The Lightning was encouraged Tuesday when forward Cory Stillman, out with a left hip injury since Game 4 of the Islanders series, practiced and did not sit out any drills.
In a hurry after practice, Stillman merely said, "Good" when asked how he felt.
Defenseman Jassen Cullimore, whose injured right wrist is in a cast, did not practice but rode a stationary bike.
Montreal mystique
When it comes to the legendary Canadiens, Lightning defenseman Dan Boyle summed it up perfectly:
"A lot of things have changed. They have a European captain (Saku Koivu). Things are a little bit different. But the sweater is still the same. The logo never changes, and that represents a lot."
The Lightning didn't try to hide its excitement that it is about to play hockey's most storied franchise.
"This is a team many of us grew up watching," center Brad Richards said. "When you were little, everything was Montreal, Montreal, Montreal. To be able to play a Canadian team in the playoffs is special, let alone the Canadiens. This is why you play the game, to play against a great franchise like that."
Boyle is right. A lot has changed. The Canadiens have won 24 Stanley Cups, but none since 1993, the longest drought in team history. The team is now owned by an American. The famed Montreal Forum has been replaced by the Bell Centre.
"Even though it's not the same rink," Richards said, "you kind of think it is because of the banners and the fans."
"It's still the Montreal Canadiens," said center Vinny Lecavalier, who grew up in the Montreal suburb of Ile Bizard. "And the Montreal fans are still there. Just because it's an American owner doesn't change anything. That's in the background. I know the Montreal people love their Canadiens. And when you win, it's great to wear that uniform, for sure."
Even Lightning coach John Tortorella, who usually brushes aside questions this time of year about traditions and opponents, seemed excited.
"This is a tremendous challenge for our team," Tortorella said. "It should be great."
Number game
Montreal native Martin St. Louis grew up a Canadiens fan and that shows every time he takes the ice. On the back of his sweater is No. 26, the number of his favorite player as a youth: Montreal's Mats Naslund, who, like St. Louis, was a small, speedy forward.
"When I was a kid playing (pickup) games with my buddies, I was Mats Naslund," said St. Louis, who grew up in the suburb of Laval. "I mean, I was Mats Naslund."
When St. Louis went to college at Vermont, he couldn't wear 26 because an older player had that number. St. Louis couldn't get the number when he was the Flames, either, and wore Nos. 15 and 46. It wasn't until he landed in Tampa Bay that he could get his favorite number.
Criticism? What criticism?
Asked about the heat he has taken for not getting a goal or assist in the East quarterfinals against the Islanders, Lecavalier preferred to look to the future rather than the past.
"It's a second series," he said. "You get to start all over again and you play a different team; a team I'd love to beat, a team I love to play. Criticism? It doesn't matter."
As for playing against his hometown team, Lecavalier said he already has gotten calls from buddies who boasted they will be cheering for Montreal.
"Yeah, I was getting a little upset," Lecavalier said. "People were parading around in Montreal (Monday) night because they won their series (over the Bruins). It's totally different than the regular season. Every game is so important it makes it exciting for the players and the fans. The pressure builds up and that's what makes it fun."
A punishing finish
Remember in September when Lecavalier and Richards spent four hours as extras filming a scene in Tampa for John Travolta's movie The Punisher? Well, the movie is out and the scene ended up on the cutting room floor.
Lecavalier said he didn't care. Richards joked, "I'm not going to watch it now."
