Lightning has plan to keep brawny Flyer from dictating action.
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published May 18, 2004
[Times photo: Dirk Shadd]
Keith Primeau uses his 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame to check the Lightning's Vinny Lecavalier into the boards.
TAMPA - Keith Primeau has forced the Lightning to do something out of character ... worry about an opposing player.
Actually, worry might be overstating. But Tampa Bay is certainly thinking about the Flyers captain, who has put his imprint on the East final.
"It's the playoffs," defenseman Pavel Kubina said. "You have to do anything you can."
"We're definitely going to be on a guy like that," defenseman Cory Sarich said. "He's a big man. He's been throwing his body around. We're going to have to find a way to slow him down."
In Games 3 and 4 that was like trying to slow time.
Primeau had two goals and an assist, six shots on goal and was plus-3. His short-handed goal won Game 4 and tied the series at two games apiece heading into tonight's Game 5 at the St. Pete Times Forum.
And at 6 feet 5, 220 pounds he has set a physical tone that has rubbed off on his teammates.
"It's no secret Primes has been our best player and he really has led us," Flyers left wing John LeClair said. "There's been several occasions where he's just taken charge and everybody has kind of jumped on and followed."
It would serve the Lightning well, then, to put a crimp in Primeau's game; to get in his way, to make him zig when he wants to zag, to get under his skin.
The knee-jerk reaction would be to put a body on him. When Primeau hits, hit him back, knock him down, make him pay the way Washington's Jaromir Jagr paid in last season's playoffs.
That might be fun to watch but it also could cause peril if Tampa Bay runs around and abandons its positioning while throwing checks. Philadelphia is much more talented than the Capitals and better able to take advantage.
Even Kubina, who was assigned to Jagr, said Primeau's ability to withstand physical challenges makes that strategy dangerous.
The Lightning's plan is more subtle. It simply wants to play its game; forecheck, keep the puck in the Flyers zone and force the defense to commit turnovers.
That is not to say the Lightning won't be physical.
"There's going to be some heavy banging out there," Sarich said. "Any chance you have to get a lick on any of their players, that's what the playoffs is all about."
Center Tim Taylor said it will be within a bigger picture that includes Primeau.
"What helps him dominate is not so much offensive skills, but it's the big hits and the way he can change games and create momentum," Taylor said. "It's not so much hitting him, it's getting the puck to their D and hitting their D as many times as the puck is in their zone.
"That way he doesn't have a chance to run at our D. Then he's doing a lot of skating for nothing in their zone. And I truly believe, as much as he's playing (22:28 in Game 4), he's going to get a little worn down too."
Debatable. Primeau missed 21 games from Feb. 14 through March 27 with a concussion. Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock believes that freshened Primeau's legs.
Primeau, 32, said the injury helped spark his playoff success. Being out for six weeks made him realize he cannot take his career for granted. He also said he believed he "was letting his teammates down. So when I got back it was extremely important and imperative I get back in shape as quickly as possible and try to get back where I was."
The Toronto native may be better. His seven goals in 15 playoff games equal what he scored in 54 regular-season games and are two fewer than his career playoff total. Whatever the cause and effect, the Lightning wants to create some of its own.
"It's like he carries the team," wing Ruslan Fedotenko said. "But you know what? When we're on top of our game, it doesn't matter who is there. If we play our game, create offense and score goals and let them chase us, we can beat them."
"We're not going to change," left wing Fredrik Modin said. "We respect what he's doing out there. He's a good player. We just have to be aware of him when he's out there and take away time and space."
