Rebuilding the Wall

	[Times photos: Dirk Shadd] Lightning goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin makes one of his 24 saves during the series-clinching Game 5 victory against the Islanders. He recorded three shutouts and allowed only four goals during the series.

	Khabibulin said speaking with Max Offenberger, a sports psychologist, has helped him become better. Offenberger credited goaltenders coach Jeff Reese for also helping.

TAMPA - Cory Sarich couldn't wait to dig into his nice, big piece of carrot cake.

But before the Lightning defenseman took a bite at Wednesday's team dinner, he admired the ice cream on top and announced, "This looks fantastic."

Goalie Nikolai Khabibulin harrumphed.

"He just looked at it and said, "(Bleeping) terrible,"' Sarich said, laughing at the memory.

"He's just got a different perspective on a few things. It could be from big things to small things. You might think something is great, from a song to a TV show, and he is just the total opposite. You wonder how anybody could dislike something, but Habby finds a way."

"I'm just voicing my opinions," Khabibulin said. "Sometimes I say what I say. Sometimes I say it on purpose to keep the image."

Crabby-bulin.

Khabibulin laughed.

"That's okay," he said.

It's been a long, strange trip for Khabibulin from a stone-faced player who speaks to the media in short, clipped sentences to someone who can kid about himself with a reporter.

From someone who declined to speak to the media before the series with the Islanders to someone who generally obliges.

But that is what happens when you are one of the hottest goalies in the playoffs; when you answer a challenge from your coach and elevate your game after hearing you were that close to losing your starting job.

Khabibulin, 31, enters Game 1 of the East semifinals with Montreal tonight at the St. Pete Times Forum with a 0.79 goals-against average, three shutouts and a .972 save percentage.

And maybe a new attitude, cultivated by sports psychologist Max Offenberger, that is helping him regain his status as one of the game's elite goalies.

Khabibulin's movements in net are sharper, his anticipation better. He has been so well positioned, most of his saves looked easy, though his game-turners have been spectacular.

Khabibulin has closed the five-hole that gave him so much trouble. And the top corner of the net on his glove side has become impenetrable as his confidence has grown.

It seems so long ago that Khabibulin admitted he sometimes lost concentration during games and frustrated the coaching staff, and himself, with soft goals at inopportune times.

It got bad enough that coach John Tortorella publicly challenged both his goalies to play better. And it was speculated that had backup John Grahame performed better in mid March, he might have supplanted Khabibulin as No. 1.

"He's the type of person when his ability or his heart is challenged, he'll meet that challenge," defenseman Jassen Cullimore said. "He'll bring it to the next level, and he did."

"He's a world-class goalie, and he's proven it before," goaltenders coach Jeff Reese said. "But in order for people to consider him one of the top goalies, he has to do it on this stage, no question."

Khabibulin pleaded blissful ignorance.

"I don't really read that stuff," Khabibulin said. "I don't even know what was being said."

Instead, Khabibulin speaks with Offenberger, who has worked with goalies such as Grant Fuhr, Mike Vernon and Felix Potvin. Khabibulin said the conversations aren't about hockey. Sometimes they are about cars, one of his passions.

"I can't describe it," he said. "He just talks to me and makes me feel good. I don't know why."

Offenberger, based in Boston, sees Khabibulin occasionally and will be in Montreal for Games 3 and 4. Speaking generally, he said he wants players "to focus on how important balance is in their life.

"With what we have today in the arena of sports and business, with the money involved, the whole thing is out of perspective. Guys tend to put pressure on themselves when they lose sight of where it is in reality. In the end, they are who they are. They've got their families and whatever they're going to do with the rest of their lives. So hopefully, they have that balance and perspective, and the pressure can come off so they can focus on their talent and skill."

"He just shows up, and when I see him, I talk to him," Khabibulin said. "I think it helps."

Offenberger, hired by the team, said he is not in this alone.

"Who's been marvelous is Jeff Reese," he said. "He's terrific. Not only with technical prowess, but his ability to relate to the guys is so important."

Apparently, Khabibulin believes it important to relate to teammates with a certain style. Sarich said Khabibulin barely speaks on game days.

"Sometimes he doesn't appear to be the happiest of guys," Sarich said. "If you didn't know him, you might think things were bothering him. It's a business presentation that he gives. It's a good way to approach things."

"You don't know if you're going to get Crabby-bulin or Happy-bulin when he comes in," Cullimore said. "It's funny. He knows what he's doing and what he's saying. He can come across fairly negative, but it's almost like a running joke now."

No comment on whether Khabibulin was joking about the carrot cake.

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