Thirst for attention no more. NHL peers see the Lightning as a contender.
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published February 23, 2004
There is no cute way to begin this story, no smart and sassy play on words to draw you in. Then again, what you are about to read doesn't need much help.
The Lightning is considered a legitimate threat to reach the Stanley Cup final.
This is more than just a "duh" inference from looking at the standings. It is the belief of some NHL team officials, newspaper reporters who cover the league, former coaches and television analysts.
For those who remember the 44 points for which the team groped in 1997-98 and the 54 it managed just four years ago, we'll give you a moment to get up off the floor ...
Now, this isn't to say Tampa Bay can match up player-for-player with every contender.
But by running away with its division and challenging for the top spot in the East, the Lightning proved last season was no fluke. And without a dominant team in the conference, the door is wide open.
"I'll tell you this," Blues general manager Larry Pleau said. "They're a good hockey team. They're as good as a lot of the teams claiming they're Stanley Cup contenders. They play hard, they play disciplined and they've got speed."
Said Hockey News senior writer Mike Brophy: "People are taking the Lightning for real."
Yeah, yeah, we know, there are six weeks until the playoffs and the team has some issues.
It could use another big wing or defenseman. The goaltending, especially from Nikolai Khabibulin, has been up and down. And the team's depth is shallow enough that a major injury could have a profound effect.
The immensely talented Senators just added Lightning-killer Peter Bondra, who has more goals against Tampa Bay than any player. And the veteran Maple Leafs always have been a thorn in the Lightning's side.
Throw in the Flyers and Devils, and ESPN analyst Darren Pang said he would be "surprised" if Tampa Bay made it out of the conference.
"We know they're ready to take the next step," Pang said. "But is it a year or two too early based on the other top four teams?"
Still, for the first time in the Lightning's 12-season history, many are saying with conviction it could play for the Stanley Cup. How can we not run with that?
Forget the precedents
Do not lump the Lightning in with the one-hit wonders that recently reached the final. You know who they are:
The Mighty Ducks last season forced the Devils to Game 7. The Hurricanes made it in 2002 against the Red Wings, and the Capitals faced Detroit in 1998.
Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock said those teams got on a roll at the right time.
"Tampa's story is a bit different," Hitchcock said. "Tampa has been in first place for a long time. They've beaten good teams all year, and they've outplayed good teams. I think anybody who coaches against them or plays them feels they're as good as anybody in the conference."
"Clearly they're better in terms of talent," USA Today's Kevin Allen said. "And they understand what it takes to be successful. You can look back and convince yourself that with a couple of bounces here or there, they could have beaten the Devils."
Lightning coach John Tortorella doesn't want to hear this, of course. At least he doesn't want it getting into his players' heads.
The coach walks a fine line with this team. He knows it is not the most talented but has made it understand hard work can overcome its shortcomings.
That is why when told of this story, Tortorella said, "Make sure you put in there that I don't give a (expletive).
"I'm really not concerned what people say about us. All we are concerned about is the mind-set of our locker room. If you lose that even keel and think you are going to sneak by and not pay the price every night, you're done. That's something we fight against every day."
At least the Lightning fights from strength.
Since Jan. 3, Tampa Bay is 16-3-1-4, and its 91 goals are second to the Senators' 92. Its top two offensive lines are crackling hot, and the defense, while not overly physical, is energetic and underrated.
There is terrific veteran leadership from captain Dave Andreychuk and center Tim Taylor, who won a Cup with the 1997 Red Wings. And the addition of Darryl Sydor was huge. The defenseman played for the 1999 champion Stars and his ability to pass out of the Lightning zone filled a need.
Now if the goaltending could just find its feet. Khabibulin and John Grahame lately have had difficulty making timely, game-turning saves. If that is rectified, the Lightning's stock would soar. If not
"Who's kidding who? It's going to come down to goaltending," said former NHL tough guy Nick Kypreos, a television analyst for Rogers Sportsnet in Canada. "John Grahame has had an unbelievable year, and Nikolai Khabibulin is solid, but how far have these guys gone in a playoff round? Neither has gone deep into the playoffs. When Khabibulin had an opportunity last year he couldn't close the door."
Even so, Kypreos said Tampa Bay will be a menace.
"They're creative and find ways to win," he said. "They're a fun team to watch. Their mentality isn't to play not to lose, and that's a big difference in philosophy with a lot of hockey clubs. They go for it. They're a fairly young club, so it's just like ignorance is bliss."
"Are they legitimate? Yeah," said Predators television analyst and former Lightning coach Terry Crisp. "The specific thing is they're not a one-dimensional team. They play nice defensive hockey and have proven they can put the puck in the net. I'd like to see what they can do."
Beware of the unknown
Brophy of the Hockey News does not see an obvious weakness. He is more concerned with Tampa Bay's focus.
"It's not getting caught up in saying, "We just want to win two rounds because we won one round last year,"' he said. "They should shoot for the stars. If it's going to be a Cup contender, it has to believe it's a Cup contender. Worry about being a four-round team."
ESPN's Pang worries the team has not endured the excruciating playoff losses that create a fierce determination to get to the top and hone the ability of players to raise their games.
Taylor said last season's five-game loss to New Jersey in the East semifinals was painful enough, thank you. And the team learned how to fight back by beating the Capitals in the quarterfinals four games to two after trailing two games to none.
"We've gone through adversity in the playoffs," Taylor said. "What about Game 5 when we totally outplayed New Jersey in triple overtime and lost? What about that? We know what it feels like to lose. We know how we feel when we don't play well and how we feel when we do. We know the difference."
Andreychuk, who has never won a Cup, said it is not black and white.
"There have been a lot of times in my career teams have been predicted to get somewhere and it hasn't happened," he said. "The guys should feel good about the season they're having, but we all have to realize there's a lot of hard work to get there. We're just not going to drop into the finals. Teams aren't just going to roll over because we're predicted as one of the contenders. If anything, that will make it even harder."
But longtime hockey observer and author Stan Fischler said the Lightning's combination of speed, veteran leadership and "a no-B.S. coach who knows what he wants" is the stuff of a could-be champion.
"You can never tell with injuries," Fischler said, "but all things being equal, Tampa Bay has a great chance of making it to the finals."
