - The cliches were flying inside a dreary Tampa Bay dressing room Thursday night, but the numbers do support the Lightning's bid to force a seventh game in the Stanley Cup final.
``We will bounce back,'' said veteran captain Dave Andreychuk.
The Lightning have not lost back-to-back games in the entire playoffs, and they sport a 6-3 road record, including a Game 4 win in Calgary.
``Absolutely,'' said Tampa winger Fredrik Modin. ``We know we can win there. We have a good road record in the playoffs and have confidence we can do it.''
Modin's goal 37 seconds into the third period Thursday tied the game 2-2 and propelled the Lightning to their best period of the game, but the Bolts couldn't finish off the resilient Flames before dropping a heart-breaker in overtime.
``It's such a fine line between winning and losing,'' said Modin. ``There were chances going both ways, even in overtime. ...
``I thought we gained back the momentum after my goal ... but that's all history now. It doesn't matter.''
What's hard to believe is how flat the Lightning came out on home ice in their biggest game of the season, outplayed and outshot 25-12 through two periods but kept in the game by netminder Nikolai Khabibulin.
The Bolts were beaten to loose pucks and giving up the kind of odd-man breaks they're accustomed to having with their high-octane offence. But for 40 minutes, it was Calgary giving it to Tampa.
``When a team simply wins all the battles in the first 40 minutes, it comes back and grabs you,'' said Tampa head coach John Tortorella.
Tampa veteran Tim Taylor credits Flames coach Darryl Sutter for motivating his players with his `us against the world' rant the previous day. Taylor thinks it had an impact on the game.
``Their coach gave them a rallying cry, talking about the league and all that stuff, he was smart,'' Taylor said. ``It worked for them, and we didn't respond.''
Tortorella shuffled his forward lines after the second period and loaded up his first unit by putting Martin St. Louis with Brad Richards and Vincent Lecavalier, a line that created chances. The second line of Modin, Andreychuk and Ruslan Fedotenko also had the Flames on their heels in the third period and overtime.
``I really don't know why we couldn't get on them earlier,'' Modin said. ``But we did eventually fight back and get in the game. We had chances to win it. But we can't be crying about it, we need to focus on the next one - it's a big one.''
Fedotenko and defenceman Pavel Kubina returned after missing Game 4 through injury, but Tortorella surprised many by making healthy scratches of winger Cory Stillman and defenceman Brad Lukowich.
Stillman, an 80-point man in the regular season, has only one assist in his last eight games and Tortorella had enough.
Still, Tortorella wasn't pleased with any of the performances from his key forwards.
``If Martin Cibak, Chris Dingman and Ben Clymer is your best line, it's simply not going to happen for you, no offence to them,'' Tortorella said of his fourth line. ``Your best players need to be your best players.''
They will be on Saturday, because the Lightning count on playing Game 7 here Monday night.
``Yes, we will,'' Tortorella said.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Flames fans pack Saddledome for Game 5
Canadian Press
6/3/2004
CALGARY (CP) - The Cup is so close Calgary Flames fans can almost taste it.
``It's not one win away- it's one win waiting,'' said Lindsey Harrington, as a red horde of 50,000 fans literally danced in the streets Thursday after their team stole Game 5 from the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 3-2 overtime victory.
The Flames lead the series 3-2 and can seize their first Stanley Cup in 15 years on home ice Saturday in Game 6.
``Now they have such an adrenalin high that they cannot be stopped,'' said Ryan Ehman, 18, as he waved a huge Flames flag.
``Saturday we're going to take the Cup back to Calgary, we're going to win it in Calgary and win it for Canada, where it belongs.''
The overtime winner by Oleg Saprykin launched a three-minute standing ovation in the Saddledome, where 17,000 manic, red-jersey clad Flames fans caught the action on giant TV screens.
They love their Flames and they love their `us against the world' underdog role in the hard-fought series.
``Bring it on. We're big enough to take it all,'' shouted Mike Elder as he celebrated the clutch victory.
Around the arena and around the streets of Calgary, signs proclaim the `Calgary against the world' dictum proclaimed by Flames coach Darryl Sutter in a rant Wednesday.
Sutter's contention that the NHL doesn't want his underdog lunch-bucket brigade to win is firing up the fans - if not his team.
``We're rockin','' shouted Deanna Huisman, 49, as she danced down the steps of the Saddledome.
She's ready for a gigantic celebration Saturday night in Cowtown.
``I was here 15 years ago to watch the Flames win and I am going to be here to watch them win again,'' she said before disappearing into the sea of red along Calgary's Red Mile strip of restaurants and bars.
Police were reporting a boisterous but peaceful crowd with no problems 90 minutes after the game ended.
Fans paid $5 for a ticket into their team's home rink Thursday with all of the money being donated to Calgary's food bank.
The Saddledome erupted in raucous cheers at any camera shot of Sutter, who is also the Flames' general manager. The crowd booed loudly at the image of Tampa's Vincent Lecavalier.
It helped that the Flames came out in a fiery state Thursday, jumping to a 1-0 lead less than three minutes into the game.
Martin Gelinas scored his eighth goal of the playoffs, a power-play marker by redirecting a shot from defenceman Toni Lydman, sending the Flames fans into a frenzy.
It was Lydman's first start since suffering a concussion in the opening round of the playoffs. The fans were back on their feet when sniper Jarome Iginla scored unassisted late in the second period, his 13th goal of the playoffs.
Sutter's comments about the league, which he refused to back away from Thursday, followed the one-game suspension of agitator Ville Nieminen for boarding Lecavalier late in Game 4.
``Sutter's always right,'' said Rocky Bates, 65, who arrived in a white stretch limo with his grandson Kyle Mitzner.
Jacquleine Goj, who had dyed part of her jet black curls flaming red, was waiting for her team to come out with heart with the seven-game series tied 2-2. She wasn't disappointed.
``They're playing their hearts out,'' said Goj.
Tampa Bay battled back twice to tie the game with Martin St. Louis scoring late in the first period and Fredrik Modin early in the third. The goals failed to quiet the Saddledome faithful.
In recent days, columnists and hockey commentators have berated the Calgary Flames for their physical play, describing the team as ``thugs.'' Flames fans didn't help the matter after Saturday's game, when some threw garbage onto the ice to protest the officiating.
Nicole Mears, 14, shrugged off the taunts from around the hockey world, defiantly tossing her headband of devil horns.
``A lot of people are saying they don't want us here, but we're the underdogs and they'll have to live with it,'' said Mears.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
6/3/2004
CALGARY (CP) - The Cup is so close Calgary Flames fans can almost taste it.
``It's not one win away- it's one win waiting,'' said Lindsey Harrington, as a red horde of 50,000 fans literally danced in the streets Thursday after their team stole Game 5 from the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 3-2 overtime victory.
The Flames lead the series 3-2 and can seize their first Stanley Cup in 15 years on home ice Saturday in Game 6.
``Now they have such an adrenalin high that they cannot be stopped,'' said Ryan Ehman, 18, as he waved a huge Flames flag.
``Saturday we're going to take the Cup back to Calgary, we're going to win it in Calgary and win it for Canada, where it belongs.''
The overtime winner by Oleg Saprykin launched a three-minute standing ovation in the Saddledome, where 17,000 manic, red-jersey clad Flames fans caught the action on giant TV screens.
They love their Flames and they love their `us against the world' underdog role in the hard-fought series.
``Bring it on. We're big enough to take it all,'' shouted Mike Elder as he celebrated the clutch victory.
Around the arena and around the streets of Calgary, signs proclaim the `Calgary against the world' dictum proclaimed by Flames coach Darryl Sutter in a rant Wednesday.
Sutter's contention that the NHL doesn't want his underdog lunch-bucket brigade to win is firing up the fans - if not his team.
``We're rockin','' shouted Deanna Huisman, 49, as she danced down the steps of the Saddledome.
She's ready for a gigantic celebration Saturday night in Cowtown.
``I was here 15 years ago to watch the Flames win and I am going to be here to watch them win again,'' she said before disappearing into the sea of red along Calgary's Red Mile strip of restaurants and bars.
Police were reporting a boisterous but peaceful crowd with no problems 90 minutes after the game ended.
Fans paid $5 for a ticket into their team's home rink Thursday with all of the money being donated to Calgary's food bank.
The Saddledome erupted in raucous cheers at any camera shot of Sutter, who is also the Flames' general manager. The crowd booed loudly at the image of Tampa's Vincent Lecavalier.
It helped that the Flames came out in a fiery state Thursday, jumping to a 1-0 lead less than three minutes into the game.
Martin Gelinas scored his eighth goal of the playoffs, a power-play marker by redirecting a shot from defenceman Toni Lydman, sending the Flames fans into a frenzy.
It was Lydman's first start since suffering a concussion in the opening round of the playoffs. The fans were back on their feet when sniper Jarome Iginla scored unassisted late in the second period, his 13th goal of the playoffs.
Sutter's comments about the league, which he refused to back away from Thursday, followed the one-game suspension of agitator Ville Nieminen for boarding Lecavalier late in Game 4.
``Sutter's always right,'' said Rocky Bates, 65, who arrived in a white stretch limo with his grandson Kyle Mitzner.
Jacquleine Goj, who had dyed part of her jet black curls flaming red, was waiting for her team to come out with heart with the seven-game series tied 2-2. She wasn't disappointed.
``They're playing their hearts out,'' said Goj.
Tampa Bay battled back twice to tie the game with Martin St. Louis scoring late in the first period and Fredrik Modin early in the third. The goals failed to quiet the Saddledome faithful.
In recent days, columnists and hockey commentators have berated the Calgary Flames for their physical play, describing the team as ``thugs.'' Flames fans didn't help the matter after Saturday's game, when some threw garbage onto the ice to protest the officiating.
Nicole Mears, 14, shrugged off the taunts from around the hockey world, defiantly tossing her headband of devil horns.
``A lot of people are saying they don't want us here, but we're the underdogs and they'll have to live with it,'' said Mears.
Cheers,
Aquaman
NHL pulls Fraser, Watson from Game 6
TSN.ca Staff
6/4/2004
The National Hockey League has decided discretion is the better part of valour.
Sources told TSN the league has decided referees Kerry Fraser and Brad Watson, who officiated Game 4 in Calgary, will not handle Game 6 at the Saddledome.
The pair, who drew the wrath of Flames' fans for an early two-man disadvantage and a late five-minute penalty, were tentatively scheduled to work Game 6.
However, the league has apparently decided to assign Bill McCreary and Steven Walkom, the two officials who worked Game 5 in Tampa.
All officiating assignments can be subject to last-minute changes, but for now it is expected McCreary and Walkom will call the shots in Game 6 on Saturday night.
Cheers,
Aquaman
TSN.ca Staff
6/4/2004
The National Hockey League has decided discretion is the better part of valour.
Sources told TSN the league has decided referees Kerry Fraser and Brad Watson, who officiated Game 4 in Calgary, will not handle Game 6 at the Saddledome.
The pair, who drew the wrath of Flames' fans for an early two-man disadvantage and a late five-minute penalty, were tentatively scheduled to work Game 6.
However, the league has apparently decided to assign Bill McCreary and Steven Walkom, the two officials who worked Game 5 in Tampa.
All officiating assignments can be subject to last-minute changes, but for now it is expected McCreary and Walkom will call the shots in Game 6 on Saturday night.
Cheers,
Aquaman
McKenzie: Iginla steps up again in Game 5
TSN.ca Staff
6/4/2004
Game 5 was by far the most entertaining game of the Stanley Cup Final. There were great scoring opportunities at both ends of the ice and a great goaltending performance by Nikolai Khabibulin. If not for being on top of his game in the first two periods, this game would have been over a lot sooner.
The Calgary Flames so thoroughly dominated the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first 40 minutes of this game, it might have been catastrophic if they did not win in overtime.
To have Shean Donovan go down late in the second period - to try and come back in the third period and not be able to do it - and then have that early power-play goal by Martin St. Louis in the third period really seemed to take the Flames out of their rhythm. Then the other wingers started stepping up - whether it was Chuck Kobasew, Martin Gelinas, Chris Simon, Oleg Saprykin - the list goes on and on. All the wingers started to pick up the extra shift here or there to make up for the loss of Donovan, who was playing an exceptional game when he went down with what looks like a knee injury.
Somehow the Flames managed to manufacture the opportunities in overtime and go away a winner. What a hockey game.
What else can you say about Jarome Iginla. In the overtime, on the game-winning goal by Oleg Saprykin, Iginla must have been out on the ice for a good minute and a half or so. If the Lightning had somehow managed to clear the puck, Iginla and all the players that were on the ice likely would have headed to the bench for a change because they were all exhausted.
The Flames' captain really stepped up, which he has done in every Game 5 in these playoffs. In the first series against the Vancouver Canucks he scored the game-winning goal. In the second series against the Detroit Red Wings he assisted on Craig Conroy's game-winner. In the third series against San Jose, he scored the game-winning goal. In Thursday night's game, Iginla, without a helmet, shot a puck at the net that Saprykin put back for the overtime winner.
Cheers,
Aquaman
TSN.ca Staff
6/4/2004
Game 5 was by far the most entertaining game of the Stanley Cup Final. There were great scoring opportunities at both ends of the ice and a great goaltending performance by Nikolai Khabibulin. If not for being on top of his game in the first two periods, this game would have been over a lot sooner.
The Calgary Flames so thoroughly dominated the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first 40 minutes of this game, it might have been catastrophic if they did not win in overtime.
To have Shean Donovan go down late in the second period - to try and come back in the third period and not be able to do it - and then have that early power-play goal by Martin St. Louis in the third period really seemed to take the Flames out of their rhythm. Then the other wingers started stepping up - whether it was Chuck Kobasew, Martin Gelinas, Chris Simon, Oleg Saprykin - the list goes on and on. All the wingers started to pick up the extra shift here or there to make up for the loss of Donovan, who was playing an exceptional game when he went down with what looks like a knee injury.
Somehow the Flames managed to manufacture the opportunities in overtime and go away a winner. What a hockey game.
What else can you say about Jarome Iginla. In the overtime, on the game-winning goal by Oleg Saprykin, Iginla must have been out on the ice for a good minute and a half or so. If the Lightning had somehow managed to clear the puck, Iginla and all the players that were on the ice likely would have headed to the bench for a change because they were all exhausted.
The Flames' captain really stepped up, which he has done in every Game 5 in these playoffs. In the first series against the Vancouver Canucks he scored the game-winning goal. In the second series against the Detroit Red Wings he assisted on Craig Conroy's game-winner. In the third series against San Jose, he scored the game-winning goal. In Thursday night's game, Iginla, without a helmet, shot a puck at the net that Saprykin put back for the overtime winner.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Flames strike Lightning in Game 5
Canadian Press
6/4/2004
TAMPA, Fla. (CP) - The Calgary Flames are one win away from bringing the Stanley Cup back to Canada.
Oleg Saprykin scored 14:40 into overtime to lead the Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in a riveting, end-to-end match on Thursday night.
The Flames hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven final series and can claim the second Stanley Cup in franchise history and their first since 1989 with a win in Game 6 on Saturday night in Calgary.
``It's 60 minutes away to all our dreams,'' said captain Jarome Iginla.
They are vying to be the first Canadian-based team to win the Cup since Montreal in 1993. And they got to within one win of their goal with a victory in the most entertaining match of the series thus far.
``It was an up and down game,'' said Iginla, who set up Saprykin's winner and scored a goal in the second period.
``I think everybody on both teams realized how close the Stanley Cup is. Everyone was giving absolutely everything.''
Calgary's Martin Gelinas and Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis traded goals in the first period. After Iginla gave the Flames a 2-1 lead in the second, Lightning winger Fredrik Modin tied it with a power play goal 37 seconds into the third.
The surprise was that Calgary, which usually reverts to stifling defence when it takes a lead, kept the attack on full and even swapped chances with the skilful Lightning after Gelinas opened the scoring on a power play 2:13 into the game.
The Flames dominated the first two periods, outshooting Tampa Bay 14-3 in the second alone and forcing Nikolai Khabibulin to make several glittering saves.
``It wasn't the plan,'' a grinning Iginla said of the often wide-open hockey. ``It's just something that happened by accident.
``We had our fair share of 2-on-1's and 3-on-2's and they had theirs, too. That's not really our team. But we found a way to win a different game that's not usually our style.''
Lightning coach John Tortorella was left fuming at his club's effort, saying his star players, who are St. Louis, Brad Richards and Vincent Lecavalier, weren't at their best for much of the match.
``You're not going to win a Game 5 of the finals playing a 40-minute game,'' said Tortorella. That simply comes back and grabs you.
``We finally found our game in the third period after we scored our goal and I thought we played a decent overtime, but it comes back to bite you when the other team wins all the battles in the first 40 minutes.''
The Flames seemed energized by coach Darryl Sutter's insinuation that the NHL was working against them, using that as motivation to survive the loss of super-pest Ville Nieminen and improve to 4-0 in Game 5s during these playoffs.
All four of those wins have come on the road. It was their 10th road win of the post-season, tying the record for one playoff year set by the New Jersey Devils in 1995 and in 2000.
The St. Pete Times Forum was rimmed in white, although sprinkled with some red Calgary jerseys, as 22,426 fans were handed Go Bolts T-Shirts at the door in a bid to create a White Wave in response to the Sea of Red at Flames' home games.
They pounded their ThunderStix together when Modin, only six seconds into a power play early in the third period, beat a helpless Miikka Kiprusoff from the doorstep after a perfect feed from Richards to tie the game.
And late in the third frame, St. Louis came close to giving the home side the win when he tried to jam a puck in at the side of the net.
But after close calls at both ends in overtime, Saprykin slid the rebound of Iginla's shot under Khabibulin to settle the match.
``It's a great feeling for every guy in our room,'' said Saprykin. ``The guys battled so hard and every guy deserved it.''
Calgary outshot the Bolts 36-27 overall in a game in which both goaltenders made spectacular saves.
``We talked after the game that we're not dead yet,'' said Lightning veteran Dave Andreychuk, who is seeking a first Stanley Cup in his 22-year career. ``We have won in their building before.''<
The Flames were incensed that Tampa Bay was given a 5-on-3 advantage early in Game 4 Monday, which the Lightning used to score the only goal in a 1-0 win.
This time, it was Modin who was sent off 1:43 into the match and the Flames made them pay.
Toni Lydman, back after missing 20 playoff games with a concussion, slid a weak shot from the point that Gelinas redirected between Khabibulin's legs. It was Lydman's first career playoff point.
``He's one of those high-end skill guys that we missed,'' Sutter said of Lydman.
St. Louis picked up a loose puck behind the net after two Flames collided and put a backhand shot between Kiprusoff's legs that might not have crossed the goal-line had it not been nudged in while Calgary defenders, including Rhett Warrener, lunged to sweep it from the line.
Iginla restored the Calgary lead when he skated down the right side and picked the inside of the far post with a wrist shot. It was his league-leading 13th goal of the playoffs.
There were major line-up changes on both sides, as Nieminen served his one-game suspension for hitting Vincent Lecavalier from behind in Game 4 and was replaced by Dave Lowry.
Lydman, out since Game 4 of the opening round against Vancouver, bumped little-used Mike Commodore from the line-up.
Defenceman Pavel Kubina and winger Ruslan Fedotenko returned for Tampa Bay after missing Game 4 with injuries.
More surprisingly, former Flame Cory Stillman, an 80-point man in the regular season who had one assist in his last eight games, was scratched in favour of Martin Cibak. And Ben Clymer replaced defenceman Brad Lukowich.
Notes: The Lightning once again thwarted Calgary's ritual of shooting pucks into the Tampa Bay net at the end of the pre-game warm-up by turning the net around. One puck hit the back of the net. ... The rock group Cheap Trick entertained fans outside the arena before the game.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
6/4/2004
TAMPA, Fla. (CP) - The Calgary Flames are one win away from bringing the Stanley Cup back to Canada.
Oleg Saprykin scored 14:40 into overtime to lead the Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in a riveting, end-to-end match on Thursday night.
The Flames hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven final series and can claim the second Stanley Cup in franchise history and their first since 1989 with a win in Game 6 on Saturday night in Calgary.
``It's 60 minutes away to all our dreams,'' said captain Jarome Iginla.
They are vying to be the first Canadian-based team to win the Cup since Montreal in 1993. And they got to within one win of their goal with a victory in the most entertaining match of the series thus far.
``It was an up and down game,'' said Iginla, who set up Saprykin's winner and scored a goal in the second period.
``I think everybody on both teams realized how close the Stanley Cup is. Everyone was giving absolutely everything.''
Calgary's Martin Gelinas and Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis traded goals in the first period. After Iginla gave the Flames a 2-1 lead in the second, Lightning winger Fredrik Modin tied it with a power play goal 37 seconds into the third.
The surprise was that Calgary, which usually reverts to stifling defence when it takes a lead, kept the attack on full and even swapped chances with the skilful Lightning after Gelinas opened the scoring on a power play 2:13 into the game.
The Flames dominated the first two periods, outshooting Tampa Bay 14-3 in the second alone and forcing Nikolai Khabibulin to make several glittering saves.
``It wasn't the plan,'' a grinning Iginla said of the often wide-open hockey. ``It's just something that happened by accident.
``We had our fair share of 2-on-1's and 3-on-2's and they had theirs, too. That's not really our team. But we found a way to win a different game that's not usually our style.''
Lightning coach John Tortorella was left fuming at his club's effort, saying his star players, who are St. Louis, Brad Richards and Vincent Lecavalier, weren't at their best for much of the match.
``You're not going to win a Game 5 of the finals playing a 40-minute game,'' said Tortorella. That simply comes back and grabs you.
``We finally found our game in the third period after we scored our goal and I thought we played a decent overtime, but it comes back to bite you when the other team wins all the battles in the first 40 minutes.''
The Flames seemed energized by coach Darryl Sutter's insinuation that the NHL was working against them, using that as motivation to survive the loss of super-pest Ville Nieminen and improve to 4-0 in Game 5s during these playoffs.
All four of those wins have come on the road. It was their 10th road win of the post-season, tying the record for one playoff year set by the New Jersey Devils in 1995 and in 2000.
The St. Pete Times Forum was rimmed in white, although sprinkled with some red Calgary jerseys, as 22,426 fans were handed Go Bolts T-Shirts at the door in a bid to create a White Wave in response to the Sea of Red at Flames' home games.
They pounded their ThunderStix together when Modin, only six seconds into a power play early in the third period, beat a helpless Miikka Kiprusoff from the doorstep after a perfect feed from Richards to tie the game.
And late in the third frame, St. Louis came close to giving the home side the win when he tried to jam a puck in at the side of the net.
But after close calls at both ends in overtime, Saprykin slid the rebound of Iginla's shot under Khabibulin to settle the match.
``It's a great feeling for every guy in our room,'' said Saprykin. ``The guys battled so hard and every guy deserved it.''
Calgary outshot the Bolts 36-27 overall in a game in which both goaltenders made spectacular saves.
``We talked after the game that we're not dead yet,'' said Lightning veteran Dave Andreychuk, who is seeking a first Stanley Cup in his 22-year career. ``We have won in their building before.''<
The Flames were incensed that Tampa Bay was given a 5-on-3 advantage early in Game 4 Monday, which the Lightning used to score the only goal in a 1-0 win.
This time, it was Modin who was sent off 1:43 into the match and the Flames made them pay.
Toni Lydman, back after missing 20 playoff games with a concussion, slid a weak shot from the point that Gelinas redirected between Khabibulin's legs. It was Lydman's first career playoff point.
``He's one of those high-end skill guys that we missed,'' Sutter said of Lydman.
St. Louis picked up a loose puck behind the net after two Flames collided and put a backhand shot between Kiprusoff's legs that might not have crossed the goal-line had it not been nudged in while Calgary defenders, including Rhett Warrener, lunged to sweep it from the line.
Iginla restored the Calgary lead when he skated down the right side and picked the inside of the far post with a wrist shot. It was his league-leading 13th goal of the playoffs.
There were major line-up changes on both sides, as Nieminen served his one-game suspension for hitting Vincent Lecavalier from behind in Game 4 and was replaced by Dave Lowry.
Lydman, out since Game 4 of the opening round against Vancouver, bumped little-used Mike Commodore from the line-up.
Defenceman Pavel Kubina and winger Ruslan Fedotenko returned for Tampa Bay after missing Game 4 with injuries.
More surprisingly, former Flame Cory Stillman, an 80-point man in the regular season who had one assist in his last eight games, was scratched in favour of Martin Cibak. And Ben Clymer replaced defenceman Brad Lukowich.
Notes: The Lightning once again thwarted Calgary's ritual of shooting pucks into the Tampa Bay net at the end of the pre-game warm-up by turning the net around. One puck hit the back of the net. ... The rock group Cheap Trick entertained fans outside the arena before the game.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Khabibulin slipping under the radar
Canadian Press
6/4/2004
TAMPA, Fla. (CP) - Somehow, Nikolai Khabibulin has managed to slip under the radar for much of these playoffs despite a sensational spring.
When it came to the goaltending spotlight this playoff season, the Bulin Wall has taken a backseat to other stories.
There was Ed Belfour stoning Ottawa in Toronto's first-round win, Jose Theodore leading Montreal to a first-round upset of Boston, Robert Esche proving his critics wrong in Philadelphia, Evgeny Nabokov shutting down heavily favoured Colorado in San Jose's second-round victory, and of course Miikka Kiprusoff's magical run leading the Calgary Flames to one win from a Stanley Cup victory.
You may be surprised to learn that Khabibulin's numbers this spring are actually better than Kiprusoff's, a 1.72 goals-against average and .932 save percentage compared to Kiprusoff's equally impressive 1.82 GAA and .931 save percentage.
And if it wasn't for Khabibulin's brilliance in Thursday night's Game 5 overtime loss, the Bolts would have been embarrassed at home. His pad save on Jarome Iginla in the first period may be the best stop in the playoffs, one of 33 saves on the night for Khabibulin.
``He did his job,'' said Lightning veteran Tim Taylor. ``He played great. He did what he was supposed to do.
``Too bad we weren't there to support him. Nik played great and I expect he will play great in Game 6.''
If Khabibulin doesn't get the credit he deserves, some of it has been his own doing. He doesn't like talking to the media and never makes himself available on game days, limiting his visibility. He was nowhere to be seen after Wednesday's practice, nor after Thursday's game.
When he does talk, he says very little.
His play, however, speaks volumes. The 31-year-old Russian has five shutouts in these playoffs, two short of Martin Brodeur's record of seven last year.
The Lightning got exactly what they were searching for, a bonafide No. 1 goalie, when they acquired him from Phoenix in March 2001 along with Stan Neckar in exchange for Mike Johnson, Paul Mara, Ruslan Zainullin and a second-round draft choice.
But Khabibulin, earning $4.6 million US this season, arrived in Tampa with a reputation for being lazy and inconsistent. That all changed.
``I was with Nik in Phoenix a number of years ago where Nik was out of shape, smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee, the whole nine yards,'' says Tampa head coach John Tortorella. ``He is a tremendous talent. You can see how much talent he has and I think what he's done is bring the conditioning part into it and then that's a very important thing for a goaltender as all athletes.
``He is probably one of our top fit athletes right now. Compared to about five or six years ago, it's a whole different person. He brings his conditioning in it and just his mindset of wanting to be the best, and I think that's what carries him as far as being a world-class goalie.''
This is the same Tortorella who ripped into Khabibulin back in March after a lacklustre effort in a regular-season game, saying it wasn't the kind of goaltending that would win games in the playoffs. Backup netminder John Grahame got a string of starts before Khabibulin reclaimed the No. 1 job.
``I know during the season there were some questions because John Grahame came in for a couple of games and played really well, but Khabi has really stepped up,'' said defenceman Jassen Cullimore. ``He's playing amazing hockey right now.''
The Bulin Wall is all that stands between Calgary and a Stanley Cup on Saturday night. Don't be surprised to see Khabibulin bring it back for a seventh game in Tampa.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
6/4/2004
TAMPA, Fla. (CP) - Somehow, Nikolai Khabibulin has managed to slip under the radar for much of these playoffs despite a sensational spring.
When it came to the goaltending spotlight this playoff season, the Bulin Wall has taken a backseat to other stories.
There was Ed Belfour stoning Ottawa in Toronto's first-round win, Jose Theodore leading Montreal to a first-round upset of Boston, Robert Esche proving his critics wrong in Philadelphia, Evgeny Nabokov shutting down heavily favoured Colorado in San Jose's second-round victory, and of course Miikka Kiprusoff's magical run leading the Calgary Flames to one win from a Stanley Cup victory.
You may be surprised to learn that Khabibulin's numbers this spring are actually better than Kiprusoff's, a 1.72 goals-against average and .932 save percentage compared to Kiprusoff's equally impressive 1.82 GAA and .931 save percentage.
And if it wasn't for Khabibulin's brilliance in Thursday night's Game 5 overtime loss, the Bolts would have been embarrassed at home. His pad save on Jarome Iginla in the first period may be the best stop in the playoffs, one of 33 saves on the night for Khabibulin.
``He did his job,'' said Lightning veteran Tim Taylor. ``He played great. He did what he was supposed to do.
``Too bad we weren't there to support him. Nik played great and I expect he will play great in Game 6.''
If Khabibulin doesn't get the credit he deserves, some of it has been his own doing. He doesn't like talking to the media and never makes himself available on game days, limiting his visibility. He was nowhere to be seen after Wednesday's practice, nor after Thursday's game.
When he does talk, he says very little.
His play, however, speaks volumes. The 31-year-old Russian has five shutouts in these playoffs, two short of Martin Brodeur's record of seven last year.
The Lightning got exactly what they were searching for, a bonafide No. 1 goalie, when they acquired him from Phoenix in March 2001 along with Stan Neckar in exchange for Mike Johnson, Paul Mara, Ruslan Zainullin and a second-round draft choice.
But Khabibulin, earning $4.6 million US this season, arrived in Tampa with a reputation for being lazy and inconsistent. That all changed.
``I was with Nik in Phoenix a number of years ago where Nik was out of shape, smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee, the whole nine yards,'' says Tampa head coach John Tortorella. ``He is a tremendous talent. You can see how much talent he has and I think what he's done is bring the conditioning part into it and then that's a very important thing for a goaltender as all athletes.
``He is probably one of our top fit athletes right now. Compared to about five or six years ago, it's a whole different person. He brings his conditioning in it and just his mindset of wanting to be the best, and I think that's what carries him as far as being a world-class goalie.''
This is the same Tortorella who ripped into Khabibulin back in March after a lacklustre effort in a regular-season game, saying it wasn't the kind of goaltending that would win games in the playoffs. Backup netminder John Grahame got a string of starts before Khabibulin reclaimed the No. 1 job.
``I know during the season there were some questions because John Grahame came in for a couple of games and played really well, but Khabi has really stepped up,'' said defenceman Jassen Cullimore. ``He's playing amazing hockey right now.''
The Bulin Wall is all that stands between Calgary and a Stanley Cup on Saturday night. Don't be surprised to see Khabibulin bring it back for a seventh game in Tampa.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Flames fans ready for Game 6 Cup win
Canadian Press
6/4/2004
CALGARY (CP) - The Cup is so close Calgary Flames fans can almost taste it.
"It's not one win away- it's one win waiting," said Lindsey Harrington, as a red horde of 50,000 fans literally danced in the streets Thursday after their team stole Game 5 from the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 3-2 overtime victory.
The Flames lead the series 3-2 and can seize their first Stanley Cup in 15 years on home ice Saturday in Game 6.
"Now they have such an adrenalin high that they cannot be stopped," said Ryan Ehman, 18, as he waved a huge Flames flag.
"Saturday we're going to take the Cup back to Calgary, we're going to win it in Calgary and win it for Canada, where it belongs."
The overtime winner by Oleg Saprykin launched a three-minute standing ovation in the Saddledome, where 17,000 manic, red-jersey clad Flames fans caught the action on giant TV screens.
They love their Flames and they love their `us against the world' underdog role in the hard-fought series.
"Bring it on. We're big enough to take it all," shouted Mike Elder as he celebrated the clutch victory.
Around the arena and around the streets of Calgary, signs proclaim the `Calgary against the world' dictum proclaimed by Flames coach Darryl Sutter in a rant Wednesday.
Sutter's contention that the NHL doesn't want his underdog lunch-bucket brigade to win is firing up the fans - if not his team.
"We're rockin'," shouted Deanna Huisman, 49, as she danced down the steps of the Saddledome.
She's ready for a gigantic celebration Saturday night in Cowtown.
"I was here 15 years ago to watch the Flames win and I am going to be here to watch them win again," she said before disappearing into the sea of red along Calgary's Red Mile strip of restaurants and bars.
Police were reporting a boisterous but peaceful crowd with no problems 90 minutes after the game ended.
Fans paid $5 for a ticket into their team's home rink Thursday with all of the money being donated to Calgary's food bank.
The Saddledome erupted in raucous cheers at any camera shot of Sutter, who is also the Flames' general manager. The crowd booed loudly at the image of Tampa's Vincent Lecavalier.
It helped that the Flames came out in a fiery state Thursday, jumping to a 1-0 lead less than three minutes into the game.
Martin Gelinas scored his eighth goal of the playoffs, a power-play marker by redirecting a shot from defenceman Toni Lydman, sending the Flames fans into a frenzy.
It was Lydman's first start since suffering a concussion in the opening round of the playoffs. The fans were back on their feet when sniper Jarome Iginla scored unassisted late in the second period, his 13th goal of the playoffs.
Sutter's comments about the league, which he refused to back away from Thursday, followed the one-game suspension of agitator Ville Nieminen for boarding Lecavalier late in Game 4.
"Sutter's always right," said Rocky Bates, 65, who arrived in a white stretch limo with his grandson Kyle Mitzner.
Jacquleine Goj, who had dyed part of her jet black curls flaming red, was waiting for her team to come out with heart with the seven-game series tied 2-2. She wasn't disappointed.
"They're playing their hearts out," said Goj.
Tampa Bay battled back twice to tie the game with Martin St. Louis scoring late in the first period and Fredrik Modin early in the third. The goals failed to quiet the Saddledome faithful.
In recent days, columnists and hockey commentators have berated the Calgary Flames for their physical play, describing the team as "thugs." Flames fans didn't help the matter after Saturday's game, when some threw garbage onto the ice to protest the officiating.
Nicole Mears, 14, shrugged off the taunts from around the hockey world, defiantly tossing her headband of devil horns.
"A lot of people are saying they don't want us here, but we're the underdogs and they'll have to live with it," said Mears.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
6/4/2004
CALGARY (CP) - The Cup is so close Calgary Flames fans can almost taste it.
"It's not one win away- it's one win waiting," said Lindsey Harrington, as a red horde of 50,000 fans literally danced in the streets Thursday after their team stole Game 5 from the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 3-2 overtime victory.
The Flames lead the series 3-2 and can seize their first Stanley Cup in 15 years on home ice Saturday in Game 6.
"Now they have such an adrenalin high that they cannot be stopped," said Ryan Ehman, 18, as he waved a huge Flames flag.
"Saturday we're going to take the Cup back to Calgary, we're going to win it in Calgary and win it for Canada, where it belongs."
The overtime winner by Oleg Saprykin launched a three-minute standing ovation in the Saddledome, where 17,000 manic, red-jersey clad Flames fans caught the action on giant TV screens.
They love their Flames and they love their `us against the world' underdog role in the hard-fought series.
"Bring it on. We're big enough to take it all," shouted Mike Elder as he celebrated the clutch victory.
Around the arena and around the streets of Calgary, signs proclaim the `Calgary against the world' dictum proclaimed by Flames coach Darryl Sutter in a rant Wednesday.
Sutter's contention that the NHL doesn't want his underdog lunch-bucket brigade to win is firing up the fans - if not his team.
"We're rockin'," shouted Deanna Huisman, 49, as she danced down the steps of the Saddledome.
She's ready for a gigantic celebration Saturday night in Cowtown.
"I was here 15 years ago to watch the Flames win and I am going to be here to watch them win again," she said before disappearing into the sea of red along Calgary's Red Mile strip of restaurants and bars.
Police were reporting a boisterous but peaceful crowd with no problems 90 minutes after the game ended.
Fans paid $5 for a ticket into their team's home rink Thursday with all of the money being donated to Calgary's food bank.
The Saddledome erupted in raucous cheers at any camera shot of Sutter, who is also the Flames' general manager. The crowd booed loudly at the image of Tampa's Vincent Lecavalier.
It helped that the Flames came out in a fiery state Thursday, jumping to a 1-0 lead less than three minutes into the game.
Martin Gelinas scored his eighth goal of the playoffs, a power-play marker by redirecting a shot from defenceman Toni Lydman, sending the Flames fans into a frenzy.
It was Lydman's first start since suffering a concussion in the opening round of the playoffs. The fans were back on their feet when sniper Jarome Iginla scored unassisted late in the second period, his 13th goal of the playoffs.
Sutter's comments about the league, which he refused to back away from Thursday, followed the one-game suspension of agitator Ville Nieminen for boarding Lecavalier late in Game 4.
"Sutter's always right," said Rocky Bates, 65, who arrived in a white stretch limo with his grandson Kyle Mitzner.
Jacquleine Goj, who had dyed part of her jet black curls flaming red, was waiting for her team to come out with heart with the seven-game series tied 2-2. She wasn't disappointed.
"They're playing their hearts out," said Goj.
Tampa Bay battled back twice to tie the game with Martin St. Louis scoring late in the first period and Fredrik Modin early in the third. The goals failed to quiet the Saddledome faithful.
In recent days, columnists and hockey commentators have berated the Calgary Flames for their physical play, describing the team as "thugs." Flames fans didn't help the matter after Saturday's game, when some threw garbage onto the ice to protest the officiating.
Nicole Mears, 14, shrugged off the taunts from around the hockey world, defiantly tossing her headband of devil horns.
"A lot of people are saying they don't want us here, but we're the underdogs and they'll have to live with it," said Mears.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Sutter's Cup plan reaching fruition
Canadian Press
6/4/2004
CALGARY (CP) - The plan that has brought the Calgary Flames to where they are today was devised by Darryl Sutter as he drove along a lonely stretch of two-lane Alberta highway.
It was during the NHL all-star break in early February and the Flames coach and general manager was returning from Cranbrook, B.C., where he watched his son, Brett, play for the WHL's Kootenay Ice.
Along the 100-kilometre stretch in the rolling Rocky Mountain foothills between the Frank Slide, where 76 people were buried alive under tons of massive limestone boulders when Turtle Mountain collapsed in 1903 after being weakened by coal mining, and Longview, the town where Clint Eastwood filmed the movie Unforgiven, Sutter had his brainwave.
His team had 28 regular-season games left and was battling for its first playoff berth in eight years. Why not break the remaining games into four segments and try to win each as if it were a playoff series?
``Between Frank Slide and Longview, it's about, geez, you can think about lots of stuff,'' said Sutter.
Now, four months later, the Flames lead the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 and can become the lowest-seeded team in hockey's modern era to win the Stanley Cup (CBC, 8 p.m. EDT).
The grand plan - we'll call it the Slide to Stanley Program - pointed Sutter's players in the right direction.
``They all wanted to make the playoffs so bad,'' he said Friday. ``You have to remember, we had a lot of guys that weren't in the playoffs the year before or had never been in the playoffs.
``It was sort of an endless journey for them. So, to able to break that up for them, that gave them a focus.''
It's simple, says defenceman Robyn Regehr.
``We bought in because we knew that's what we had to do just to make it into the playoffs,'' said Regehr. ``Once we made it into the playoffs, we knew that's what we had to do to continue to be successful.''
Defenceman Andrew Ference agrees.
``We had a set goal we had to achieve,'' said Ference. ``In doing that, we all learned very valuable things about the importance of big games.''
Few have been bigger than the next game. Calgary can become the first Canadian team in 11 years to win the title.
Whether Shean Donovan is involved remains to be seen. The second-line winger limped off the ice during the second period Thursday, tried three shifts in the third period, and finally conceded he couldn't skate well enough to continue. Sutter declined to provide an update on the injury.
``Well, there's Cory Stillman and Brad Lukowich, got an update for me yet?'' he replied, referring to Lightning players who sat out Game 5, when asked about Donovan's status.
Donovan is optimistic.
``We'll see how it feels,'' he said. ``I'll do anything to play.
``I think there's a good chance.''
It's the fourth straight round in which the Flames have had the chance to eliminate an opponent in a Game 6. They failed in the first round and had to go to Vancouver to win a Game 7 to advance. They then eliminated Detroit and San Jose in Pengrowth Saddledome in Game 6 showdowns after winning the previous game on the road - the exact scenario they face Saturday.
Even now, Sutter maintains his game-at-a-time philosophy.
``I don't even look at it as if it's that big a deal,'' he said of being one win away from taking the Stanley Cup.
The Flames will have to jump onto the ice with as heightened a sense of determination as they displayed in Game 5 or they'll be right back to Tampa for a Game 7. They need to keep forechecking aggressively and taking the body at every opportunity. If they outwork their opponent they will be champions, which is saying a lot for a group of players given a scant 75-1 chance of winning it all before the season began.
``I don't know how other guys on other teams felt when they won but I know how proud I would be about doing something that I knew was so tough for our team to do,'' said Ference. ``I know how hard I work, game in and game out, and the cool thing is that I can look across the room at every single guy and know that they work just as hard and that the effort that has gone into our successes hasn't just been a couple of lucky bounces or that the other team didn't play very good.''
It's a team on an even keel. It doesn't get too high or too low on itself.
``I don't see any reason why that won't happen again,'' Regehr said of the mindset going into Game 6. ``I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be able to approach this game in a similar fashion.''
Oleg Saprykin scored the overtime winner Thursday, and Martin (The Eliminator) Gelinas, who scored the series-winning goal in the three previous rounds, is ready to try for four.
``I hope there's another new hero (Saturday),'' said centre Marcus Nilson. ``But it doesn't really matter who ends up putting the puck in the net.
``When you win, you win with 20 guys, and that's 20 heroes.''
The Lightning need more from Vincent Lecavalier, who didn't score in the first five games and is due. Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk expects him to deliver.
``He's the type of guy that goes out every shift and something is going to happen,'' said Andreychuk. ``He's thriving. He wants to take charge of games.''
They also need more from their special teams. They trail in the series in power-play efficiency, 26.3 per cent to 16 per cent, and in penalty killing, 84 per cent to 73.7 per cent.
Coach John Tortorella suggested Friday they might have suffered from stage fright in Game 5.
``You start to anticipate what is going to happen getting closer to that Cup,'' he explained. ``That was part of our problem a little bit.
``I'm not sure if nervous is the right word, but you start anticipating. Calgary is going to do that (Saturday).''
Tortorella said his players will remain in the city overnight Saturday so they can get a good night's sleep before flying home to prepare for Game 7. The high-strung American, clad in an athletic track suit, briskly left the interview area when his time was up.
Meanwhile, Sutter remains the happy go lucky face of the Flames.
``Have a good day and don't get sunburned,'' he said when his news conference ended.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
6/4/2004
CALGARY (CP) - The plan that has brought the Calgary Flames to where they are today was devised by Darryl Sutter as he drove along a lonely stretch of two-lane Alberta highway.
It was during the NHL all-star break in early February and the Flames coach and general manager was returning from Cranbrook, B.C., where he watched his son, Brett, play for the WHL's Kootenay Ice.
Along the 100-kilometre stretch in the rolling Rocky Mountain foothills between the Frank Slide, where 76 people were buried alive under tons of massive limestone boulders when Turtle Mountain collapsed in 1903 after being weakened by coal mining, and Longview, the town where Clint Eastwood filmed the movie Unforgiven, Sutter had his brainwave.
His team had 28 regular-season games left and was battling for its first playoff berth in eight years. Why not break the remaining games into four segments and try to win each as if it were a playoff series?
``Between Frank Slide and Longview, it's about, geez, you can think about lots of stuff,'' said Sutter.
Now, four months later, the Flames lead the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 and can become the lowest-seeded team in hockey's modern era to win the Stanley Cup (CBC, 8 p.m. EDT).
The grand plan - we'll call it the Slide to Stanley Program - pointed Sutter's players in the right direction.
``They all wanted to make the playoffs so bad,'' he said Friday. ``You have to remember, we had a lot of guys that weren't in the playoffs the year before or had never been in the playoffs.
``It was sort of an endless journey for them. So, to able to break that up for them, that gave them a focus.''
It's simple, says defenceman Robyn Regehr.
``We bought in because we knew that's what we had to do just to make it into the playoffs,'' said Regehr. ``Once we made it into the playoffs, we knew that's what we had to do to continue to be successful.''
Defenceman Andrew Ference agrees.
``We had a set goal we had to achieve,'' said Ference. ``In doing that, we all learned very valuable things about the importance of big games.''
Few have been bigger than the next game. Calgary can become the first Canadian team in 11 years to win the title.
Whether Shean Donovan is involved remains to be seen. The second-line winger limped off the ice during the second period Thursday, tried three shifts in the third period, and finally conceded he couldn't skate well enough to continue. Sutter declined to provide an update on the injury.
``Well, there's Cory Stillman and Brad Lukowich, got an update for me yet?'' he replied, referring to Lightning players who sat out Game 5, when asked about Donovan's status.
Donovan is optimistic.
``We'll see how it feels,'' he said. ``I'll do anything to play.
``I think there's a good chance.''
It's the fourth straight round in which the Flames have had the chance to eliminate an opponent in a Game 6. They failed in the first round and had to go to Vancouver to win a Game 7 to advance. They then eliminated Detroit and San Jose in Pengrowth Saddledome in Game 6 showdowns after winning the previous game on the road - the exact scenario they face Saturday.
Even now, Sutter maintains his game-at-a-time philosophy.
``I don't even look at it as if it's that big a deal,'' he said of being one win away from taking the Stanley Cup.
The Flames will have to jump onto the ice with as heightened a sense of determination as they displayed in Game 5 or they'll be right back to Tampa for a Game 7. They need to keep forechecking aggressively and taking the body at every opportunity. If they outwork their opponent they will be champions, which is saying a lot for a group of players given a scant 75-1 chance of winning it all before the season began.
``I don't know how other guys on other teams felt when they won but I know how proud I would be about doing something that I knew was so tough for our team to do,'' said Ference. ``I know how hard I work, game in and game out, and the cool thing is that I can look across the room at every single guy and know that they work just as hard and that the effort that has gone into our successes hasn't just been a couple of lucky bounces or that the other team didn't play very good.''
It's a team on an even keel. It doesn't get too high or too low on itself.
``I don't see any reason why that won't happen again,'' Regehr said of the mindset going into Game 6. ``I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be able to approach this game in a similar fashion.''
Oleg Saprykin scored the overtime winner Thursday, and Martin (The Eliminator) Gelinas, who scored the series-winning goal in the three previous rounds, is ready to try for four.
``I hope there's another new hero (Saturday),'' said centre Marcus Nilson. ``But it doesn't really matter who ends up putting the puck in the net.
``When you win, you win with 20 guys, and that's 20 heroes.''
The Lightning need more from Vincent Lecavalier, who didn't score in the first five games and is due. Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk expects him to deliver.
``He's the type of guy that goes out every shift and something is going to happen,'' said Andreychuk. ``He's thriving. He wants to take charge of games.''
They also need more from their special teams. They trail in the series in power-play efficiency, 26.3 per cent to 16 per cent, and in penalty killing, 84 per cent to 73.7 per cent.
Coach John Tortorella suggested Friday they might have suffered from stage fright in Game 5.
``You start to anticipate what is going to happen getting closer to that Cup,'' he explained. ``That was part of our problem a little bit.
``I'm not sure if nervous is the right word, but you start anticipating. Calgary is going to do that (Saturday).''
Tortorella said his players will remain in the city overnight Saturday so they can get a good night's sleep before flying home to prepare for Game 7. The high-strung American, clad in an athletic track suit, briskly left the interview area when his time was up.
Meanwhile, Sutter remains the happy go lucky face of the Flames.
``Have a good day and don't get sunburned,'' he said when his news conference ended.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Lightning plan on returning home
Canadian Press
6/4/2004
CALGARY (CP) - John Tortorella plans to have a leisurely breakfast in Calgary Sunday morning, then get ready for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final.
Tortorella stopped short of guaranteeing a victory in Game 6 Saturday night against the Calgary Flames but the Tampa Bay Lightning coach talked Friday like a man who expected the NHL championship to go the distance.
It's do-or-die for the Lightning. After losing Game 5 Thursday night 3-2 in overtime, the Lightning trail the best-of-seven final 3-2. They need a win to extend the series to a seventh and deciding game.
After putting his players through a practice, Tortorella told the media the Lightning won't return home to Tampa Bay until Sunday morning if there is a Game 7.
``We feel the best thing for us is to stay here and not travel so you get your maximum rest,'' he said.
``We'll be having breakfast with you here Sunday. Then we'll get on with Game 7.''
Tortorella then engaged in a little psychological warfare with Calgary.
The heat has been turned up on the Flames as they try to win a Stanley Cup in their own building, he said. The expectations of their fans, plus a country hoping to see the Stanley Cup return to Canada for the first time since 1993, will stoke some anxiety.
``The pressure is not on us right now,'' said Tortorella.
``It's on the Calgary team. You have all of Canada here waiting for them to win tomorrow. The Cup is in the building. They are supposed to win right now. All our mind set is to win one 60-minute hockey game. We're trying to extend the series. They're supposed to win.
``They're making the calls to relatives to come in and watch the game. Hockey Night in Canada is going to be on. There is no pressure on Tampa. We're just going to go out and find a way to extend the series.''
Tampa's Tim Taylor seemed to have read from Tortorella's script. He also talked about the pressure the Flames will feel playing before family and friends.
Facing elimination will bring out the best in the Lightning, Taylor said.
``Sometimes when that happens a team comes out and plays better,'' said Taylor, who won a Stanley Cup with the 1997 Detroit Red Wings.
``You have nothing to lose. That's what we're expecting tomorrow.''
Following Thursday's loss Tortorella was critical of some of his players. Without being specific, he suggested he wanted more production from stars like Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards.
Tortorella refused to finger any of his players on Friday.
``I'm not analyzing my players with you guys,'' he said. ``I'll analyze it with them.''
Saturday's game will be the second time in the playoffs the Lightning have faced elimination.
Tampa Bay led the Flyers 3-2 in the Eastern Conference final but lost 5-4 in Game 6 at Philadelphia. The Lightning won Game 7 in Tampa 2-1 to advance to the Stanley Cup final for the first time since the team joined the NHL in 1992.
``There's similarities,'' said forward Fredrik Modin, who scored one of Tampa's goals Thursday.
``We feel we're almost in the same situation. That gives us a boost. We know how to perform.''
The Lightning haven't recorded back-to-back wins in 10 games. They now must win two in a row if they hope to hoist the Stanley Cup.
``We're aware of the situation,'' said Modin.
``To get where we want to be we have to win two games, but we have just one game on our mind. We can't afford to think about anything else.''
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
6/4/2004
CALGARY (CP) - John Tortorella plans to have a leisurely breakfast in Calgary Sunday morning, then get ready for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final.
Tortorella stopped short of guaranteeing a victory in Game 6 Saturday night against the Calgary Flames but the Tampa Bay Lightning coach talked Friday like a man who expected the NHL championship to go the distance.
It's do-or-die for the Lightning. After losing Game 5 Thursday night 3-2 in overtime, the Lightning trail the best-of-seven final 3-2. They need a win to extend the series to a seventh and deciding game.
After putting his players through a practice, Tortorella told the media the Lightning won't return home to Tampa Bay until Sunday morning if there is a Game 7.
``We feel the best thing for us is to stay here and not travel so you get your maximum rest,'' he said.
``We'll be having breakfast with you here Sunday. Then we'll get on with Game 7.''
Tortorella then engaged in a little psychological warfare with Calgary.
The heat has been turned up on the Flames as they try to win a Stanley Cup in their own building, he said. The expectations of their fans, plus a country hoping to see the Stanley Cup return to Canada for the first time since 1993, will stoke some anxiety.
``The pressure is not on us right now,'' said Tortorella.
``It's on the Calgary team. You have all of Canada here waiting for them to win tomorrow. The Cup is in the building. They are supposed to win right now. All our mind set is to win one 60-minute hockey game. We're trying to extend the series. They're supposed to win.
``They're making the calls to relatives to come in and watch the game. Hockey Night in Canada is going to be on. There is no pressure on Tampa. We're just going to go out and find a way to extend the series.''
Tampa's Tim Taylor seemed to have read from Tortorella's script. He also talked about the pressure the Flames will feel playing before family and friends.
Facing elimination will bring out the best in the Lightning, Taylor said.
``Sometimes when that happens a team comes out and plays better,'' said Taylor, who won a Stanley Cup with the 1997 Detroit Red Wings.
``You have nothing to lose. That's what we're expecting tomorrow.''
Following Thursday's loss Tortorella was critical of some of his players. Without being specific, he suggested he wanted more production from stars like Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards.
Tortorella refused to finger any of his players on Friday.
``I'm not analyzing my players with you guys,'' he said. ``I'll analyze it with them.''
Saturday's game will be the second time in the playoffs the Lightning have faced elimination.
Tampa Bay led the Flyers 3-2 in the Eastern Conference final but lost 5-4 in Game 6 at Philadelphia. The Lightning won Game 7 in Tampa 2-1 to advance to the Stanley Cup final for the first time since the team joined the NHL in 1992.
``There's similarities,'' said forward Fredrik Modin, who scored one of Tampa's goals Thursday.
``We feel we're almost in the same situation. That gives us a boost. We know how to perform.''
The Lightning haven't recorded back-to-back wins in 10 games. They now must win two in a row if they hope to hoist the Stanley Cup.
``We're aware of the situation,'' said Modin.
``To get where we want to be we have to win two games, but we have just one game on our mind. We can't afford to think about anything else.''
Cheers,
Aquaman
McKenzie: Sutter has been terrific
TSN.ca Staff
6/4/2004
Darryl Sutter's coaching job with the Flames has been simply put, terrific.
His theory of the Flames playing in four-seven game series before the playoffs started from the all-star break to the end of the regular season was responsible for the club making the post-season. When you think of the relentless hockey the Flames had to play during that stretch, and then add in the playoffs, it really has been a remarkable feat.
The media covering this series are thumbing through media guides wondering when the last team to come from the back of the pack accomplished what the Flames have with such a workman like group. No one has yet to find a good comparison.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It came as a surprise to many, myself included that National Hockey League removed Kerry Fraser and Brad Watson as officials for Game Six. While it could be perceived that the league caved into Sutter's comments about favouritism. From the NHL perspective, all officiating assignments can be subject to last-minute changes.
I think it's important, and I don't know what the plan is for Game Seven, but I've got to believe that the Director of Officiating Andy Van Hellmond will name Kerry Fraser one of the officials if the series goes to seven games.
The bottom line is this, it doesn't really matter who's calling the game. If a call goes against the Flames, the fans won't like it. If the Flames win, fans won't care who the referees are.
Cheers,
Aquaman
TSN.ca Staff
6/4/2004
Darryl Sutter's coaching job with the Flames has been simply put, terrific.
His theory of the Flames playing in four-seven game series before the playoffs started from the all-star break to the end of the regular season was responsible for the club making the post-season. When you think of the relentless hockey the Flames had to play during that stretch, and then add in the playoffs, it really has been a remarkable feat.
The media covering this series are thumbing through media guides wondering when the last team to come from the back of the pack accomplished what the Flames have with such a workman like group. No one has yet to find a good comparison.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It came as a surprise to many, myself included that National Hockey League removed Kerry Fraser and Brad Watson as officials for Game Six. While it could be perceived that the league caved into Sutter's comments about favouritism. From the NHL perspective, all officiating assignments can be subject to last-minute changes.
I think it's important, and I don't know what the plan is for Game Seven, but I've got to believe that the Director of Officiating Andy Van Hellmond will name Kerry Fraser one of the officials if the series goes to seven games.
The bottom line is this, it doesn't really matter who's calling the game. If a call goes against the Flames, the fans won't like it. If the Flames win, fans won't care who the referees are.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Calgary readies for raucous party
Canadian Press
6/4/2004
CALGARY (CP) - The Stampede City is preparing for the mother of all celebrations if the long-shot Flames clinch the Stanley Cup on home ice Saturday night.
Police say they're ready for up to 100,000 celebrants on the so-called Red Mile, a strip of popular bars and restaurants on 17th Avenue west of the Saddledome.
And they're ready regardless whether the Flames win or the Tampa Bay Lightning force a seventh and deciding game back in Florida on Monday.
"We have contingency plans in place should the crowds expand to that size," Insp. Dan Jahrig, who oversees the downtown district for the Calgary Police Service, said Friday.
Most scoff at predictions from sports commentators of dire destruction should the Flames win.
That, despite riots after the Montreal Canadiens won the championship in 1993 and the Vancouver Canucks lost in the 1994 final.
Businesses along the Red Mile, which has been party central throughout Calgary's unlikely two-month playoff run, are preparing to show their own support for the Flames. They are draping their windows in Flames colours and tributes instead of boarding them over with plywood.
Danziger Designer Glass Studio has painted the team's logo on its windows and created a special flaming "C" which sparkles brightly at night.
"It's showing our support and it's also, I guess, a security precaution," said designer Treena Primmer, who isn't worried about unruly crowds.
"I think somebody is less likely do any damage or graffiti to our store if we're also supporters of the Flames," she said. "But we also like getting in on the fun."
RCMP and officers from Edmonton are being brought in to reinforce the police presence around the city if celebrations get out of hand. A much larger contingent of Calgary police will be on 17th Avenue, while riot police and other emergency officials are expected on nearby streets.
"We'll have strategies in place and resources to make sure people can celebrate safely," Jahrig said. "But we're anticipating a very positive and happy crowd."
Boisterous crowds dressed in the crimson jerseys of their hockey heroes have been growing by the thousands throughout the playoffs. One fan was critically injured in a fight after one game, but generally happy fans have been well-behaved.
More than 10 blocks west of the Saddledome will be closed to traffic by midday Saturday. Many fans are expected to show up at bars and restaurants by noon to ensure a spot for the 6 p.m. MT start.
Some suggest that could make for drunken problems by the time the game ends, but that's not deterring anyone.
"We're just going to show everybody how to party and how to behave," said Simone at the Magic Room day spa, who has been operating on 17th Avenue for 27 years.
"At the beginning I thought there was gong to be big trouble, but now I'm really optimistic that there won't be," she said.
It's been 15 years since the Flames won hockey's holy grail and more than a decade since the Cup was captured by a Canadian team, so it's little wonder hockey fever has reached a frenzied pitch in Calgary.
Tickets are selling on the Internet for as high as $2,820 US each for centre-ice seats. Even general admission seats, near the rafters high above the press box, are being offered for $580 US.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
6/4/2004
CALGARY (CP) - The Stampede City is preparing for the mother of all celebrations if the long-shot Flames clinch the Stanley Cup on home ice Saturday night.
Police say they're ready for up to 100,000 celebrants on the so-called Red Mile, a strip of popular bars and restaurants on 17th Avenue west of the Saddledome.
And they're ready regardless whether the Flames win or the Tampa Bay Lightning force a seventh and deciding game back in Florida on Monday.
"We have contingency plans in place should the crowds expand to that size," Insp. Dan Jahrig, who oversees the downtown district for the Calgary Police Service, said Friday.
Most scoff at predictions from sports commentators of dire destruction should the Flames win.
That, despite riots after the Montreal Canadiens won the championship in 1993 and the Vancouver Canucks lost in the 1994 final.
Businesses along the Red Mile, which has been party central throughout Calgary's unlikely two-month playoff run, are preparing to show their own support for the Flames. They are draping their windows in Flames colours and tributes instead of boarding them over with plywood.
Danziger Designer Glass Studio has painted the team's logo on its windows and created a special flaming "C" which sparkles brightly at night.
"It's showing our support and it's also, I guess, a security precaution," said designer Treena Primmer, who isn't worried about unruly crowds.
"I think somebody is less likely do any damage or graffiti to our store if we're also supporters of the Flames," she said. "But we also like getting in on the fun."
RCMP and officers from Edmonton are being brought in to reinforce the police presence around the city if celebrations get out of hand. A much larger contingent of Calgary police will be on 17th Avenue, while riot police and other emergency officials are expected on nearby streets.
"We'll have strategies in place and resources to make sure people can celebrate safely," Jahrig said. "But we're anticipating a very positive and happy crowd."
Boisterous crowds dressed in the crimson jerseys of their hockey heroes have been growing by the thousands throughout the playoffs. One fan was critically injured in a fight after one game, but generally happy fans have been well-behaved.
More than 10 blocks west of the Saddledome will be closed to traffic by midday Saturday. Many fans are expected to show up at bars and restaurants by noon to ensure a spot for the 6 p.m. MT start.
Some suggest that could make for drunken problems by the time the game ends, but that's not deterring anyone.
"We're just going to show everybody how to party and how to behave," said Simone at the Magic Room day spa, who has been operating on 17th Avenue for 27 years.
"At the beginning I thought there was gong to be big trouble, but now I'm really optimistic that there won't be," she said.
It's been 15 years since the Flames won hockey's holy grail and more than a decade since the Cup was captured by a Canadian team, so it's little wonder hockey fever has reached a frenzied pitch in Calgary.
Tickets are selling on the Internet for as high as $2,820 US each for centre-ice seats. Even general admission seats, near the rafters high above the press box, are being offered for $580 US.
Cheers,
Aquaman
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