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Praise for Richards

Asked to describe center Brad Richards, Lightning coach John Tortorella called him "a good, solid hockey player."

Consider that high praise from a coach who believes there is nothing more important than playing good, solid hockey. Richards did that in Game 3 with two goals, including the overtime winner, and six shots on goal.

"He's going through the process," Tortorella said. "This is his second year now involved with the playoffs, and he understands it a little better as far as the intensities and the things you have to do to compete in the playoffs. He respects the game. He's a student of the game, and he's trying to find his way."

And, teammate Vinny Lecavalier said, not recognized nearly enough for his production and vision on the ice, which is probably the best on the team.

"You definitely have to give him more credit than he gets," Lecavalier said. "He's such a key player on our team. He proved it (Tuesday) scoring two big goals. He's going to have a great career."

Jose Theodore's .871 save percentage in the series is drawing criticism from the Montreal media. But Canadiens coach Claude Julien said he is not ready to give up on the goalie who was so big in a seven-game victory over the Bruins in the East quarterfinals.

"We know what Jose is capable of doing, and we have to show Jose the confidence that he's earned in the past," Julien said. "We know if we're going to win this series, we're going to need Jose at his best."

He hasn't shown it yet against the Lightning, allowing 11 goals on 85 shots. Lightning goalie Nikolai Khabibulin has allowed four goals on 79 shots for a .949 save percentage.

Theodore admitted Game 3 (in which he allowed the tying and winning goals in 82 seconds) was not his best.

"But there's nothing you can do about it. You just have to bounce back the next game," he said. "I just have to make sure I do see the puck well and my focus is there."

"It's not about pointing fingers," Julien said. "It's about asking Jose to do as much as he can to help us win a hockey game."

Everybody remembers Lecavalier's through-the-legs goal with 16.5 seconds left in the third period that sent Game 3 into overtime. But you probably don't remember Pavel Kubina's effort to keep the puck in the offensive zone or, as Montreal views it, right wing Niklas Sundstrom's failure to get the puck out of the zone.

"It kind of came off the boards, and I tried to get it out," Sundstrom said. "And I didn't, and I should have. And it ended up in our net,"

Asked if he took responsibility for the goal, Sundstrom said, "Yes, I do. I was out there and had the puck. I was part of the team out there when it scored. It was a tough loss."

One game at a time. There is no tomorrow. Our backs are against the wall. Name a cliche, and the Canadiens used it Wednesday.

In fact, Steve Begin used opposite cliches in the same thought, saying The Canadiens "have to play their best game tomorrow" before taking about how "there is no tomorrow."

For the first time in the series, the Canadiens seemed a little down after Wednesday's optional skate. Missing was the optimism seen after Game 2. But also missing is the finger-pointing.

Julien was complimentary of his team despite the Game 3 loss.

"Do you knock your team down for giving the kind of effort they gave in (Game 3)? No," Julien said. "You just try to minimize the things that ended up costing us."

Only the 1942 Maple Leafs and 1975 Islanders have come back from a 3-0 deficit. But Montreal did overcome deficits of 2-0 and 3-1 in the first round against Boston, so Julien isn't expecting his team to simply throw their sticks on the ice tonight.

"If there's one thing we can look at, our team has gone through some tough situations and we haven't given up," Julien said. "We've shown some determination, some resiliency, everything you need in order to succeed. And our players have grown a lot this year in a lot of areas."

At one point during Tortorella's daily meeting with reporters, he was asked to discus his sometimes tense relationship with Lecavalier. Tortorella declined.

"You guys get crazy with that," he said. "Talk about our hockey club or Montreal's. That's what this is all about, the playoffs."

Tortorella also declined to bite when a Montreal reporter hinted the Canadiens' play in Game 3 might have bordered on dirty.

"No, no, no, no," Tortorella said. "We're playing. That's all part of the game. We know they're trying to be physical to try to get people off their game, just as we do. But no complaints here. We're just going to play."

Lecavalier agreed and added Tampa Bay will not get sucked into confrontations as it did in Game 3, which produced 58 penalty minutes.

"I'll definitely have to be more disciplined," said Lecavalier, who had six minutes. "The whole team has to be more disciplined. If they want to get involved and get some penalties, then we'll stay out of it."

Even if the Lightning loses tonight, it still will have three more chances to close out the series. And seeing as how only two teams in NHL history have rebounded from 3-0 deficits, the chances of the Lightning blowing this series are extremely slim.

So what, Lightning forward Cory Stillman says. If he and his teammates can see to it, there won't be a Game 5. The Lightning is thinking one thing: sweep.

"It would be nice," Stillman said. "The fewest amount of games you can play, the better. You do not want to give them any life. We know they've come back before, and we need to win this fourth game in Montreal."

If the Lightning clinches a spot in the conference final, tickets for the first two games will go on sale immediately. Prices start at $43.75. Visit ticketmaster.com, tampabaylightning.com or call (813) 288-2658 or (727) 896-2658.

Eight-game playoff strips for the conference and Stanley Cup finals are available through the St. Pete Times Forum box office at (813) 301-6600. Those who have purchased strips may pick them up beginning today. The usual 200 $8 tickets will be on sale on game days through the box office.