.

[Aquaman]

Flames fans brace for Game 7

Canadian Press
6/6/2004

CALGARY (CP) - Thousands of Calgary Flames fans jammed city streets late Saturday, partying with an edge after their team squandered a golden opportunity to win the Stanley Cup on home ice.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Martin St. Louis scored early in the second overtime to give the visitors a 3-2 win over the Flames to knot the best-of-seven series NHL final at three games apiece.

Game 7 is set for Monday night in Tampa.

For hours, thousands of Flames fanatics had stood and cheered and jostled for position in front of TVs positioned along the Red Mile - the informal name given to the strip of bars and restaurants along 17th Avenue.

Many fans were just getting set for the second overtime period when St. Louis scored 33 seconds into the frame.

``It blows big-time,'' said Travis Wall, a Flames fan from Newfoundland and Labrador.

``Everyone was coming back after the intermission, ready to party again, and then boom, it's gone. It's terrible.''

Wall's brother, Dwayne, said even a Game 7 win by the Flames won't deliver an equal thrill.

``It's not the same,'' he said. ``We're here now. We're not going to Tampa on Monday and we have to work Tuesday.''

''It definitely sucks,'' agreed Calgary-born fan Tosca Cooper.

But Cooper said the fans will be ready for the deciding game.

``We're just going to have to re-energize and re-focus. It's going to be even better in Game 7.

``(The Flames) came from way back in the standings and took it right to the end. It's going to be worth it.''

As darkness fell in Calgary and more fans filed out from the Saddledome into the muggy heat, the streets morphed into a melancholy circus.

One man, naked except for balloon carefully positioned over his groin, walked through the crowd yelling, ``Flames in seven!''

Two men dressed in drag, one in a bright yellow wig, walked around high-fiving and commiserating.

Another tottered precariously through the throngs, a flame-shooting Stanley Cup attached to the hardhat on his head.

A number of women, teetering on the shoulders of friends, hiked their shirts and flashed bystanders.

Body surfers and beachballs bumped and lurched over the crowd, which continued to swell long after the game until fans were squeezed shoulder to shoulder. There were hoots and hollers. Fans waved Flame flags tied to hockey sticks.

Scores of police officers watched from the perimeter while others filmed the scene from rooftops.

The police helicopter hovered directly overhead.

A few fights broke out and by 10:30 p.m. bars along the avenue had closed their doors as the red tide of revellers surged past.

``Imagine if we had won!'' shouted one woman as she elbowed past.

In Tampa, about 5,000 fans cheered and waved their thundersticks outside the St. Pete Times Forum. Around the city there was some streets honking and celebrating but it was muted compared with Calgary.

The loss was a crushing blow to the southern Alberta city, which has gone crazy for its team. Fan fever had reached new heights prior to Saturday's game.

Throughout the day, cars were honking at everyone holding a flaming-C flag or wearing a Flames jersey.

Bars along the Red Mile had long line-ups to get in shortly after lunchtime, six hours before the dropping of the puck.

At the Saddledome, tailgate parties began at noon, with fans roasting smokies and playing street hockey - only in this case with a red team versus another red team.

``It's the last home game of the season, regardless of what happens. Get out and enjoy the rowdiness,'' said season ticket holder Mike Faber, 43.

Post-game partying on the Red Mile has become a ritual this spring.

While there have been arrests for rowdiness, the post-game parties have been orderly.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Aquaman]

Lightning fans thrilled with Game 6 win

Canadian Press
6/6/2004

TAMPA, Fla. (CP) - Tampa Bay is ready for the biggest game in its young hockey history.

Outside the St. Pete Times Forum, some 5,000 fans - Thundersticks in hand - erupted when Martin St. Louis scored the Game 6 winner in double overtime to force a seventh game in the Stanley Cup final on Monday.

Lightning fans were also crammed into watering holes around the city to watch the game. Steven Busbee, 33, watched at Champion's sports bar in downtown Tampa. He said the crowd popped when the puck crossed the line.

``Everything jumping up in the air at once. Everybody, every beer, went up in the air when that went in,'' said Busbee. ``I've got tickets to Game 7 and it's going to be the greatest night of my life when the Lightning clinch.''

This is Tampa's first appearance in the Cup final since the Lightning joined the NHL in 1992.

``This has been fun, the way the guys responded with that intensity,'' said Greg Zimmer, 49, of Tampa. ``We're so proud of them.''

There was some horn-honking and high-fiving around the city streets after the game, but it was rather muted when compared to the hysteria along the so-called Red Mile in Calgary. Lightning car flags and banners are sometimes tough to spot in the Florida city, where the popular support level is much higher for the NFL's Buccaneers.

But Busbee feels the corner has been turned.

``The Bucs are great, but I've never seen a fever come over Tampa like this in my life,'' he said. ``We're going to win Game 7, this time in regulation,'' he predicted.

Over the last couple weeks, hockey has been the lead story on TV and radio sportscasts in Tampa. The club has also garnered front-page attention in some Florida newspapers.

Zimmer added that even if Tampa loses Game 7, the playoff run will serve as a great building block.

``We've got some young guys, we're in good shape,'' he said. ``We've got a great future ahead of us.''

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Aquaman]

Did the Flames score in the third?

Canadian Press
6/5/2004

CALGARY (CP) - So close and yet so far.

Martin Gelinas, who scored Calgary's three previous series-clinching goals, may have scored the would-be winner again Saturday in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final before Tampa Bay won in overtime.

With the game tied 2-2 in late in the third period and Tampa Bay's Jassen Cullimore in the penalty box, Gelinas drove the net and had the puck hit his skate.

Video replays appeared to show that the puck crossed the goal-line, but NHL vice-president Colin Campbell said replays were inconclusive.

``We reviewed a number of camera angles and only one showed the puck,'' Campbell, director of hockey operations, said in a statement.

``Based on the angle of the image and the fact that the puck was in the air and on edge, there was insufficient evidence that the puck conclusively crossed the goal-line.''

Lightning winger Martin St. Louis scored 33 seconds into the second OT to give Tampa a 3-2 win and force Game 7 in the series on Monday night.

The on-ice referees didn't call for a video review.

Flames coach GM Darryl Sutter said later it wasn't a goal.

``I looked at it and that's got to be a conclusive play,'' said Sutter, who caused an uproar earlier in the week when he suggested the NHL didn't want the Flames to win the Cup.

``I looked at it from two different angles and unless they have a different one, you can't say it was a goal,'' he said.

A dejected Gelinas, who hadn't seen the replays, conceded that it would be hard to look at it on television highlight reels if it appeared to be a goal.

``If that's the case, shame on them for not calling down,'' he said.

But Gelinas added it was time to look towards Monday's game.

``If someone would have told us at the beginning of our quest that we'd go to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals we would have taken it,'' he said. ``I think we're all upset, but you've got to leave that behind.''

Commentators were split on whether the puck was in.

The CBC's Ron MacLean and Don Cherry had opposing views.

``It's like Anson Carter at the world championship all over again,'' said MacLean, referring to the overtime winner Carter scored at the 2003 worlds that needed to be reviewed.

``No, I don't think it's in,'' replied Cherry. ``I think (the puck) is up in the air though.''

ABC commentator Gary Thorne was sure Gelinas scored.

``Oh my gracious, it was across the line,'' Thorne said after seeing the play in slow motion. ``That was absolutely in.''

The NHL is no stranger to controversial goals in its biggest games. In Game 6 of the 1999 final, Dallas forward Brett Hull scored a triple-overtime goal that won the Stars the Cup with his foot in the crease.

At that time, league rules stipulated that such goals wouldn't count. That play also went unreviewed.

Flames defenceman Steve Montador said it won't be hard to get past the controversy or the loss.

``We've lost before in the playoffs and moved on and that's exactly what we'll do tonight,'' he said.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Aquaman]

McKenzie: Flames are a resilient team

TSN.ca Staff
6/6/2004

If ever there were a resilient team it is the Calgary Flames. This is a team that has consistently come back from deficits over the course of these playoffs.

Normally when a team loses in Game 6 - like the long overtime like the Flames had against Vancouver Canucks in the first round - they are never able to recover from it. Calgary's overtime win in Game 7 in Vancouver may have been the defining moment of their playoff run.

The Flames are by no means out of this series yet, but by the same token Game 6 was an opportunity lost.

One major concern for the Flames heading into Game 7 is energy. This Calgary team plays the game hard and they had a much harder route to the Stanley Cup Final than the Lightning. Tampa Bay beat the New York Islanders in five games and the Montreal Canadiens in four games. The Philadelphia Flyers did take them to seven games, but Flyers did not punish the Lightning nearly as much as the Calgary Flames punish themselves.

Calgary had a seven-game series - including multiple overtimes - against the Vancouver Canucks, six games against the Detroit Red Wings - including overtime in Game 6 - and then a very hard-fought six-game series against the San Jose Sharks. It is going to be interesting to see who has got enough gas left in the tank for Game 7 on Monday.

The Flames are going to tell you that it is all about adrenaline in Game 7, but I will tell you this: I wonder sometimes where the Calgary Flames are going to summon that extra bit of energy to play the game they way they need to be successful, which is relentlessly and physically all out.

It is worth noting that the road team has been dominant in overtime in the playoffs. The Flames are 5-7 on home ice in the Stanley Cup playoffs. They started to show some killer instinct in Game 6 against the Detroit and another against San Jose. The fans in Calgary were certainly hoping they would get a Game 6 win at the Saddledome on Saturday night.

As for the Martin Gelinas close call in the third period - it was inconclusive and Flames' coach Darryl Sutter agreed. Nobody could be absolutely sure if the puck was in the air or on the ice. If it is on the ice it is a goal, but if it is in the air it is potentially still in front of the goal line. Because nobody could tell for sure they could not make the call.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[bootymac]

Originally posted by: Blastomyces
Yeah, Tampa is going to send the Flamers golfing (without the cup in hand).

Flames new logo

LOL, bastard!

 

[Aquaman]

Lightning down Flames in double-OT

Canadian Press
6/6/2004

CALGARY (CP) - A message from Ray Bourque inspired the Tampa Bay Lightning to extend the Stanley Cup final to its limit.

Martin St. Louis scored 33 seconds into the second overtime period to give the Lightning a 3-2 victory Saturday night over the Calgary Flames and force a seventh and deciding game Monday night in Tampa.

Bourque, who capped an illustrious career by earning his only Stanley Cup ring three years ago with Colorado, telephoned former teammate Tim Taylor to relay his experience with the Avalanche who, just like the Lightning, were down three games to two going into Game 6 of the final on the road.

The Avs rallied to win the last two games and emerge as champions.

Taylor and his teammates were flying north when Bourque's words of encouragement were left with his cellphone answering service. Taylor had them taped and played them during a team meeting Friday.

``I grew up watching Ray Bourque,'' said St. Louis. ``I was really happy when he won his Cup and I didn't really remember that they were down 3-2 going to Jersey.

``For him to take the time out of his life and really care about what we're going through, it really reached us, I think. It meant a lot. They did it so why couldn't we. That's kind of the way I felt.''

The first four goals were scored in the second period: Brad Richards on a power play at 4:17, Chris Clark into an open side of Tampa Bay net at 9:05, Richards on another power play at 10:52 and Marcus Nilson into another gaping net at 17:49.

Calgary came close to ending it with five minutes left in regulation time when Oleg Saprykin fired the puck into Nikolai Khabibulin's crease and Martin Gelinas whacked at it. The puck was caught in midair on TV replays near the goal-line.

``We reviewed a number of camera angles and only one showed the puck,'' NHL vice-president Colin Campbell said in a statement released after the game. ``Based on the angle of the image and the fact that the puck was in the air and on edge, there was insufficient evidence that the puck conclusively crossed the goal-line.''

It was high drama, with Calgarians ready to party through the night and millions of hockey fans on the edge of their seats for a nail-biting finish. Now, despite looming NHL labour problems, they at least know there will be at one more Hockey Night in Canada, albeit from the Sunshine State.

``That's the way it goes,'' said Calgary GM and coach Darryl Sutter. ``St. Louis was really quiet all night and then he scores the goal that wins it.''

Said Flames forward Ville Nieminen: ``It's going to be a long flight to Tampa. We'll go there and give it our best.''

It was almost predictable that the underdog Flames would do things the hard way. To win the Stanley Cup now, they'll have to set a league playoff record for most road wins, 11. If they can do it, they'll become the first team in league history to win the Stanley Cup with a losing home record, 5-7.

The winning shot was the only shot St. Louis got on goalie Miikka Kiprusoff all night. Kiprusoff stopped the initial long shot by Taylor that caromed off Richards but he couldn't smother the rebound before St. Louis, evading defenceman Jordan Leopold, could get to it.

``I was just trying to put it on net,'' said St. Louis. ``At that point in time, it's not the pretty goal that's going to win.''

St. Louis said he struggled with playing in Calgary's higher altitude. He frequently had to be hooked up to an oxygen machine to catch his breath. Naturally, he's happy Game 7 will be played at a lower altitude.

Richards, the pride of Murray Harbour, P.E.I., got an assist on the goal and his three-point game lifted him into first place among playoff scorers with 25 points. Tampa Bay is 9-0 in the playoffs and 31-0-2 including the regular season when Richards scores a goal.

While Tampa Bay's big guns fired successfully, Calgary captain Jarome Iginla was hardly a factor. He got only two shots on Khabibulin - neither of them after the second period.

``Some of our guys that we play a lot and expect to be really good for us just weren't as sharp as they have been in other games,'' said Sutter.

Calgary, which had won five consecutive overtime games, outshot Tampa 9-7 in the first OT period and 26-18 during regulation time .

Sutter didn't think his players were uptight in the pressure-packed situation, and he added that they'll put this disappointing loss behind them quickly.

``Move on, it's that simple,'' said Sutter.

The Flames, however, appear almost out of gas. They were 75-1 longshots to win the Stanley Cup last autumn and they weren't supposed to go this far this spring. They've done it with as many as five regulars out with injuries, the latest being left-winger Shean Donovan who hurt his right leg Thursday and couldn't play in Game 6.

After the game, defenceman Robyn Regehr left the Pengrowth Saddledome with his left foot in a plastic cast.

The Lightning, having survived this scare, are confident they'll be celebrating at home. The experience of going seven games against Philadelphia in their conference final will help them, said captain Dave Andreychuk.

``Obviously, we're going to use that,'' he said. ``We played a very good Game 7 our last one and we have to come up with another one.''

Andreychuk, 40, has played 1,758 regular-season and playoff games without winning the Stanley Cup. Nobody has played more games without getting a ring. Now he's one win away.

``I have been trying to stay composed through the whole thing but deep down inside there's a lot of emotion,'' said the Hamilton native. ``This is something I have dreamed about.

``I have dreamed about being in this situation. So, you know, I don't think I could have asked for anything more. I have a chance to win one more game to win the Stanley Cup. Seems like it's a long time ago I started and it's taken a while to get here but I finally have my chance.''

Said coach John Tortorella: ``Game 7 will be a great experience. Game 7 in a final, this is an opportunity of a lifetime for players and we're not going to tippy-toe, we're going to dive in.''

The Flames weren't as physically aggressive as they were in winning Game 5 in Tampa on Thursday and, as Sutter said, his stars didn't shine as bright as they needed to shine.

They didn't get a phone call from Bourque either.

``It was right out of the blue,'' said Taylor. ``I talked to him when we were in Boston this year and I hadn't seen him other than that.

``I had changed my cellphone number since I played there so for him to track down my new number, I thought that was pretty special of him.

``He said, `This is what you have to tell the guys, you have to do this, you have to do that.' It was almost as if he was coaching us.''

Said Khabibulin: ``If such a great player such as him calls and says it's possible to do it you have to believe him. It meant a lot to our younger players.''

Notes: Tampa Bay improved to 13-2 when scoring first . . . Calgary is 2-9 when an opponent scores first . . . Going for goals, Tampa Bay made LW Andre Roy a healthy scratch for the first time this spring and reinserted LW Cory Stillman . . . Before the Richards goal, Calgary had outscored Tampa Bay 5-0 in second periods . . . Road teams are 13-4 in championship series overtime since 1990 . . . Of the 51 goals against Calgary in its 25 playoff games, only seven were allowed in the first period.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[bootymac]

Any links to the Gelina "goal"? Kinda curious how it went

 

[Aquaman]

go to TSN NHL home and check out the videos

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Aquaman]

Flames fans brace for Game 7

Canadian Press
6/6/2004

CALGARY (CP) - Thousands of Calgary Flames fans jammed city streets late Saturday, partying with an edge after their team squandered a golden opportunity to win the Stanley Cup on home ice.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Martin St. Louis scored early in the second overtime to give the visitors a 3-2 win over the Flames to knot the best-of-seven series NHL final at three games apiece.

Game 7 is set for Monday night in Tampa.

For hours, thousands of Flames fanatics had stood and cheered and jostled for position in front of TVs positioned along the Red Mile - the informal name given to the strip of bars and restaurants along 17th Avenue.

Many fans were just getting set for the second overtime period when St. Louis scored 33 seconds into the frame.

``It blows big-time,'' said Travis Wall, a Flames fan from Newfoundland and Labrador.

``Everyone was coming back after the intermission, ready to party again, and then boom, it's gone. It's terrible.''

Wall's brother, Dwayne, said even a Game 7 win by the Flames won't deliver an equal thrill.

``It's not the same,'' he said. ``We're here now. We're not going to Tampa on Monday and we have to work Tuesday.''

''It definitely sucks,'' agreed Calgary-born fan Tosca Cooper.

But Cooper said the fans will be ready for the deciding game.

``We're just going to have to re-energize and re-focus. It's going to be even better in Game 7.

``(The Flames) came from way back in the standings and took it right to the end. It's going to be worth it.''

As darkness fell in Calgary and more fans filed out from the Saddledome into the muggy heat, the streets morphed into a melancholy circus.

One man, naked except for balloon carefully positioned over his groin, walked through the crowd yelling, ``Flames in seven!''

Two men dressed in drag, one in a bright yellow wig, walked around high-fiving and commiserating.

Another tottered precariously through the throngs, a flame-shooting Stanley Cup attached to the hardhat on his head.

A number of women, teetering on the shoulders of friends, hiked their shirts and flashed bystanders.

Body surfers and beachballs bumped and lurched over the crowd, which continued to swell long after the game until fans were squeezed shoulder to shoulder. There were hoots and hollers. Fans waved Flame flags tied to hockey sticks.

Scores of police officers watched from the perimeter while others filmed the scene from rooftops.

The police helicopter hovered directly overhead.

A few fights broke out and by 10:30 p.m. bars along the avenue had closed their doors as the red tide of revellers surged past.

``Imagine if we had won!'' shouted one woman as she elbowed past.

In Tampa, about 5,000 fans cheered and waved their thundersticks outside the St. Pete Times Forum. Around the city there was some streets honking and celebrating but it was muted compared with Calgary.

The loss was a crushing blow to the southern Alberta city, which has gone crazy for its team. Fan fever had reached new heights prior to Saturday's game.

Throughout the day, cars were honking at everyone holding a flaming-C flag or wearing a Flames jersey.

Bars along the Red Mile had long line-ups to get in shortly after lunchtime, six hours before the dropping of the puck.

At the Saddledome, tailgate parties began at noon, with fans roasting smokies and playing street hockey - only in this case with a red team versus another red team.

``It's the last home game of the season, regardless of what happens. Get out and enjoy the rowdiness,'' said season ticket holder Mike Faber, 43.

Post-game partying on the Red Mile has become a ritual this spring.

While there have been arrests for rowdiness, the post-game parties have been orderly.

CHeers,
Aquaman

 

[Aquaman]

Iginla or Richards for Conn Smythe?

Canadian Press
6/6/2004

Will it be Jarome Iginla or Brad Richards? Either goaltender would also be a good choice.

Not only will the Stanley Cup be decided Monday night when the Calgary Flames face the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7, but the Conn Smythe Trophy will also be awarded to the most valuable player in the playoffs.

Iginla leads Calgary with 13 goals and nine assists for 22 points in 25 playoff games. In the first six games of the final series, the Flames captain has three goals and two assists.

His short-handed goal in Game 1, where he collected his own rebound on a breakaway, then rifled it into the net, has been a highlight reel staple. On many nights Iginla, an Edmonton native who turns 27 on July 1, has been the heart of the Flames improbable run to the championship game.

``That's why he's one of the best players in the league,'' said Tampa Bay captain Dave Andreychuk. ``Those are the guys you talk about that get to the next level in the playoffs.

``He has been a strong player.''

When Richards strikes, the Lightning win. It's that simple. He already has set a Stanley Cup record with seven game-winning goals in the playoffs.

Tampa Bay is 9-0 in the playoffs when the native of Murray Harbour, P.E.I., scores. During the regular season the Lightning were 31-0-2 when he turned on the red light.

Richards, 24, scored twice on the power play and assisted on Martin St. Louis' winning goal in the Lightning's 3-2 double overtime victory Saturday night which forced Game 7. He leads the playoff scoring with 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists).

``He's a young up-and-coming star,'' said Tampa's Chris Dingman. ``This is where guys make a name for themselves.''

If Iginla is the brass band at the front of the Flames playoff parade, goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff is the violin soloist.

Quick and subtle, the native of Turku, Finland, has a 15-10 record, recorded five shutouts and has a 1.85 goals-against average.

John Davidson, the former New York Ranger goaltender who now is a hockey analyst for ABC, said it's difficult to pick between Kiprusoff and Iginla.

``They both carry the team,'' said Davidson. ``If there ever was a season where there should be a co-shared award, this would be it.

``I can't sit here and say one has been more valuable than the other.''

Tampa's Nikolai Khabibulin has numbers that mirror Kiprusoff's. In 22 playoff games, the native of Sverdlovsk, Russia, is 15-7 with five shutouts and a 1.74 GAA.

``He's playing at the top of his game,'' said Richards. ``He has done a great job.

``He's consistent every game.''

Other players from both teams also deserve consideration.

Quietly, Andrew Ference has been strong on the Flames defence. Forward Martin Gelinas scored overtime goals that won the series against Vancouver and Detroit.

For the Lightning, St. Louis is second in playoff scoring with 24 points, including 15 assists. His goal Saturday night put Tampa Bay into position to win its first Stanley Cup.

The Conn Smythe is awarded to the most valuable player for his team in the playoffs. The winner is selected by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association and receives $10,000 US.

Last year's winner was goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[jurzdevil]

obviously it will be the person from the team that wins...bettman learned his lesson last year when he gave it to giguere even though he lost.

< devils fan

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: jurzdevil
obviously it will be the person from the team that wins...bettman learned his lesson last year when he gave it to giguere even though he lost.

< devils fan

Nope.......... not always.......... remember Ron Hextall got it and hte Flyers lost

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Aquaman]

Refs McCreary, Fraser to work Game 7

TSN.ca Staff
6/6/2004

After being pulled from working in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, referee Kerry Fraser will be back for the deciding game.

TSN has learned that the NHL will have Fraser and referee Bill McCreary call the seventh and final game of the series on Monday.

Fraser and referee Brad Watson drew the wrath of Flames' fans for an early two-man disadvantage in Game 4 (which led to the game-winning marke by Tampa Bay's Brad Richards) and a late five-minute penalty which cost the Flames their chance to even the game.

McCreary and referee Steven Walkom worked Game 5 in Tampa as scheduled and took over the duties for Game 6 in Calgary.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Aquaman]

Nieminen 'sick' about non-goal

Canadian Press
6/6/2004

TAMPA, Fla. (CP) - On second thought, they're not happy.

A good look at some television replays and a day later some players on the Calgary Flames believe they got robbed when Martin Gelinas's apparent goal in the third period of Game 6 on Saturday night was not counted.

One particular replay on ABC seems to show the puck clearly crossing the goal line, but the NHL was quick to call their replays inconclusive.

``The more I watch it the more sick it makes me,'' Flames winger Ville Nieminen said Sunday evening after his team arrived from Calgary. ``You need to be blind if you don't see that it was in. Because the replay shows clearly that it was in.

``I don't know if it was a computer-generated picture or what, but it was definitely in.''

With the game tied 2-2 in late in the third period, Gelinas drove the net and had the puck hit his skate. Video replays appeared to show that the puck crossed the goal-line before Tampa goalie Nikolai Khabibulin kicked it back out with a pad save. But NHL vice-president and director of hockey operations Colin Campbell said replays were inconclusive.

``We reviewed a number of camera angles and only one showed the puck,'' Campbell said in a statement. ``Based on the angle of the image and the fact that the puck was in the air and on edge, there was insufficient evidence that the puck conclusively crossed the goal-line.''

Tampa Bay forward Martin St. Louis said that even if a replay showed the puck in the net, ``it still wouldn't count because he kicked it in.'' Lightning coach John Tortorella felt the same.

``I broke down the tape and I saw it. It was no goal,'' he said.

Flames coach Darryl Sutter diffused what could have been an embarrassing situation for the league by agreeing Saturday night that replays were inconclusive, and he stood by that sentiment Sunday evening.

But his players aren't so sure after finally seeing the replays, including the apparent goal-scorer himself.

``I did see (the replay), and it's very unfortunate,'' Gelinas said Sunday. ``I'm disappointed but it's part of the game. It's the cards we were dealt.

``But it looked in to me.''

What irked Flames centre Craig Conroy is that it play continued with barely a break.

``My only thing is that I wished they would have looked it, or taken a good look at it,'' he said. ``At the same time, Darryl said it was inconclusive, so we don't want to make it a focal point.''

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Aquaman]

McKenzie: Questions surround Regehr

Canadian Press
6/6/2004

There's a shroud of secrecy over the Robyn Regehr situation.

After Game Six on Saturday, Regehr was seen leaving the Saddledome with a walking cast on. On Sunday, everyone was wondering what was going on. When the Flames team bus pulled up to the hotel in Tampa Bay, Regehr was nowhere to be found leading some to speculate that he won't play in Game Seven.

Nobody knows that for sure, because we don't know what the problem is. Obviously there is a problem, but having said that, he did play the entire game on Saturday and was on the ice when Martin St. Louis scored the game winner in double overtime.

I think one could speculate that Regehr is at least possible to play in Game Seven.

Whatever injury he has - and we may end up telling Bobby Baun stories before this is over -- if Regehr plays with a fractured ankle and wins Game Seven of the finals. We've seen that anything is possible.

If it is a foot or ankle problem, the biggest concern could be getting the skate on, if there is swelling in the area. The fact that Regehr finished the game shows us that he can handle whatever pain he may be dealing with. If he can put on skate, I would think he would play.

Having said that, with injuries in the Stanley Cup final - especially if there's only one game left - you don't ever assume anything. You just have to wait for the latest news.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Aquaman]

Stanley Cup on the line in Game 7

Sports Ticker/TSN.CA
6/7/2004

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker/TSN.CA) - The Tampa Bay Lightning spoiled the party Saturday night. Now they have returned to the St. Pete Times Forum hoping to stage one of their own.

The Stanley Cup Finals will go the distance for the third time in four years when the Lightning host the Calgary Flames on Monday night.

The Flames had a chance to close out the series in Game Six, but Martin St. Louis scored 33 seconds into the second overtime to give the Lightning a 3-2 victory.

St. Louis' ninth playoff goal sent the Pengrowth Saddledome into a hushed silence and also may have stunned a nation, which was anticipating its first Stanley Cup championship since 1993.

Instead, the NHL will have a seventh game of the Stanley Cup Finals in back-to-back years for the first time since 1964-65. The New Jersey Devils topped the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim last season.

The Lightning, who seek the first Stanley Cup in franchise history, already have lost twice at home this series.

"I think when you get to a Game Seven, I think that's when it gets to be your advantage," Lightning coach John Tortorella said. "Having said that, really, it doesn't matter. It's a Game Seven. Both teams are going to let it all hang out."

Tampa Bay took advantage of home ice in the Eastern Conference finals, beating the Philadelphia Flyers at home in Game Seven. History also will be on the Lightning's side as the home team has won 10 of the 12 Game Sevens in Finals history.

"I'd rather be at home any day," Richards said. "It's going to be exciting.

"We've got our crowd. It's our environment. The only time you feel it's an advantage is in a Game 7. Sometimes Game 1 sucks. The other team has nothing to lose and they come in and take it to you. But it's a lot easier to have Game 7 at home."

The only teams to win on the road in Game Seven are the 1945 Toronto Maple Leafs, who got a third-period power-play goal from Babe Pratt to defeat Detroit, and the 1971 Montreal Canadiens, who edged the Chicago Black Hawks, 3-2, on Henri Richard's goal in the third period.

But the Flames have 10 road wins in this postseason, tying the NHL record. The New Jersey Devils set the mark in 1995 and equaled it in 2000, going on to win the Stanley Cup each time.

Calgary also will try to avoid becoming the second team in 33 years to squander a three games to two lead. In 2001, the Devils dropped the final two games against the Colorado Avalanche.

"We haven't made it easy on ourselves all year," said Calgary captain Jarome Iginla, whose team also lost Game Six of the Western Conference quarterfinals at home before winning Game Seven at Vancouver.

Calgary coach Darryl Sutter, who claimed earlier in the series that there was a conspiracy to keep the small-market Flames from winning the championship, could have been provided with additional ammunition late in the third period of Saturday's loss.

Before the game headed to overtime, Flames winger Martin Gelinas had another chance to score a series-clinching goal. During a power play with 6:55 left in regulation, he crashed the net and had Oleg Saprykin's centering pass hit his right skate. At least one replay showed the puck crossed the goal line, but play continued.

NHL executive vice president and director of hockey operations Colin Campbell said that no replay showed conclusively that the puck crossed the line, and Sutter agreed.

"I looked at it from two different angles, and unless they have a different one, you can't say it's a goal," Sutter said.

Defenseman Robyn Regehr, who left the arena after Game Six with a walking cast on his left foot, did not practice Monday morning. Forward Shean Donovan, who missed Game 6 with a leg injury, was able to skate Monday morning.

But Sutter said Regehr and Donovan "probably" would not play in Game 7.

Regehr averages just over 26 1/2 minutes a game and led all skaters in Game Six at 33 minutes, 36 seconds.

"I've played with him and I'm sure he'll do everything he can get out there," Lightning centre Brad Richards said of Regehr. "He's a very gritty competitor."

If he is unable to play, Sutter likely would go back to Mike Commodore, a healthy scratch for the last two games after totaling just 23:12 in the first four games of the series.

Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk will play in his 11th career Game Seven and seeks the first Stanley Cup in his 22-year career.

"We are trying to concentrate on one thing - going into Game 7 and playing the game of our lives," said the 40-year-old. "We have given ourselves a chance by winning in Calgary, but by no means will it be easy just because we are at home. We have to realize that. What we're concentrating on now is stopping this little streak of not winning two in a row."

The Lightning haven't won two games in a row since sweeping Montreal in the second round and winning the opener of the Eastern Conference final against Philadelphia.

Scoring first would help. The team that has scored first has won all six games in this series. The Flames are 13-1 this spring when scoring first, the Lightning 13-2.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[sandorski]

Getting close, Go Flames Go!!!

 

I'm so torn.

I hate tampa, but want an american team to win.
I like calgary, but dont want thoes dirty canuks to have the cup this year.

Also, I like seeing the hometeam win, so much more fun.

 

[bootymac]

Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!! I can't wait

I'm not studying for an exam just to watch this game

 

[BCYL]

I think I will leave work early tonight to catch the game...

 

[LuDaCriS66]

Go Tampa.. win it for Andreychuk

 

[ramulack]

a photo still of the contravercial no-goal:

http://www.robbstuff.com/files/100_3359.JPG

remember that the puck has to completly cross the line. you must be able to see some white between the black of the puck and the red of the goal line.

 

[BCYL]

I think that goal was in.... but since the Flames didnt challenge the ruling right then and there, there's nothing anyone can do now... It's not like they can play on for a couple more mins and then decide it's goal...

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: ramulack
a photo still of the contravercial no-goal:

http://www.robbstuff.com/files/100_3359.JPG

remember that the puck has to completly cross the line. you must be able to see some white between the black of the puck and the red of the goal line.

I've seen that pic many times now, but it is impossible to tell from that angle where the puck is in relation to the goal line. I'm curious as to why this is the only view, the overhead cam should clearly show whether it's across the line or not.

 

[TuxDave]

And so game 7 begins!!! GO TAMPA!!!!!!