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JOANNE KORTHNever mind the overtime goal and the winning goal that wasn't, Calgary players say. All that matters is tonight.
TAMPA - The Flames filed off a bus into a posh hotel Sunday afternoon carrying the standard variety of overnight bags, duffel bags, even a couple of briefcases.
Luggage, yes.
Baggage, no.
Coming off a disappointing 3-2 overtime loss Saturday in Game 6, Calgary is trying not to think about apparent goals, poor performances or opportunities lost. Game 7 is tonight, and the winner gets the coveted Stanley Cup.
That's all that matters.
"We have another opportunity to win, and that's what we wanted, to give ourselves a chance to win," forward Craig Conroy said. "Before the season, if you told us it would go to Game 7 against Tampa and we'd have a chance to win the Stanley Cup, you would have to run with it. This is a great opportunity for us."
By most accounts, Calgary succumbed to the pressure of playing for the Cup before a rabid Saddledome crowd, not to mention millions of Canadian TV viewers who have adopted the Alberta team in a show of national pride. The Flames were tight to start the game, and though they rallied twice to force overtime, the team's best players were out of sorts.
"The team that is down 3-2, it's always easier for them to come into the game and meet the challenge," forward Ville Nieminen said. "For us, it was all pressure on us. We were probably a little overprepared, and we were not able to cash in."
Some might argue the Flames won anyway.
Replays called into question whether a puck that deflected off the skate of Martin Gelinas crossed the goal line before the Lightning's Nikolai Khabibulin blocked it with his right pad late in the third period. It was not signaled a goal by officials on the ice, and off-ice officials said replays were inconclusive.
"It's very unfortunate," said Gelinas, who said replays show it was a goal. "It could have been the turning point. I'm disappointed, but it's part of the game and the cards we're dealt. Now we have a huge game for both teams."
Many Flames players were not aware of the controversy until questioned by reporters after the game. Conroy said the decision is irrelevant. "We didn't get the Cup, so that's the thing," Conroy said. "They won in overtime, so now we have to do it. We can't sit back and think, "What if?' They're not going to call us and say, "Okay, it was a goal. You win the Cup.' We know we have to come here and play our game."
Coach Darryl Sutter, who said he understood the league's ruling, went even a step further by saying it is pointless to look back at anything that has happened in the series.
"The last two games are both 3-2 overtime games," he said. "If we had lost Game 5 in overtime and lost Game 6 in overtime, we're not here today. Or if we had lost Game 5 and won Game 6, there's Game 7. If we won Game 5 and lost Game 6, there's Game 7.
"So there's Game 7."
Nothing before it.
Nothing beyond it.
"The fact that you know it's the last game and the season is over afterward means there's finality," forward Stephane Yelle said. "This is it. If someone came into our dressing room nine months ago and said, "Do you want to play one game for the Stanley Cup?' we would have been excited. I think all the guys are excited, and we feel pretty confident."