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Stars in familiar roles join stars in new roles
By TOM JONES
Published October 6, 2005
TAMPA - Since training camp began nearly a month ago, Lightning players, taking a cue from their domineering coach, preached about moving forward, not looking back.
They've talked of playing for this season's Stanley Cup, not winning it last season. They've spoken in todays and tomorrows, not about yesterdays.
They've sworn they've put the championship DVD back on the shelf, picked the confetti out of their hair and moved the Cup rings from their fingers to a safe hiding place.
Yet it seemed like the Lightning's past and future blended together seamlessly Wednesday night. Moments after raising the Stanley Cup banner to the wild cheers of a sold-out St. Pete Times Forum, this season's Lightning looked as dominating as the 2003-04 team with a 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.
All the familiar names showed up in all the familiar places, such as the scoresheet.
Brad Richards had a goal. Vinny Lecavalier, Dan Boyle and Tim Taylor, too. Ruslan Fedotenko and Dave Andreychuk each had two assists.
And a couple of new stars with familiar names started to engrave their own names on the Lightning's Cup defense.
Vinny Prospal made a triumphant return with a goal and two assists. Then there was John Grahame, the goalie entrusted to take over for Nikolai Khabibulin and lead the Lightning well into next May.
While time will tell if Grahame can, indeed, assume the massive undertaking of being the No.1 goalie on a Cup-worthy lineup, he certainly played the role of elite goalie Wednesday.
All in all, it looked like a continuation of the Cup season.
Of course, memories of the Stanley Cup were conjured up easily. For starters, the most famous trophy in sports was in the Times Forum, making an appearance in a stirring pregame ceremony.
The Lightning was introduced, starting with owner Bill Davidson. Coach John Tortorella received a thunderous ovation, but it was nothing compared with the reaction given to the players.
One by one, the players were announced and skated onto the ice. The biggest cheers were saved for playoff standout Fedotenko, captain Andreychuk, playoff MVP Richards and Lecavalier, the face of the franchise.
Then when prompted by master of ceremonies Rick Peckham, Lightning players surrounded the banner and pulled off its covering.
With screaming fans banging Thunderstix and wearing fluorescent blue necklaces and the players skating in reverse to get a better view, they watched the massive 15-foot by 24-foot banner with the Lightning emblem, a picture of the Stanley Cup and the words, "STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS 2004" rise to the top of the building.
Moments later, the puck dropped on the start of the 2005-06 season, and it took the Lightning all of 81 seconds to grab the lead.
Prospal, back with the Lightning after a season in Anaheim, took a pass from Fedotenko and flipped it past Carolina goalie Martin Gerber to pop the cork on the Lightning's 13th season.
Carolina tied the score briefly, but the Lightning held a 3-1 lead after the first period and cruised to the victory in a free-flowing game.
The NHL season is a long, grueling affair. For the Lightning this season, there will be good times and bad. Winning streaks and losing streaks, ups and downs.
But one game into this 82-game marathon, all is well. The start of the start of 2005-06 season looks good to the Lightning.
Just like the end of the 2003-04 season.
[Last modified October 6, 2005, 01:14:18]
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