By DAMIAN CRISTODERO and TOM JONES
Published May 8, 2004
For the first time since - heck, it might be the first time during the playoffs - Nikolai Khabibulin returned to the locker room Friday after his postpractice shower to talk to reporters.
The Lightning goalie has undertaken a low-level avoidance program in the postseason because, he said, he did not want any distractions. Asked why he made the exception, Khabibulin said, "I was asked to," presumably by the media relations department.
Khabibulin said he would deal as best he can with the traffic the Flyers are expected to create in front of the Lightning net.
"It is something I have no control over," he said. "I have to find the puck and try to stop it."
Khabibulin said his confidence is high and he answered questions on the team's growing popularity and his focus during games. The interview over, he smiled and said, "I can go now?"
Easing the traffic
How do you deal with a multitude of bodies in front of the net? Lightning coach John Tortorella said you don't. In fact, the last thing he said he wants to hear about is moving people away from the crease.
"I'm sure this is going to be brought up throughout the series," he said. "It's very difficult to move a Johnny LeClair. It's very difficult to move a (Keith) Primeau. You have to get away from the old thinking of tying up and trying to budge them away from in front of the net. You lock a guy in front of the net, and a passing lane opens up."
Better, the coach said, to control what is happening away from the net.
"It's a matter of blocking shots," he 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."
Cup crazy
Hey, Tampa Bay, enjoy the Stanley Cup, Philadelphia's Jeremy Roenick said. Enjoy it, touch it, have your picture taken with it. Just keep it away from Roenick, who, like many players, has a superstition about getting too close to the Cup. For Roenick, being near the Cup is bad luck and, perhaps, the Cup's tour across the bay area this weekend will bring the Lightning bad luck.
"I'm happy it's down here, to tell you the truth," Roenick said. "I'm happy it's in the area here in Tampa because I don't think that's a good thing. They had better not bring that Cup to Philadelphia. Just leave it out until we get out and we can actually grab it."
Bad news, J.R., the Cup tours Philadelphia next week.
Meantime, the Lightning's Dave Andreychuk isn't overly superstitious, but he admitted he has never touched the Cup even though he has had chances. Most players refuse to touch it until they win it. That is why Roenick is giddy the bay area is getting its fill of the Cup this weekend.
"I love that everybody is running around saying, "Hey, this is where the Cup is going to stay. This is it. This is where it belongs,"' Roenick said. "Everybody is all excited to see it. We'll be excited to see it when we win it. Until then, we stay away from it."
Playoff tested
Coach Ken Hitchcock suggested the Flyers might have an advantage for having a tougher road than the Lightning. The Flyers beat the sixth-seeded Devils then the fourth-seeded Maple Leafs. The Lightning, meantime, beat the eighth-seeded Islanders and seventh-seeded Canadiens.
Hitchcock said his team is "hardened" by the experience.
"We've beat two really good teams," Hitchcock said. "We beat two teams who really thought they had a chance to win the Cup. I'm not sure if the Islanders or Montreal thought like that. We know how to play when it's on the line, and that's a huge factor for us. I don't care what Tampa has done that way, but that's pretty important for us."
Long and winding road
No player has played more regular-season games (1,597) without reaching the Cup final than Andreychuk. That's something he is reminded of often, including Friday.
"I really don't want to be on that stat," Andreychuk said. "(But) I look at how many times I've been in the playoffs. ... I know I'm coming up on 150 games played in the playoffs, and I think that's what it boils down to. When you get into the playoffs, you have a chance to win."
Meantime, Roenick, a 16-year veteran, has played for the Cup only once. But that was in 1992, and his Blackhawks were swept by the Penguins. He hasn't been to the conference final since. Roenick knows this Flyers team - and Roenick himself - might be running out of chances, especially if the league shuts down next season because of a labor problem.
"No question it fuels our hunger," Roenick said. "This is an opportunity that doesn't present itself very often, and obviously, I haven't been to this point in 12 years. It's sweet. It is a sweet feeling. We want to keep it going as long as we can."
Speed schmeed
Sure the Lightning is fast, Hitchcock said. But if you believe the Lightning's success is all about speed, you're wrong.
"Everybody talks about their speed and their skill," Hitchcock said. "That's not what makes them a great team. It's their checking. Their tenacity is up there with the best in this league, and that combination with tenacity and the ability to (get turnovers) unnerves teams if you're not ready for it."
Cullimore's status still uncertain
Defenseman Jassen Cullimore, hurt in Game 3 against the Islanders, said he doesn't know "when it will be or if it will be" that his right wrist will be healed enough for him to return. Cullimore is practicing with a split cast under his glove but cannot handle the stick unless he uses two hands.
Swept under the rug
By now, everyone knows the Lightning swept the four-game season series. But do you know how rare that is? According to the Bucks County Courier, the Flyers have been swept only six times since 1967, when they entered the league, in a season series of at least four games.
Tortorella has gone out of his way to say the regular season doesn't mean a thing, and whether he believes that or not, he might have a point. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, such a matchup has happened 14 times in the playoffs. Of those, the team that was swept won eight times.
