Lightning coach John Tortorella and Flyers forward Jeremy Roenick will be friendly adversaries. Tortorella and Roenick, fellow Bostonians, got to know one another in Phoenix, where Tortorella was an assistant from 1997-99.
"JR's a pain in the a-- and he was a pain in the a-- to coach," Tortorella said. "But there's one thing about him, he's going to compete. He gives you headaches at times, but in this type of stage in the playoffs, he's going to be a player that is going to compete and do everything he can to win."
Roenick was complimentary of Tortorella, whose no-nonsense style sometimes puts him at odds with players.
"We're good friends," Roenick said. "He was one of my favorite coaches of all the coaches that I've run across in my days."
When Roenick was out with a shattered jaw and a concussion, he contemplated retirement. When the Flyers came to Tampa Feb. 17, Tortorella called to offer support.
"After I hurt myself, he was one of my friends that called me," Roenick said. "And when the team was down there without me, and I was back home in Arizona, he called and wished me the best of luck and said it just wasn't the same without me there. He's a wonderful man and this time I'll be there and that will be fun."
Familiar foes II
Lightning defensemen Darryl Sydor and Brad Lukowich played for Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock when he coached the Stars. Both said good things.
"He's like a tic-tac-toe player," Lukowich said. "He knows every counter and he knows every situation. He's incredible. On paper, he can find any counterattack to your attack. He's a very good coach. I have a lot of respect for the guy. He's going to have those guys fired up."
"He brings a system in which you have to work hard, a system in which you can never quit," Sydor said. "It's a hard system to play because you have to be willing to work hard every shift. But at the end of the day, if you have enough guys on board, you can get the job done."
But Sydor admitted by the time Hitchcock was fired in 2002, his demanding style rubbed some players the wrong way: "For me it was fine, but for some guys you need a change of voice. I think both sides needed a change and I think he knew it too."
Hitchcock praises/tweaks Lukowich
Hitchcock said he "is really happy" at the way Lukowich "has been able to turn it around in Tampa Bay." Hitchcock said he was disappointed in Lukowich's development in Dallas. The Lightning acquired the defenseman in the summer of 2002 for a second-round draft pick. After an uneven start, Lukowich has become a solid performer and a battler who is not afraid to get his nose dirty.
Still, Hitchcock said, "He hasn't proved anything yet. He's just getting started. He's just a pup in the league. Ask him how many games he sat in the stands last year. Go ahead, ask him. I watched his coach pulling his hair out on the bench, just like I did. You wonder how he could be so good and so bad all in the same game."
Heavy traffic expected
It is no surprise the Lightning expects the Flyers to try to create traffic around Nikolai Khabibulin. And Philadelphia is big enough and strong enough to do it. The question is how to minimize its effect. "It's a matter of blocking shots," Tortorella said. "You're more concerned with the shooter than the guy in front of the net. That's where you're going to have more success."
Hitchcock quotable
"Just because of the name - the Tampa Bay Lightning - you don't think they're that good. But they are that good."
