The Erie Otters will choose center Greg McKegg, 15, with the No. 2 pick in the OHL Priority Selection on Saturday, according to a league source, speaking on condition of anonymity.
McKegg (6 feet, 1 inch and 197 pounds) had 73 goals, 53 assists and 126 points in 64 games for the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs minor midget AAA team this season. His goal total stands second to John McFarland, the Toronto Jr. Canadiens forward, among draft-eligible skaters. Sudbury is expected to choose McFarland with the No. 1 pick. McKegg’s point total is fourth overall. He ranks eighth and ninth, respectively, on International Scouting Services Inc. and Hockey Prospects’ player lists.
As of Thursday afternoon, Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner/general manager, had not made his decision. He was still exploring options about a potential pick-and-trade scenario involving Ottawa Jr. 67’s defenseman Erik Gudbranson, 16, the second-ranked prospect in the draft. Gudbranson will report only to an OHL club in a city with a French-only school.
In other draft news, the Otters traded a 15th-round pick in 2009 to Owen Sound for a 15th-rounder in this draft.

– Victor Fernandes

Sudbury will choose forward John McFarland with the No. 1 pick in the OHL Priority Selection on Saturday, the Wolves and league officials announced Friday. McFarland, 16, a Richmond Hill, Ontario, native, had 96 goals, 165 points and 176 penalty minutes in 76 games with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens minor midget AAA club this season. His goal and point totals lead all draft-eligible skaters.
“John is extremely talented and possesses all the skills necessary to succeed at the next level,” Mike Foligno, Wolves coach/general manager, said in a statement. “He will be a valuable addition to our young and talented team. John is a leader. We look forward to developing his skills along with our young team.”

The Erie Otters will choose center Greg McKegg, 15, with the No. 2 pick in the OHL Priority Selection on Saturday, according to league sources, speaking on condition of anonymity. But as of Friday afternoon, a pick-and trade scenario involving defenseman Erik Gudbranson remains possible.
Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner/general manager, said a club has inquired about acquiring Gudbranson, 16, who won’t report to the Otters since the city doesn’t have a French-only school.
“There’s been an inquiry,” Bassin said, “but we’re leaning towards taking our pick.” Bassin declined to disclose the club. But a league source has said Bassin made offers involving Gudbranson to Kingston and Ottawa, which have the Nos. 4 and 7 picks, respectively.
Bassin also declined to name the player he would select. But he will pick a forward if a deal isn’t completed. “We’re not taking a defenseman if it isn’t Gudbranson,” Bassin said. This week, several league sources have linked McKegg (6 feet 1, 197 pounds) to the Otters.
McKegg had 73 goals, 53 assists and 126 points in 64 games for the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs minor midget AAA club this season. His goal total ranks second to John McFarland, the Toronto Jr. Canadiens forward, among draft-eligible skaters. Sudbury will choose McFarland with the No. 1 pick. McKegg’s point total is fourth overall. He ranks eighth and ninth, respectively, on International Scouting Services Inc. and Hockey Prospects’ player lists.

– Victor Fernandes

Coach Robbie Ftorek and Sherry Bassin, managing partner/general manager, have agreed in principle on a three-year contract. But the deal isn’t officially done, Ftorek said Friday.
“We’re still talking about it. We’ve been talking about it for quite awhile,” Ftorek said. “I don’t have a timetable for things. We just continue to move on until we say we agree on something.”
Ftorek pointed to the out clause in a contract, which would allow him to leave the Otters for a professional job. He has two decades of coaching experience on the NHL and AHL level. He hasn’t coached professionally since ending a three-year stint with Albany (AHL) in 2006.
For now, he focuses on Saturday’s OHL Priority Selection. Ftorek also has spent his off-season working hockey clinics in Connecticut and helping a friend coach a softball team at Lexington (Mass.) Christian Academy. Yet, he also has begun planning for Otters’ training camp late this summer.
“I’m planning on being there,” he said. “We’re working on getting training camp organized.”

– Victor Fernandes

* Not set in stone: Coach Robbie Ftorek and Sherry Bassin, managing partner/general manager, have agreed in principle on a three-year contract. But the deal isn’t officially done, Ftorek said Friday.
“We’re still talking about it. We’ve been talking about it for quite awhile,” Ftorek said. “I don’t have a timetable for things. We just continue to move on until we say we agree on something.”
Ftorek pointed to the out clause in a contract, which would allow him to leave the Otters for a professional job. He has two decades of coaching experience on the NHL and AHL level. He hasn’t coached professionally since ending a three-year stint with Albany (AHL) in 2006.
For now, he focuses on Saturday’s OHL Priority Selection. Ftorek also has spent his off-season working hockey clinics in Connecticut and helping a friend coach a softball team at Lexington (Mass.) Christian Academy. Yet, he also has begun planning for Otters’ training camp late this summer.
“I’m planning on being there,” he said. “We’re working on getting training camp organized.”
* An interested bystander: Ftorek spent time this spring watching potential prospects for the draft, including at the OHL Cup in March. But, he said, “My input is like next to nothing because (Bassin and his scouting staff) have been watching them all year.
* A full camp: Ftorek expects a franchise-record, 70-plus players to attend 2008-09 training camp this summer. That will allow Ftorek to have four practice and scrimmage teams and help offset injuries.
“It’s better to have a little bit of excess,” Ftorek said. “They’re going to come up with an opinion that’s truer than the one or two games I’ve seen them.”
Ftorek has participated in pre-draft meetings at Tullio Arena. Yet, he said, “I can’t sit up there and project these kids. That’s their expertise, not mine. I just take a kid and try to develop him a little bit.”

– Victor Fernandes

The Erie Otters have chosen center Greg McKegg, 15, with the No. 2 pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection today. McKegg, (6 foot-1, 197 pounds), a St. Thomas, Ontario, native, had 73 goals, 53 assists and 126 points in 64 games this season for the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs minor midget AAA club. His four goals and nine points in six games led the Chiefs to the OHL Cup semifinals in March.
“It’s an honor to be picked second overall and I’m very excited to be coming to Erie,” McKegg said on the club's Web site, www.ottershockey.com. “Mr. Bassin spent a lot of time with my family and me and from what I have heard and experienced so far it’s a great organization and the community has been very supportive. I can’t wait to play my first game.”
His regular-season goal total ranks second to John McFarland, the Toronto Jr. Canadiens forward, among draft-eligible skaters. As expected, Sudbury announced Friday it would choose McFarland (96 goals, 165 points in 76 games) with the No. 1 pick. McKegg’s point total ranks fourth overall. He ranks eighth and ninth, respectively, on International Scouting Services Inc. and Hockey Prospects’ player lists.
The Otters will officially introduce McKegg as the newest Otter during a draft party at East Erie Turners (829 Parade Street) from 7-9 p.m.
“We expect this young man to step into our line-up and be an integral part of our building process,” Sherry Bassin, managing partner/general manager said on the club's Web site. “He’s an extremely talented player that can add some offensive punch to our team. With his ability and personality there’s no doubt in my mind that he will mesh with the other players on our team and be an outstanding contributor.”

– Victor Fernandes

Best of the rest
Erie Otters’ other high-profile picks:

Joe Basaraba 2nd round (No. 22 overall)
Age: 16
Position: Center
Height: 6 feet, 2 inches
Weight: 180 pounds
Hometown: Fort Frances, Ontario
2007-08 club: Fort Frances Muskies (minor midget AAA)
2007-08 stats: 36 goals, 65 points (37 games)
NHL eligible: 2010
Fast fact: Lives in a small town nearly 1,100 miles from Erie
Bassin’s take: Workaholic … excels in front of the net, in the corners … captain of a Thunder Bay, Ontario, team in the OHL Cup despite living 4 hours from that city

Kevin Clare 4th round (No. 79 overall)
Age: 16
Position: Left defense
Height: 6 feet, 1 inch
Weight: 185 pounds
Hometown: New Rochelle, N.Y.
2007-08 club: Jersey Hitmen (EJHL)
2007-08 stats: 12 points, 20 penalty minutes (30 games)
NHL eligible: 2010
Fast fact: Committed to the U.S. National Development Team Program
Bassin’s take: First-round prospect that fell to the fourth round because of his USNTDP commitment … talented … wants to play in juniors

Michael Mersch 8th round (No. 143 overall)
Age: 15
Position: Left wing
Height: 6 feet, 1 inch
Weight: 175 pounds
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
2007-08 club: Team Illinois U-16’s
2007-08 stats: 22 goals, 49 points (54 games)
NHL eligible: 2010
Fast fact: Discovered during U.S. National Team tryouts
Bassin’s take: Top-two round prospect who fell because he remains undecided about the OHL … big, tall player that can skate … phenomenal work ethic … works the corners well

Erie Otters forward Justin Hodgman has three goals and seven points in eight IHL playoff games for the Fort Wayne Komets, including a goal in Game 1 of the Turner Cup finals. But the Komets trail Port Huron 2-0 in the best-of-seven series, following a 3-2 overtime loss at Port Huron Saturday night. Fort Wayne lost at home 4-1 in Game 1 on Friday. The Komets host Port Huron today at 6 p.m. in Game 3. In all, Hodgman, who signed a professional tryout contract for the rest of the season in March, has seven goals and 15 points in 19 games.
Former Otter Jeff Zehr scored a goal apiece in both wins for Port Huron. His power-play goal with 9:45 left in the second period on Saturday tied the score at 2. Former Otter Derek Merlini, now with Port Huron, had no points and a minus-1 rating in Game 2 after not playing in the opener.

* Sweet revenge: Linemates Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis teamed on Pittsburgh’s winning goal in overtime Sunday. In the process, they gained revenge against the Rangers for eliminating them from the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs. Hossa and Dupuis, a former Ranger, played for Atlanta last spring, when New York swept the Thrashers in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. “It just feels good to shake their hands and be on the winning side,” Hossa said.
* Avery update: Rangers winger Sean Avery was released from St. Vincent’s Medical Center in New York City Sunday morning, according to the Associated Press. He reportedly was admitted to the hospital last Tuesday night with a lacerated spleen, suffered in a Game 3 loss at Madison Square Garden in New York. He had four goals, seven points and six penalty minutes in eight playoff games before the injury.
* Pesky Ruutu: Penguins winger Jarkko Ruutu, one of the NHL’s best agitators, frustrated Rangers captain Jaromir Jagr throughout Sunday’s game. Jagr finished with no points, no shots on goal and two penalties in 23 minutes, 36 seconds of ice time. “I want to make it hard on him,” Ruutu said. “I have to be tough on him. I have to talk to him. It wears on you. … He wasn’t happy.”
* Strong debut: Rangers rookie Lauri Korpikoski scored his first NHL goal in his first game Sunday. His wrist shot 2:03 into the third period sparked New York’s comeback from a 2-0 deficit. Korpikoski, who replaced right wing Colton Orr in the lineup, finished with the goal on two shots in 7:14 of ice time. He spent the regular season with Hartford, the Rangers’ AHL affiliate.
* Penguins changes: Center Maxime Talbot (foot) sat out a second straight game. Veteran winger Gary Roberts (groin) again played in his place after missing five earlier games. Pittsburgh also scratched goaltender Dany Sabourin, defenseman Darryl Sydor and forwards Kris Beech and Jeff Taffe.
* Rangers changes: Rangers defenseman Jason Strudwick played in place of struggling Christian Backman for the second straight game. New York also scratched goaltender David Leveneu, defensemen Andrew Hutchinson, Corey Potter, Bobby Sanguinetti and Marek Malik and forwards Pierre Parenteau, Brodie Dupont, Artem Anisimov, Blair Betts, Greg Moore and Dane Byers.
* Around the rink: Penguins winger Ryan Malone returned to the game in overtime after receiving stitches for a gash across his nose late in the third. He was struck by Rangers center Chris Drury’s stick. Early in the second period, Malone’s stick opened a gash across Drury’s cheek, sending Drury to the dressing room for stitches. … Ben Roethlisberger, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback, watched the game from Penguins owner Mario Lemieux’s suite.

– Victor Fernandes

* Bold comparison, Part I: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has been compared to Steve Yzerman, the former Detroit captain and future Hall of Famer who developed into a complete player before leading the Red Wings to three Stanley Cup titles in his 23-year NHL career. “I still have a lot to learn,” Crosby said. “I think each year you try to improve everything, and you realize how important every detail of the game is and what a difference it makes when you’re playing.”
Penguins head coach Michel Therrien understands the comparison. Early in his career, Yzerman was one of the league’s youngest captains, Therrien said. Crosby, 20, is Pittsburgh’s captain. Both are true leaders, Therrien said. “If you have a comparison between those two (early in their careers), (then) yes,” Therrien said. “But time will tell with their respective careers. We know the career of Steve Yzerman. But right now, Sidney’s having a pretty good start with his career.”
* Bold comparison, Part II: Penguins center Evgeni Malkin has been compared to long-time NHL center Peter Forsberg. “I think that’s a good comparison,” Crosby said. But unlike Forsberg, Crosby said, “Geno’s got a shot that can also make him very dangerous. Forsberg was more of a playmaker and scored a lot more in tight. Geno can make you pay with a slap shot from the blue line or a one-timer.”
* Bold comparison, Part III: These Penguins have been compared to the early Edmonton clubs that won five Stanley Cup titles in the 1980s. Crosby sees the connection, since both clubs displayed youth, exciting players and a style that’s “fun to watch,” he said. Yet, Crosby said, “We have a lot more to prove before we can try to put ourselves in that category.”
* Exciting homecoming: Flyers center R.J. Umberger, a Pittsburgh native, faces the team he followed as a child. “When (the Penguins) the two Stanley Cups (in 1991 and ’92), and the atmosphere was just crazy and electric,” he said Thursday, “and to go out there and now be a part of that, it’s one of the biggest stages of the year right now. It’s just going to be tons of fun for all of us.”
Ticket requests haven’t been overwhelming, Umberger said. “It’s been pretty standard, same people,” he said. “It’s family first. Some close friends. They’re the ones that need to be at the game. … For my family to be able to watch me, it’s something special. They’ve gone through a lot and sacrificed a lot.”
* Speaking of Umberger: Flyers center Daniel Briere remains amazed about Umberger’s offensive explosion against Montreal in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Umberger had eight goals and nine points in five games. “I’ve never played with a player that was as hot as R.J. was against Montreal,” Briere said. “When you’re in the zone like that and everything seems to be working for you, what you try to do is take the puck to the net as much as possible. … Against Montreal, he kept attacking the net.”
* Biron on a roll: Flyers goaltender Martin Biron has posted an 8-4 record, 2.72 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in his first Stanley Cup playoff experience. He credits different reasons – strong defensive play, making right reads, positioning and luck – for his success.
* Relentless Ruutu: Penguins winger Jarkko Ruutu’s agitating ways on the ice has gained Flyers head coach John Stevens’ attention. “He had an impact on that series (against the New York Rangers), no question,” Stevens said. “He’s been a good player down the stretch and into the playoffs. He knows his role, and to this point he’s been a very disciplined player.”
Ignoring Ruutu will be a key to the Flyers’ success, Stevens said. “You’ve got to manage your emotion and can’t let him get to you,” Stevens said. “We can’t get sidetracked by him. There are an awful lot of players to worry about. … We’re going to have to learn to ignore.”

– Victor Fernandes

Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen will miss the Eastern Conference finals, and likely a potential Stanley Cup finals appearance with a blood clot in his left foot. But his condition could have been worse, he said Friday. The clot could have worsened if Timonen continued playing – to the point that doctors would have to “cut off my toes,” he said. “I’m glad they found it early.”
Yet, receiving the bad news Thursday was difficult. “It’s been a real hard 24 hours,” he said. “I was ready to go on the road with the boys. It was awful. I can’t even describe the feeling.”
His condition is more serious than the superficial clot Timonen suffered four years ago. “This time it’s in the artery, not in the vein,” he said. Three doctors provided a timetable of two weeks to five months. His return depends on the effective of the blood thinners he receives twice a day.
However, doctors allowed Timonen to fly to Pittsburgh Friday on Flyers chairman Ed Snider’s private plane. He will remain with the club for both games at Mellon Arena before returning to Philadelphia with the team. “I want to be here,” he said. “I want to be as helpful as I can.”
Veteran Jaroslav Modry, a 13-year veteran, replaced Timonen in the lineup. He hadn’t played since Game 5 of the quarterfinal series against Washington on April 19. Meanwhile, defenseman Randy Jones handled Timonen’s point duties on the power play.
“We’re going to change our appearance here a little bit,” Flyers coach John Stevens said earlier in the day. “(We’ll) ask more of Mo and ask more of guys that are in our lineup. … (Timonen) obviously plays into your game plan a little bit. He’s an all-situations player. He’s been a leader on our team, and we’re going to have to do it by committee.”

Erie Otters forward Justin Hodgman has five goals and 10 points in 11 Turner Cup playoff games for the IHL's Fort Wayne Komets. He is tied for first on the team in goals and ranks second in points.
But the Komets still trail Port Huron 3-2 in the best-of-seven championship series heading into Game 6 on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at McMorran Arena in Port Huron, Mich. Fort Wayne avoided elimination with a 4-2 home win in Game 5 Thursday. Hodgman didn't record a point, but he had a plus-1 rating and four shots on goal. Game 7 would be in Fort Wayne Monday at 7:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, former Otter Jeff Zehr has six goals and seven points in nine playoff games with Port Huron. He had a goal in the Game 5 loss. Former Otters defenseman Derek Merlini, also with Port Huron has one point, a minus-3 rating and two penalty minutes in seven games. He played in Games 2 and 3 in this series.

* Timonen’s good news: Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen will miss the Eastern Conference finals, and likely a potential Stanley Cup finals appearance, with a blood clot in his left foot. But his condition could have been worse, he said Friday. The clot could have worsened if Timonen continued playing.
“The dangerous thing about this is … if the clot breaks loose,” Timonen said, “it could go to my toes and they’d have to cut my toes off. … I’m glad they found it early.”
Yet, receiving the bad news on Thursday was difficult. “It’s been a real hard 24 hours,” he said. “I was ready to go on the road with the boys. It was awful. I can’t even describe the feeling.”
His condition is more serious than the superficial clot Timonen suffered four years ago. “This time it was in the artery, not in the vein,” he said. Three doctors provided a timetable of two weeks to five months. His return depends on the effectiveness of the blood thinners he receives through injections twice a day.
However, doctors allowed Timonen to fly to Pittsburgh Friday on Flyers chairman Ed Snider’s private plane. He will remain with the club for both games at Mellon Arena before returning to Philadelphia with the team. “I want to be here,” he said. “I want to be as helpful as I can.”

* Speaking of Timonen: Veteran Jaroslav Modry, a 13-year veteran, replaced Timonen in the lineup. He hadn’t played since Game 5 of the quarterfinal series against Washington on April 19. Meanwhile, defenseman Randy Jones handled Timonen’s point duties on the power play. Modry finished with no points and an even rating in 17 minutes, 1 second of ice time. The Flyers’ power play was 0-for-3.
“We’re going to change our appearance here a little bit,” Flyers coach John Stevens said earlier in the day. “(We’ll) ask more of Mo and ask more of guys that are in our lineup. … (Timonen) obviously plays into your game plan a little bit. He’s an all-situations player. He’s been a leader on our team, and we’re going to have to do it by committee.”

* A cross to bear: Penguins center Evgeni Malkin appeared to be injured during a scuffle with Flyers defenseman Derian Hatcher late in the game. But actually, Malkin was searching for a chain with a cross that fell off during the scuffle. “I lost my chain,” he said. “I know (it’s) very important for me. So I just tried to find the chain and cross.”

* Speaking of scuffles: Penguins defenseman Hal Gill was unconcerned about the late-game altercations or their impact on Game 2 Sunday. “I think that’s them trying to get something going,” he said.

* Pens’ take on Timonen: Penguins head coach Michel Therrien said his club’s approach won’t change because of Timonen’s absence. “He is their best defenseman and their shut-down guy,” Therrien said Friday. “But in the meantime, our philosophy hasn’t changed. It’s not about them. It’s about us.”
The Penguins’ plan to pressure offensively won’t change either, captain Sidney Crosby said. “We come with a lot of pressure typically, and that’s not going to change because he’s out. … Obviously that’s a loss for them. But at the same time, we’re a prime example when guys go down other guys can step up. So I don’t think we’re looking too much into it.”

* No excuses: Flyers head coach John Stevens didn’t make any excuses for his Timonen-less defense’s play. “Kimmo’s not our lineup,” he said. “We have six guys that are capable of moving the puck. … We didn’t manage a puck as a group of five on the ice. Our support got too far away.”

* Crosby’s emotional play: The Flyers' Hatcher said Crosby possibly plays better when agitated. “He’s an emotional guy,” Hatcher said. “Sometimes when that emotion level rises, you tend to play better. If you let it rise too high, that’s not a good thing. (But) he probably does play a little better.”

* Roster changes: Penguins center Maxime Talbot (foot) missed his third straight game. He also missed the final two games of the semifinal series against New York. Therrien listed him as day-to-day. … The Flyers also scratched goaltender Dany Sabourin, defenseman Darryl Sydor and forwards Kris Beech and Jeff Taffe. … Philadelphia scratched Timonen, defenseman Ryan Parent and forwards Steve Downie, Riley Cote and Denis Tolpeko.

* Around the rink: The Penguins have won 13 straight home games, including all six in the playoffs. Their last home loss was 3-2 in a shootout to Atlanta on March 2. … The sellout crowd of 17,132 cheered loudly after learning Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the Penguins’ AHL affiliate, eliminated the Philadelphia Phantoms, the Flyers’ affiliate in the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs on Friday.

– Victor Fernandes

Erie Otters forward Justin Hodgman had two assists, including one on the eventual winning goal, in Fort Wayne's 4-3 win against Port Huron on Saturday in Game 6 of the IHL's Turner Cup finals. The Komets forced the decisive Game 7, set for 7:30 p.m. Monday at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Hodgman, 19, ranks second on the team in playoff goals (five) and points (12). He also is tied for the lead with seven assists. Former Erie Otter Jeff Zehr had no points for Port Huron in Game 6. But he has six goals and seven points in the playoffs. Derek Merlini, another former Otter, didn't play in the game for Port Huron. He has one point, a minus-3 rating and two penalty minutes in four games. Listen to the Komets’ radio broadcast of the game by visiting the club’s Web site, www.komets.com, and clicking on the Comcast KometCast link.

* A deserving reward: The Penguins’ fourth line of Maxime Talbot, Gary Roberts and Georges Laraque teamed on the eventual winning goal 8:51 into the third period. The hard-working unit deserved it, head coach Michel Therrien said. “I was really pleased for their hard work,” Therrien said. “They got rewarded for their hard work. It is nice to see that. … It is a nice contribution from different players. It is good for those guys to be able to contribute to the success of the team.”
Therrien also rewarded that line by putting it back on the ice following Talbot’s goal. “They scored a big goal. Their shift before, (they were) playing well defensively. … It’s about rewarding and showing the players that you’ve got trust in their game.”

* Scary moment: Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn left the ice 1:51 into the first period with a bloody ice after being struck near the left eye by a shot. Penguins defenseman Hal Gill’s low slap shot deflected off center Evgeni Malkin’s stick and up towards Coburn’s face. As Coburn fell to the ice, teammate Mike Richards immediately summoned for the trainer. Moments later, Coburn headed to the dressing room with a towel on his face. He didn’t return after requiring multiple stitches to close the cut.
The Flyers already were playing without top defenseman Kimmo Timonen, who will miss the series with a blood clot in his left foot. “Well, obviously it’s tough,” Flyers head coach John Stevens said. “Coby is an all-situation player for us. He plays big minutes, but I thought the group of five (defensemen) did a heck of a job. … I thought we got good contributions from all of them.”

* Speaking of Stevens: After the game, Stevens appeared to insinuate that the Penguins have received preferential calls from officials because of their star players. “I’d just like to see some consistency,” he said. “We’ve got a couple of stars on our team, too. Danny (Briere) is a pretty good player. Derian Hatcher (has) been around the league a long time. He knows how to defend.”
Pittsburgh scored on 2-of-6 power plays, while the Flyers went 1-for-3.

* Action-packed start: The bad blood expected in this series emerged in the game’s opening four minutes. Flyers winger Scottie Upshall and Penguins rookie Tyler Kennedy engaged in a spirited fight, setting the stage for a physical game. Moments later, Hatcher, the Flyers’ 6-foot-5, 235-pound defenseman, traded shoves with Laraque, a 6-foot-3, 243-pound enforcer. The Flyers’ Jim Dowd and the Penguins’ Talbot also scuffled briefly.

* Ruutu at his best: Penguins winger Jarkko Ruutu was at his agitating best n Game 2. He even was tangled up with Flyers goaltender Martin Biron early in the third period. Ruutu appeared to bump Biron as Ruutu skated in front of the net. That prompted Biron to punch Ruutu in the face with his blocker. Biron received a roughing penalty, while Ruutu was called for unsportsmanlike conduct-diving.
“I was trying to get away,” Ruutu said. “I don’t know why I got a penalty. (The referee) was probably just trying to even it up.”

* Goal or no goal: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby appeared to score his second goal of the game late in the first period. Video replays appeared to show the puck cross the goal line before Biron covered it with his puck. But according to the replay judge’s ruling, replays proved inconclusive, prompting the call of no goal to be upheld and sparking a resounding chorus of boos from the sellout crowd.

* Hoping for a spark: Stevens inserted hard-nosed, emotional winger Steve Downie into the lineup for Game 2. Downie, who replaced left wing Patrick Thoresen, had no goals, one point and 10 penalty minutes in four previous playoff games. Downie hadn’t played since Game 3 of the Flyers’ semifinal series against Montreal on April 28. Stevens also altered his lines at time in Game 2. At one point, he put Briere on right wing alongside center Mike Richards and left wing Scott Hartnell.

* Roster moves: Pittsburgh scratched goaltender Dany Sabourin, defenseman Daryl Sydor and forwards Hall, Kris Beech and Jeff Taffe. … The Flyers scratched goaltender Scott Munroe, defensemen Timonen, Nathan Guenin and Ryan Parent and forwards Thoresen, Riley Cote and Denis Tolpeko.

* Around the rink: Talbot replaced winger Adam Hall in the lineup. It wasn’t an easy decision, Therrien said. “It is not like we don’t want Adam (in) the lineup,” he said. “But there’s no doubt that Max Talbot has got an important role.” … Pittsburgh has won 10-of-11 games in the playoffs, with their lone defeat coming in Game 4 against the Rangers. The Penguins also have won 15 straight home games, including all seven in the playoffs. Their last home loss was 2-1 in a shootout to San Jose on Feb. 24
Richards has three of the Flyers’ four goals in the series.

– Victor Fernandes

Q. Can you describe the conversation you had with Georges Laraque after the end of last year when you told him what you wanted him to be like physically, and what role in order to fulfill a role here?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, if there's someone who knows Georges really well, it's me, because I coached Georges in Juniors. I know what he's capable of. We won a Memorial Cup together. He was an impact player on our team. That was a guy that we were looking to bring to our club. I thought we really did a great job to bring Georges in, but the Georges Laraque that I saw last year was not the Georges Laraque that I knew.
I told him at the end of the year that he needs to be in much better shape. He could be an impact player, and he took care of himself over the summer. Reported in great shape, and got a great season as far as I'm concerned.
He's capable of playing, he's capable of a forecheck. And guys like that are always going to bring some respect from your own team and I'm more than satisfied with the way Georges handled himself this year compared to last year.

Q. What kind of message does it send when you have not only does that line score the winning goal, you have them out there towards the end of the game? Georges said he may not have ever been out in a close game that late in the game in the playoffs. But what kind of message does it send not just to them, but the rest of the team that you have that kind of confidence in that line to have them out at crucial times during a crucial playoff game?
COACH THERRIEN: You know, I think we try to have a team affair. Guys have their roles. But I think it's important at times to show trust. And even the players on the bench. We were pleased to see those guys go on the ice. Especially after they scored the winning goal, they deserved to be there.
I thought that was the right thing to do for the team spirit. And I'm glad they did the job. They scored a winning goal. They played well defensively in the last shift, and it's important that everybody's got a role. And everybody's got to contribute, not only offensively, but defensively as well.

Q. Were you able to speak with the supervising official yet about Ruutu, and if so, do you think your points were heard and understood?
COACH THERRIEN: I didn't get a chance to talk to anyone yet. You know, I read some comments about John Stevens, about how he's disappointed about some calls. But at the same time, we're disappointed about some calls as well. Jarkko Ruutu got punched in the face, by Hartnell, we should have been a five?on?three, and that could have been a turning point in the game. We didn't get those calls. So that's playoffs. There are times you're going to get a call, there's times you're not going to get a call.
It's not about complaining. It's about playing the game. You hope to get the calls. It doesn't happen all the time, and what are you going to do? But one thing, Jarkko Ruutu is doing everything that I ask him to do. He's playing well defensively. He's checking well, he's finishing his checks, and he's disciplined. He doesn't retaliate. There is time he spent time in the penalty box, I don't know why. Like yesterday he got punched twice, and he spent some time in the box and it's not his fault. So what are you going to do?
You've got to move on, and hopefully if he keeps playing the same way, he'll get rewarded. But it's not about complaining. They're complaining. We could complain as well.

Q. So you're not going to even bother trying to get in touch with the supervisor?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, I'm going to ask them questions. I can't wait to talk to them. It's a travel day today. I'm sure that before Game 3, we'll have a chance to sit down with the supervisor and ask some questions. But what are you going to do? Referees try to call what they see, and I believe they try to make the best calls of their ability. But it's not about complaining. Because you could complain all the time, and that's not the purpose of it.
Let's make sure that the players are playing. Let's make sure the players are playing hard. To the best of their ability, and let's play the game.

Q. How have you been able to contain Daniel Briere's line? Is it just as simple as putting the Staal line out and Gonchar or is there something that you've been able to do to shut it down?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, it's not an easy thing to do. They've got a lot of skill. And one thing, Gonchar is doing a fantastic job. Like Gonchar yesterday, picking up three assists, playing so solid defensively. He's been doing that for a long time for us. Last night I thought he was phenomenal and deserved more credit than he receives right now.
This is a guy that always goes under the radar. He's a good leader in that dressing room. He's a good leader on the ice, and he's capable to shut down the best player on the other team. I thought yesterday he did a fantastic job.

Q. What have you done so well on the road in the playoffs and what do you expect tomorrow night's atmosphere to be like?
COACH THERRIEN: Every game is a challenge. No matter where you are, whether you're at home or on the road. On the road is a different challenge. We've been in that position in the playoffs. We won two games at home, we go there, and we know the other team's going to be desperate. It's about concentrating on the things we should do to be successful. It's not concentrating too much on the other team. It's not concentrating on the crowd. We've got to make sure we're focused.
This is a young team that matured really quickly through the course of the season and through the course of last year to this year. But we've got to focus and think that we can control, and the most important thing is how we play.
We understand tomorrow is going to be a good challenge. Good challenge to everyone. That's not an easy place to play. Well, you know what, Madison Square Garden, that was not an easy place to play, and the guys did a great job. So, we're going to be ?? we're going to have to be having another good game. Because, you know, so far in the playoffs we're playing pretty solid and we'll have to be solid again.

Q. What specifically do you need to see better from your team tomorrow night?
COACH THERRIEN: As far as I'm concerned this is a good group. They're young. They always want to get better. But as far as I'm concerned, we're pretty solid. You know, we're 10?1 in the playoffs. That's pretty good. A pretty good record. We all know that in the playoffs, the game is demanding. We've got to fight for every inch on the ice.
Hey, momentum will swing during games. But that's the playoffs. We play against a good team. There's four teams left in the NHL, that means every team deserves to be here, and the Flyers are a good team. There is going to be time during the game at home or on the road, they're going to get some momentum. And we're going to get some momentum as well.
But as far as I'm concerned, we played pretty soiled so far. We're going to need to play another solid game on the road.

Q. Are they a desperate team you think right now?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Well, I think going home, they want to play well. Every game is important, but they want to make sure that they win this next one, there is no doubt.

Q. Is Philly the most hostile crowd toward you? What is the worst thing that's been done to you there?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, I would say it's a pretty tough place to play. But at the same time, in the playoffs it makes for a great atmosphere. The worst thing? I can't really name one thing. They're just a tough crowd. They're not afraid to say anything. You know, they're just very vocal. A vocal group.

Q. One of your teammates went so far today as to say you guys were lucky last night in that you haven't really played well yet in this series at least up to the standards that you set for yourselves. Your feelings on that?
SIDNEY CROSBY: I wouldn't say, I mean, we're lucky. We had a couple letdowns, I think, in the second period, especially. We didn't play the way we wanted to. But I think they're right in saying that we still can raise their level a bit more and be better. But at the same time you have to give yourself the opportunity to do that. Sometimes other teams play well, but I think we have to be probably a little bit more consistent.

Q. Does it matter to you to get back on the goal?scoring streak, if you will, and then we can stop saying you're struggling to score goals?
SIDNEY CROSBY: I mean, we're winning, so that is the most important thing. I guess it makes it easier because we don't have to answer questions about it. But you want to contribute. And when you get opportunities, you want to make sure they go in. But, I said it before, sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't. But you need to do things the right way in order to give yourselves those opportunities. So that's what I've been trying to do.

Q. Is there something about playing Philadelphia for you that somehow they seem to go in all the time?
SIDNEY CROSBY: I don't know. I don't change anything. But I just want to make sure that I'm getting those opportunities, because in the playoffs you don't always get so many. So I want to make sure when I get them, I take advantage of them.

Q. Sort of piggybacking on what Dave asked before, since you were a high?profile player at a pretty young age. Did crowd stuff ever bother you where kids were getting on you at a young age, and if so, when were you able to tune it out and get that tunnel vision that a lot of star athletes talk about?
SIDNEY CROSBY: I think you learn from it. You go through it, experience it. You go through a lot of different situations and try to learn how to deal with it. But I don't think there was one time where I really said, you know, I'm ready to go through this.
It's just a lot of experiences you go through. And realizing that you just have to focus on what you have to do and nothing outside of that.

Q. Did you get a look at the no goal last night and what did you think of it?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, I got a look. Looks like it was in, but I don't know, I didn't have the right angle. But I saw a picture that showed it. It showed the puck over the line, so. I don't know. I think from what I heard, they couldn't get the right angle and it was inconclusive. Then the call on the ice is I guess the next opinion. And they called it a no goal on the ice so that stood.

Q. If that's inconclusive, does that shake your confidence in the replay system?
SIDNEY CROSBY: I think everything involved with that whole play, how close it was, number one, but with Biron's glove coming over top of it at the time it did. Then I think they said in one of the images where they snapped the frame, you know, there was a flash so they couldn't see that last image. I'm glad we won, just put that way. That would be a tough one to take if we lost.

Q. When is the last time you took advantage of an optional skate by not skating?
SIDNEY CROSBY: I did skate today.

Q. You did?

SIDNEY CROSBY: I did.

Q. Short skate?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Early bird, yeah.

Fort Wayne and Port Huron are scoreless after one period in the decisive Game 7 of the IHL's Turner Cup championship series at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Erie Otters forward Justin Hodgman has one of the Fort Wayne's 13 first-period shots. Former Otter Jeff Zehr, a Port Huron forward, has one of the Icehawks' six shots.
Check back for updates throughout the game.

Justin Hodgman, an Erie Otters forward, scored an unassisted goal 6 minutes, 3 seconds into the second period to hand Fort Wayne a 1-0 lead against Port Huron in Game 7 of the IHL's Turner Cup championship series. Hodgman is now tied for the team lead with six goals and 13 points in the playoffs. Former Otter Derek Merlini is playing for Port Huron. He took an interference penalty less than 2 minutes after Hodgman's goal.

Former Erie Otter Jeff Zehr, now a Port Huron forward, scored with 5 minutes, 28 seconds left in the second period to slice Fort Wayne's lead to 2-1 in Game 7 of the IHL's Turner Cup championship series at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Fort Wayne scored less than a minute earlier on the power play to build a 2-0 lead. Justin Hodgman, an Erie Otters forward, didn't factor into that goal. But he scored an unassisted goal 6:03 into the second to hand Fort Wayne a 1-0 lead.
Hodgman is now tied for the team lead with six goals and 13 points in the playoffs. Former Otter Derek Merlini plays for Port Huron. He took an interference penalty less than 2 minutes after Hodgman's goal.

Port Huron's Tab Lardner scored the tying goal with 52 seconds left in the third period to force overtime against Fort Wayne in Game 7 of the IHL's Turner Cup championship series. The IceHawks had pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker moments earlier.
Erie Otters forward Justin Hodgman, who plays for Fort Wayne, finished regulation with a goal on four shots and a plus-1 rating. Former Otters Jeff Zehr and Derek Merlini are playing for Port Huron. Zehr scored the Icehawks' first goal. Merlini had two penalty minutes.

Fort Wayne outshot Port Huron 16-8 in overtime, extending their shot advantage in the game to 51-29. But the teams will head to a second overtime tonight in Game 7 of the IHL's Turner Cup championship series at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Erie Otters forward Justin Hodgman has a goal on a team-high seven shots for Fort Wayne. Former Otter Jeff Zehr has a goal for Port Huron. Derek Merlini, another former Otter, has no points and two penalty minutes for the Icehawks.

Neither Fort Wayne nor Port Huron scored in the second overtime, forcing a third overtime in Game 7 of the IHL's Turner Cup championship series.

Justin Hodgman scored his second goal of the night 23 seconds into the third period to complete Fort Wayne's bid for the IHL's Turner Cup championship early Tuesday morning. Hodgman and the Komets beat Port Huron 3-2 in Game 7 of the best-of-seven championship series. He also scored the game's first goal in the second period.

MVP Hodgman’s goal wins IHL title
Erie Otters forward Justin Hodgman earned his first professional hockey title in grand fashion.
His goal 23 seconds into the third overtime late Monday night capped Fort Wayne’s 3-2 win against Port Huron in Game 7 of the International Hockey League’s Turner Cup championship series at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind. He also scored the game’s first goal in the second period.
According to The Journal Gazette in Fort Wayne, Hodgman grabbed a teammate’s shot in mid-air, dropped the puck to the ice and scored the winning goal into a nearly empty net.
“This is unexplainable, and I’m at a loss for words right now,” Hodgman told The Journal Gazette after the game. “When you watch this stuff on TV and you hear a guy say that, it’s like, ‘Oh, c’mon. There’s got to be something that they’re feeling.’ But I really can’t explain all this. … Words can’t explain what I’m feeling right now.”
Hodgman, 19, finished the game with two goals and the league’s playoff most valuable player award.
He led the Komets with seven goals and 14 points, tied for the team lead with seven assists and was second with a plus-11 rating in the playoffs. He had five goals, including two game-winners, and eight points in the title series. His winning goal in Game 7 kept the Komets from losing after leading 2-0 in the second period. The Icehawks formed overtime by scoring with 52 seconds left in regulation.
Coupled with his four goals and eight points in 11 regular-season games, Hodgman finished the season with 11 goals and 22 points in his first 24 pro games. He signed a tryout contract with the Komets a week before finishing his third OHL season in March. He set career highs with 37 goals, 43 assists and 80 points this past season with the Otters. In all, he had 48 goals and 102 points in 88 games this season.
Hodgman played against former Otters Jeff Zehr, 29, and Derek Merlini, 22, in the finals. Zehr (1997-99), an Icehawks’ left wing, had seven goals and eight points in 11 playoff games, including the team’s first goal in Game 7. Merlini (2003-06), a defenseman, had no points and two penalty minutes in Game 7. He had one point, a minus-3 rating and four penalty minutes in eight playoff games.
The Komets won their first league title since 2003, when the league was known as the United Hockey League, and their fifth overall.

– Victor Fernandes

Q. Can you talk about the importance of getting off to that quick start and taking this crowd out of the game right from the start? And just not letting the Flyers feed off their emotion?
COACH THERRIEN: That was crucial. We did it against the Rangers. We wanted to try to dictate every time that you're coming to a new building and having that two game lead, and most of the time the home team will feed from the crowd.
That was kind of our game plan, to make sure we pursued the puck really well, and try to attack them as quick as we can, ending up having a two goal lead, and that took away their emotion. Took away the emotion that they could go with the crowd. But after that, you know what, we committed defensively, and we didn't give up much.

Q. Can you talk a little about Ryan Whitney's play? And what was lacking earlier in the season that forced you to move the forward and what you've seen since then?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, he's playing much better than he was during the regular season. There was a time that he was playing great. But for a young defenseman, sometimes consistency was not there at times. We worked with him, we tried different recipes, and just to make sure that when it's going to get to playoff time, he is going to get the message, and he's going to get ready.
He's doing a great job right now. He's playing like a veteran. He's moving the puck really well. He's solid defensively and doing everything we asked him to do.

Q. Did you get the feeling during this game with both teams that somebody might have said something to the referees after the first period to maybe swallow their whistles and let the teams play. Five penalties immediately, and then one penalty the rest of the game was called. Did you get that feeling and coach to that effect?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, the referees do they call what they see. If there's an obstruction, they're going to call what they're supposed to call like it's supposed to be called. What are you going to do? You're not pleased with some calls, but after you're watching it, it was hooked to the gloves and you're not supposed to do that.
It's not going to be different rules because we get to the playoffs. Both teams are expecting the same thing during the regular season and the playoffs. Sometimes you're not pleased, you know. We're not pleased with the Hossa call, but you know what, you're looking after and he hooked. He deserved that penalty.
The same thing with the Flyers. Early in the game, they deserved the penalty. After that, I think it sent a message to the players, and where's the line. I thought both teams reacted really well.

Q. Can you talk about the play of Marian Hossa tonight? How early did you sense he was going to have a good night?
COACH THERRIEN: He's got a good game. And one thing I asked our players, we knew it was going to be a big game for us. I asked the players to make sure they got a good game. I told them some of you guys probably will have a great game. But I can't ask a great game. I'm allowed to ask you to have a good game. I'm not going to accept having a fair game. And that was the message before the game.
Everyone involved in the game had a good game. And if we've all got good games we're going to have a chance to win the hockey game, and this is what we did.
This is a young team who is playing a really mature game. They're committed defensively. And when you have skilled players committed defensively like we're doing right now, we give us a chance to win.
Because you know there's going to be times that we're going to have our own scoring chances, and with the skill of those players, you know that the turn of the puck will get in. But as long as our focus is there and we're committed defensively like we're doing right now, I like our chances.

Q. Coach, Crosby didn't take a shot in the first period, yet he had two assists. I thought even dominated the play there. Is that what kind of a superstar that he is, that he can really dictate the tempo of a game without even taking a shot?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, a guy like Crosby, he's our Captain. He wants to make sure he's a great leader. On a big game like that, you're looking for your great leader to show the way, to dictate the way to the rest of the team. There is no doubt Sid tonight I thought was fantastic, and he stuck to the plan, too, as well. You can't ask more for a leader like Crosby's doing right now for this hockey team.

Q. You've been the last two teams you played rangers and Flyers are two teams that thrived on the forecheck and thrived on the cycle. Yet I can't remember in either series either team getting a chance to do so for more than 30 seconds or so. What are you doing to prevent that?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, they've got to give a lot of credit to the defensemen. I thought they moved the puck really well. We played a solid defensive game. We don't like to lose the puck. We don't want the other team to forecheck us that hard. It's a unit of five that's got to do their job on the ice. And we stressed that to the players to make sure that unit of five was going to be there and do their job.
I thought tonight they tried to forecheck hard, and that was part of their game plan. But we were capable to contain them, and move some pucks with the breakout, good decisions with the puck, and take away a little bit of their forecheck.

Q. Could you also talk about the commitment from the forwards? Has that stepped up on defense what those guys have done, John Stevens talked about that right in here a few minutes ago.
COACH THERRIEN: Well, like I said, this is a young team playing a mature game. And they're all committed defensively. This is what I like about our team. When you're committed defensively, you give yourself a chance to win. Our focus is there, and I like our chance right now.

MARIAN HOSSA
SIDNEY CROSBY

Q. Could you just kind of talk about how early on in that game you knew you were feeling it, and you were going to have a good game?
MARIAN HOSSA: Well, you know, it wasn't just me, but, I mean we knew if he if we could score first, that would be huge for our team, and we could quiet the crowd. Basically, it's their sixth player, because the people here are unbelievable. They're really loud. So we did it, and that was kind of the first step, and after we kept battling.

Q. Marian, I know you need to say you have more to do that kind of thing, but can you take a level of satisfaction from the way you've played over the course of the three rounds?
MARIAN HOSSA: Me, personally, or the team?

Q. No, the whole team?
MARIAN HOSSA: Well, I mean, what can I say? We are focused. We're playing as a team. We know if we play well defensively, which we most of the times are doing it, we know we can be successful, because we obviously know we have the talent to score goals. If we do a good job defensively, we can create rushes and we can score. And we help the goalie, and the goalie helps us. He's really strong for us, Marc Andre.

Q. You and Sid now have only been playing together for a couple of months. Is it starting to I mean, you're in the Eastern Conference finals, and now it looks like you're really starting to get that click together.
MARIAN HOSSA: I know that it took a little while. We didn't play end of the year many games because obviously the injuries we had. We just kept talking and kept working in the practice and, you know, slowly, I think it's getting better every game. We just have to just talking and talking and just getting better and better.

Q. If you would, could you describe your goal, Marian? Your first one?
MARIAN HOSSA: Well, it started against, we played well defensively, and Sid grabbed the puck in our zone, and he just threw it to me, and I tried to use my speed. I make one move on the blue line, and after I saw defenseman, so I just tried to shoot through his legs, and I don't think the goalie saw that puck.

Q. Did you have a feeling early that you had an opportunity to have a great game or to be able to carry the team early in this game?
MARIAN HOSSA: Well, you know, sometimes you've got a kind of feeling, you just feel better than the other day. I just felt like, you know, my legs were moving pretty good tonight. I just tried to skate and to take the puck wide when Sid kept feeding me. And that's my kind of job, you know. And I tried to backcheck. I just felt that way, and you know, my teammates did an excellent job, too, helping me.

Q. Sid, Ryan Whitney was saying that this is the best feeling after a win because it was in Philly where you haven't won all year and it was a Game 3. Do you get that feeling that this is the best feeling that you guys have had after any one of your wins?
SIDNEY CROSBY: I don't know about that. I think it's rewarding. I think that's probably what he meant. You come into a building that's a challenge to play in. You know, you're facing against some adversity. And you really have the guys on your bench and your team behind you, that's it. And, you know, it feels like you're against more than just their team. So, it's a rewarding feeling to come out of that with a win.

Q. Where does this performance by your team rank among the defensive performances since you've been in the NHL?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Oh, it's up there, for sure. I mean, especially the first two periods we didn't give them much at all. I think you have to give Fleury credit, because he didn't see a lot in the first two periods, and when he did see some shots he was solid and sharp.
In the third he came with a little more, and he was more than ready. A lot of people don't realize how tough that is for a goaltender, especially one who sees more than that typically. And he was mentally sharp throughout the whole game.

Q. Gretzky in the '80s used to talk about this all the time in the playoffs, about a talented wide open offensive team buying into a strict defensive system in the playoffs and how it took him a little while to do that. How hard is it for you guys with your offensive talent to buy into this system?
SIDNEY CROSBY: I don't think it's difficult. We all depend on each other. And we realize everyone has that responsibility, and we don't want to let the guy next to us down. We know we're depended on to play that way, and that is the only way you're going to win is if you're working hard in your own zone to get back and do those little things defensively. So we've seen it work firsthand.
The more that you can play well defensively, the less you're chasing and the better opportunities you get offensively.

Q. Was it nice to see Whitney get the first goal, even though it was a weird bounce, but it's a fortuitous bounce for a guy that maybe deserved it? He didn't have the best of seasons?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, I mean, Whitney played great for us. Doesn't matter who it is. But especially for him to step up like that you always think of other guys to maybe score goals. But he's a guy who is offensively gifted. You work hard and good things happen. He put a puck on that, got a great bounce, and that's a big goal for us in a difficult place like here.

Q. Even though this is one win from the finals, the fact that you've had 3 0 leads in other series, does that help you make sure you focus on the next one and not look too far ahead?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, we've always taken it one at a time. Obviously, you know, it's 3 0, but, you know, that's where it ends. I mean, we need to make sure that we regroup and, you know, erase everything quickly. That's what we've been doing throughout the whole playoffs. You know, we enjoy this one here, then we move on and focus for the next one, and that's what you have to do.

Q. You had a couple of assists tonight, you scored more points in this building than any other road building. Any particular reason for that? The atmosphere, they get you up?
SIDNEY CROSBY: I think mentally you're always expecting a little bit more of a challenge, so you might prepare a little bit extra. You know, I don't feel like I do that any more than usual, but maybe I do just knowing the scenario. But that's just the way I set it up. I don't know if it's a coincidence, but I try to prepare the same way.

Q. How do you assess your team's ability in back to back series to go into a Game 3 and win in a building you hadn't won in all season?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Well, it's important just to erase the regular season. I think talk about having a short memory. You have to make sure when you come into a building, you focus on your task and what you need to do. You know, nothing before that. You don't look at it you focus on what you have to do. Tonight we just focused on trying to get a win here, and putting ourselves in good position. It's exactly what we did.

Q. I know you're a lot more to go, but 11 1 in the first 12 games, fourth team in league history to have done this. Talk about that accomplishment, if it is an accomplishment to be 11 1 after 12 games of playoffs?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, I don't know if we look at it as an accomplishment. We're being consistent right now. We have a great attitude, but that's I guess the reward you get for making sure that you take each game seriously and that you're consistent. But I don't think we feel like we've achieved anything. We're happy with the attitude and the way we're working.

COACH STEVENS

THE MODERATOR: First question for coach, please.

Q. Are they playing some variation of a neutral zone trap against you guys? What do they do when they shut you guys down?
COACH STEVENS: Well, it's exactly what it is, it's a trap. They executed very well. They pounce on turnovers. They're very committed to the checking game right now. They're creating all their offense from the checking side of the puck, and they're doing it very well.
You know, our puck support execution is just it's not where it needs to be, and I think you have to give them some credit for it. They're checking us into turnovers. We're not executing with the pressure that we're receiving, and they're feasting on the turnovers.

Q. This is two games now where Steve's been involved in a turnover that's led to an important goal. Knowing him like you do, how do you think he's going to be able to handle this?
COACH STEVENS: I think his feelings are not important right now, to be honest with you. We put him back in because you know he's a big game player, but he's got to learn, and obviously, he hasn't. So you can't make that play. A flat pass, going in the offensive zone with Malkin on the ice, it hasn't worked all series. I don't know why we think it's going to work now.
They do a great job of getting people back inside the box. That's why I think pucks need to go at the net. They're committed defensively right now. We can hear about their offensive game. But they're committed defensively right now. Those flat passes in the offensive zone are killers the other way.

Q. You had a terrible situation, but what do you do besides say we have to be more committed? How can you do something between now and the next game?
COACH STEVENS: I don't know if I would say we have to be more committed, we just have to play better. I don't think there's any lack of commitment on our team's part whatsoever. I think we've got to find a way to play with confidence and execute with the pressure we're receiving. I mean, they're on a roll. Can you just see it.
They're playing with a lot of confidence right now. They've won a lot of games in the playoffs. They're doing things with the puck that they weren't doing earlier in the series. And I think we have to do a better job of pressuring the puck and playing as a group of five with and without the puck.
You know, we're getting outplayed right now, and we've got to dig in.

Q. Is there any chance you're going to try to jump start the offense by changing up your lines Thursday?
COACH STEVENS: There's a chance we'll do a lot of things. I'm sure we'll make a change there, at least one change. But I thought Danny's line was much better tonight. I really liked the way Vinny and Danny, and Hartsy played tonight. I'm sure we could tweak a couple things. We'll have to look at something. Because we're having a tough time creating any kind of offense right now, any kind of sustained activity in the offensive zone. We had some ebbs and flows, but, you know, we've got to find a way to get more continuity when we roll our lines and spend more time in the offensive zone.

Q. If they probably had the script the way they wanted to come in and play this Game 3, it would be score a couple goals early, which is exactly what they did. I mean, and take the crowd out. Can you talk about just how deflating it is to get behind 2 0 in the first 7, 8 minutes of the game?
COACH STEVENS: There's lots of hockey left. It just happens. The first goal they get a power play, and throw it off the net, it goes off a body in front. But there's lots of hockey left. I mean, it's 60 minute hockey game. Obviously, they have the lead. It's not a situation that we would have scripted for ourselves. But there's still lots of hockey left.
I think we know now that they play very well with the lead. They've got a defense that's experienced. Gonchar plays huge minutes right now, and he controls the play. Ideally you want to play with a with the lead or play even, because if you play into your hands right now you get behind.

Q. Offensively did you really have to change things upcoming into this game? Because obviously it makes up for defensive shortcomings, had you to drop third guy high to play consistently?
COACH STEVENS: No, I don't see it that way. Maybe I'm wrong. I've been wrong before. But I just don't see our execution getting up the ice. I mean, we have a lot of pucks that we start out with. We don't get through the neutral zone into the offensive zone. To me, that's where we're really falling short in this series. Our execution when we have the puck is not where it needs to be.
You know, I think it's improved at times, but it's not at a level where it allows us to create the offensive attack we'd like. We did create some chances, we didn't give up a whole lot, but they're a very opportunistic team. They don't need a lot of chances to put pucks in the net. If they get chances on the rush with numbers, they're a dangerous hockey team.
I've said it from the beginning, it's just our ability to manage the puck coming off the ice, it has to get better.

Q. Do you find their composure for such a young team very unusual, even when they get a break, goes against them, they just keep right on going?
COACH STEVENS: Well, not really. They're a good team. They were fighting for a top spot the East. They had an experience last year as a team where they lost. They learned from that. Crosby and Malkin, I mean, they're great players. They've been put in key situations for a while and have veteran guys around there. They've been in the league a long time. You don't get to be one of the Final Four teams and not play with composure.

Joffrey Lupul

Q. Regarding missed opportunities.
A. I do not know if I have an explanation right now. It seems that when we had chances we either missed the net or they blocked shots. We are working. We are in their skating but they are just doing a good job defensively. We are making it tough on ourselves by making costly mistakes and having to play from behind.”

Q. On being down 3-0
A. “It is pretty simple; we cannot lose again. That goes without saying. It has happened before. Teams have come back. We are in a pretty big hole but look at last series between San Jose and Dallas. San Jose was right there with a chance to come back. I guess that is the type of thing you look for. We are not going to quit, we are going to come out in game four and play as hard as we can, I can guarantee you that.”

Q. Are you surprised at how good defensively Pittsburgh is?
A.”I think they have really tightened up since the start of the year. They added some workers. (Pascal) Dupuis and (Marian) Hossa are good defensive players and their defense is playing as a pretty solid unit. It is tough right now but it is not like we are unable to penetrate. We can get in there and get chances. We had chances tonight but we were missing the net and they were doing some good things like blocking shots. We just need one of those games where the pucks we throw at the net start going in like they have been for them.”

Mike Richards

Q. They are not the New Jersey Devils but they are playing a 1-4-1. How do you guys counter that?
A. “We just need more support, crisper passes and come up as a group. We cannot blow the zone or have a guy hanging out high. We need to come out together and use everybody.”

Q. Do you guys think you were just outplayed?
A.” I thought tonight was just a sloppy game all together. They were not great and we were not as sharp as we would like to be and we did not have success.”

Q. Are they under-rated defensively?
A. “They are a patient team. They sit back and there defense pulls out. They turn a lot of pucks over when we try to do too much with the puck and then their forwards counter the other way. They have speed and the capability to beet you off the rush.”

Scottie Upshall

Q: Talk about the game.
“They (Pittsburgh) played a good team game. They blocked shots. They didn’t let us penetrate the middle of the ice in front of their net. They played an all around great game. They outworked us around the wall. I just thought that our effort wasn’t there.”

Q: What can you guys do to improve for game four?
“We got to shoot more. We have to get more pucks on (Marc-Andre) Fleury, he looks too comfortable in net. He’s making saves, but the rebounds are there, we’re not able to find them. Our forwards, including myself, we just have to be better.”

Martin Biron

Q: Talk about the game.
“We were frustrated a little bit, but that’s normal in the situation that is not a good one. We didn’t play a good game either. Give the other team (Pittsburgh) some credit, but I think that we’re going to have to come up with better games because the first three didn’t work. We’re going to have to find something that works.”

Q: Is it tough to remain positive after tonight’s loss and being down 3-0 in the series?
“Well right now after this game, yeah, but tomorrow morning we are going to have to regroup and focus and go to war. We’ve showed resilience in our battles all year. We’re not going to stop now.”

Q. Some of the guys you got at the deadline said it took a couple of weeks to realize how special this group was. At what point towards the end of the season did you realize this is a team that maybe we could do something pretty special just because of the components of it?
SIDNEY CROSBY: I think right away when we got those two guys, you know, we realized we're going to be a little bit deeper. I think just tougher to play against. We added some key elements there with Hossa and score, and Dupuis' speed, and a guy who can penalty kill. So we just added elements that we thought would certainly push us farther.

Q. You said throughout the playoffs that you're only taking it one game at a time. Not looking ahead, but you're one win away from reaching the Stanley Cup final. Has that changed at all? Is anybody in the room thinking that?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Sure, it's on their mind a bit, but you really can't afford to look ahead. We've learned here in the last couple of series, especially the last one, that the last game is always the toughest one to win. So I don't think we can afford to look ahead. We just need to make sure we continue to do the good things that we've been doing and hope that we're rewarded for that.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about specifically how Gill's impact, and the defense has done for the team?
SIDNEY CROSBY: He's been great for us. He's played a huge role especially on the penalty kill. Especially on the road where you don't get match ups a lot of times. Gonchar and Orpik have been against top lines. But on the road he's out there a lot of times against other team's top players and does a great job.
He's a big guy. I don't think he gets enough credit for how good he is with the puck, making that first pass. He does a great job. He's not an easy guy to get away from down low. So he's been a big help to our team.

Q. The way Marc Andre's playing right now has been pretty well documented. But have you noticed a change in him at all, his personality or anything in him at all, as his confidence has risen and as his confidence has changed?
SIDNEY CROSBY: To be honest, he's the same guy to me. We were hurt at the same time and kind of going through that together. I don't think he's changed over that time at all. As for his confidence, I think it was always there. As I said before, the whole season he was playing well, and he came back and obviously wanted to make sure that he didn't miss a beat. And he did that. He came back strong. He's raised his level here in the playoffs.

Q. Guys dream of hoisting the cup. Do they dream of being one game away, one win away of reaching the finals?
SIDNEY CROSBY: You need to get there to get that opportunity. So, definitely, we need that next win to get that opportunity. Like I said, we know it's not going to be easy. We need to match that desperation that they're going to have knowing that there's no tomorrow. We've worked really hard as the playoffs have gone along. But we need to continue to do the same things.

Q. You talked about the players that came over in the deadline deals. When that first happened, this is obviously what you expect or hope to have, but that's never a given. Can you just kind of talk about the process they went through, because it wasn't always like this from the point they were traded until now?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, I think it's just a matter of getting comfortable. The great thing about our team is we have a great group of guys. Made everyone, I think, feel pretty comfortable early on. I think Gill's a guy that can feel comfortable anywhere, doesn't matter where he is. We've added some good people, and when you're doing that and they see the attitude and the way guys are on our team, it's an easy adjustment. As for the on ice stuff, I'm sure it takes some time.

Q. Going back to Coach Therrien's famous tirade two and a half years ago when he had just taken over. I was just looking at the quotes again today, it had to do with lack of defensive commitments and so on. That was just two and a half years ago. How far do you feel this team has come since that night that he unleashed it?
SIDNEY CROSBY: I think we've come a ways. I think we all look back. He was obviously emotional, but what he was saying wasn't necessarily off. I mean, we weren't strong in that area. If we wanted to be a good team, that's definitely something we had to improve on, and it needed to be everyone. It wasn't specifically defensemen or forwards or goaltending, it was everybody.
I think we all realized pretty early when he came in that we all had to buy into the team defense. You know, we realized, especially through the playoffs, that that's been a big part of our success.

Q. Did you realize when Hossa came over what kind of a backchecker he was, and the way he plays two ways? Can you just comment on the defense he's played.
SIDNEY CROSBY: I knew he was a responsible guy. But I think his speed is something that surprised me. I always thought he was a pretty decent skater, but he's powerful. You know, he skates just as hard offensively as he does coming back, and that's a great trait to have as a player and as a line mate it's great to play with a guy like that.
I knew he was responsible, but to see it every single game consistently like he does, it's something that as a teammate you really respect that.

Q. You talked about the team buying into the defensive concept, but now it seems that it's almost like a prideful thing that you weren't just buying in. You believe in it and really enjoy doing it. Do you think that maybe catches teams off guard who come in figuring they have to not only shut you down, or Geno down, but have to get offense themselves?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, maybe. I know that going into games we know if we take care of our own end, hopefully, our skill will take care of itself. But like you said, you have to believe in it, and you have to believe in what you do is going to work, and we do that.
We have that belief, and I think that's the most important thing. There are some times where you can go out there and you know you're doing something right, but you're not sure if it's going to work, but that's not the case with us. We really believe in what we're going to do and we're going to have success in what we do.

Q. You're obviously so involved in this and difficult to separate yourself. But when you get down to this stage of the playoffs and you have the four best teams remaining in the cup semifinals, is it at all surprising that both series are 3 0 right now?
SIDNEY CROSBY: No, I mean the margin for error is so small, to be honest. It could be 2 1, it could be completely different. It could be the other way. It's one goal here and there, it's one mistake. It's just the way it is. I don't think it's always relevant of the way teams are playing. It's just who makes the least amount of mistakes or who gets a break, and you work for your bounces obviously, but it's really so tight. I don't think as players you really pay attention to that too much, because it is really a small margin for error.

Q. How chippy do you expect the series to turn with Philadelphia at 3 0?
SIDNEY CROSBY: I'm not really sure. It's been pretty physical, but nothing too crazy. You know, it's a matter of teams wanting to win. They know that they don't want to take those bad penalties that are going to cost them. So I don't see it getting too much more chippy. I really think you're going to see two teams who really want to win, and are going to play physical and do whatever it takes to get that win.

Q. Back to the speed of this team, how is it affecting the series against the opponents you've played? How has it affected what they've done, and what you've been able to do against them?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Well, I think when you skate, you're able to do a lot of things. You're able to draw penalties offensively. You're able to create chances. And even defensively, you know, you can get the loose pucks, you can cut passes off and be able to take away time and space. So I think skating is something that is so important, especially in the game today. And that's allowed us to do a lot of different things with our game.

Q. Back to Marc Andre Fleury, you've mentioned or critics have mentioned before that he wasn't going to be able to get it done in the spotlight. He had some failures earlier in his career. What's changed with him? Is it a mental thing or just a maturity that's allowed him to excel?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, I'm sure he's got a little bit more experience now. So his confidence is there. But we're all in it together. I don't think he's the only one who feels like he had something to prove. We have a lot of young guys on our team, and a lot of these situations.
So I think the great thing about our team is we have a lot of veterans that have been through it. But we have some young guys who can also help each other out too and learn from those guys. So we have a great scenario with our team. But I don't think he feels like he's alone. I think he knows there are a lot of guys that want to prove that they can perform in these kind of situations, and we're all there to help each other.

Q. Can you give us your thoughts on changing the line and what you're hoping to get out of that?
COACH STEVENS: Which line?

Q. Well, I meant to say lines.
COACH STEVENS: Well, it's just something I wanted to look at in practice. Richie and Danny have had an awful lot of success together this year. Mind you, mostly on the power play, but they're two of the best offensive players on our team and in the league. Two of the leaders on our hockey team for years to come, so we thought we'd give it a look and there's a good chance you'll see it tomorrow.
Vinny's natural position is center ice. He played one of our best games of the year with him at center ice late in the year. He's a great distributor of the hockey puck. He's been very good on face offs. Doesn't have to play the game from the standstill. I like what I saw today. Tomorrow, I'm not sure, but I'm leaning that way.

Q. Adversity is nothing new to this team, what is the mindset looking ahead to Game 4?
COACH STEVENS: First of all, the mood, I mean, I love the enthusiasm of the team. It seems like the questions come around, and it's like, oh, no. I mean, we're down 3 0. It is what it is. We've been outplayed by Pittsburgh in this series, and we need to play better.
I think the effort's been there, but the execution hasn't. We gave up a lot of chances yesterday, but the chances you give up end up in your net. We allowed them to get the lead and play from behind. So that's three games in a row, that's part of the reason for the change.
You go three games in a row, two on the road, one at home. Deal with the match ups, and you have the luxury of being at home, and you're still not creating enough. So a little bit of change. I love the enthusiasm today, and looking forward to the challenge tomorrow.

Q. Have you discussed with them either on the ice or in meetings today a different strategy to get the puck deep on this team? It's been suggested that it could be a simple one of getting it over their heads and into the zone.
COACH STEVENS: An aerial attack (laughing).

Q. Yeah.
COACH STEVENS: Believe it or not, I went to a coaching clinic one time and one guy presented on the aerial attack. So I'm going to have to go get my notes out from that one, but.
I do think there are some things we can do from our tactical approach. I think there are some things we can do from an execution approach. But there is no question we have to do a better job of getting pucks in, and doing a better job of protecting the puck and working the cycle.
We've done it at times. We've created some chances. If you look at the chances in the game there, they're almost even. But if you look at the puck possession time, I think, it's tilted in their favor.
It's up to us to play a simple game, and play it on their side of the red line. I think it will go a long way to helping us. We've got to take some speed off their attack. At times last night they came in with way too much speed. They don't need many chances to score.
They're committed defensively right now. So when they get the lead, they're as good at protecting the lead as any team we've seen right now. It's important for us to get off to a good start and play even and try to get the lead.

Q. Braydon was able to open his eye on his own today. Any more optimism he will be able to go tomorrow?
COACH STEVENS: Sure, it was great to see him out there skating. It's obviously a step in the right direction. I'm going to sit down with Jimmy. I think it will be one of those things where we have to wait till tomorrow and see how he feels after being on the ice today and see how he progresses. He's still up in the air right now. Can't really make a commitment either way whether he's ready or not.

Q. You saw the Rangers come back and make some adjustments for Game 5, and they did pretty well in Game 6. Did you watch any of that? Did you see what they did differently?
COACH STEVENS: I think if you look at the Rangers series, it was kind of the same thing. It was kind of a patient hockey game. It wasn't like games were tight, 2 0. They had the one game where they got the lead and held on to it. The other game still was tight. They caught a break and scored a goal, and it was kind of a broken play, so.
There's a lot of pull and tug going on in the series. There wasn't a lot of offensive opportunity in there when I watched the series with the Rangers. It was a tight defensive battle. Rangers are a defensive team. Pittsburgh is more of a defensive team than people realize and very opportunistic.
So you obviously want to try to eliminate the puck time that the guys in the middle have it. I think we can do some different things on our forecheck that might help us there. But, again, it's just better execution on our part.
You know, with the game plan if we were executed perfectly, I think you might look at really changing things that are trying to get done. I just think we haven't played at the level individually or collectively that we had previously in the playoffs. But I think we're playing a better opponent. Pittsburgh's the best team we've seen yet.

Q. This team's come a long way, obviously. Will you remind them of that before tomorrow night? Or do you not want them thinking about where they've been as opposed to where they want to go or is there something to draw on from where this team has come?
COACH STEVENS: Well, to be honest with you, I'd rather not right now. I don't want our guys feeling content with what's gone on this year. I think that would be the wrong approach. I don't think you can ever be satisfied whether individually or collectively that we got in the playoffs. We won a couple rounds. I mean, fact of the matter is we have an opportunity to keep playing here, and that's what we need to focus on.
It really doesn't matter right now what's happening this year. It will moving forward, but right now it's kind of insignificant. We want to keep playing, and we need to win one game. That's our focus right now. It's not the series. It's the game.
We need to go in and try to win a hockey game. We want to keep playing, and we've got to win a hockey game in order to do that.

Q. Steve Downie said on Petr Sykora, was that warranted, clean? What did you think of it?
COACH STEVENS: Steve Downie? You know, I didn't see it again, I'm not sure which one you're talking about. Was that after they scored?

Q. Yeah.
COACH STEVENS: You know, I didn't see it again. But let's not pick on Steve Downie. There's lots of plays in the hockey game, and things happen. And Malkin had an elbow on Danny there. It's just part of the game.
It's a physical game, Steve's a physical player. I don't think we need to single him out for anything that happened. There are other things that have gone on in the hockey game that are have equally been a part of the game as Steve played the game.

Q. What can you do from a disappointment standpoint, letting them know the disappointment of being down 3 0? What can you do then to just worry about that one game and sort of forget what's happened before?
COACH STEVENS: Well, just today before we practiced today we shaked some of the somber mood out of our system. I thought we did that. I thought guys were jumping today. Good enthusiasm. Execution was good.
You can't feel sorry for yourselves. I mean, we've said it all year, we can't look outside the locker room. There's nobody outside the locker room that is going to help us. There's nobody outside the locker room to blame. It's all of us inside the locker room that need to play better.
I think we're excited for the opportunity to get out and play again. And we're excited for the opportunity to try to play our best game. That's what we're going to need to beat Pittsburgh. We're going to have to have our best game that we've played yet. We're capable of it, we've just got to bring it tomorrow.

Q. Just curious if either of you are at all surprised? The Penguins are a team that came in with a lot of offensive star power, in terms of reputation, but the way they're trapping and playing defensively and the forwards are responsible, does any of that surprise you?
DANIEL BRIERE: No, not at all. You don't get to this stage of the playoffs without playing well defensively. You know, but it's about us trying to find ways to get to the net. Put more pucks on the net.
I thought we, and me the first one, missed the net way too often yesterday where it doesn't even get us a chance to get in there for a rebound and crash the net, because the puck's going around and most of the time leaving the zone. So that's an area where we have to be better.
I thought we took more shots yesterday, but we just didn't hit the net.

Q. Mike, I wonder if you could address moving to this line, and Danny, could you talk about what Mike brings to the line and how that's going to shape things up?
MIKE RICHARDS: Well, Danny and I have had success on the power play. Even at the beginning of the year when we were put up together it seemed like we had some chemistry, and not being together just because we're both centermen.
I'm excited for the opportunity to play with Danny. Like I said, we've got to find ways to get to the net, get more pucks to the net and find them. And, hopefully, we can do that together tomorrow night.

Q. You changed the lineups, do you change your game plan to get behind them? How do you attack the line?
DANIEL BRIERE: Like I said, I think the first thing for us is about hitting the net a little bit more often and we did. Johnny had those lines up this morning you'll have to ask him. I don't know if he's going to go with them or if it's going to last. I don't know.

Q. My question is how do you get out of their zone and get to the net? What do you change in your system to get behind them?
MIKE RICHARDS: To get we have to make better plays. We have to make smarter plays. I think we've turned the puck over too many times in the neutral zone. We have to make our defensemen work a little bit more than we have so far.

Q. Adversity is nothing new for this team. What is the mindset going into this? You can't win four games in one night, but what is the focus going out here for Game 4?

MIKE RICHARDS: I think that's exactly it. You can't win four games tomorrow night. You've got to take it a game at a time. We've won four games in a row in the playoffs against a really good Montreal team. So I think we've got to draw from that and not try to do too much right off the bat, and go all the way in the first ten minutes or first period.
We've got to go play a full game and do what we've been talking about the last couple of days, and try to get pucks in and try to make good plays out of the zone and just play the game that we know we can play.

Q. Were you guys glad to see the line changes today just in the sense of your situation is very dire, and the head coach is trying something, making changes? Does that go over well in the room with the sense that they're trying to fix something?
DANIEL BRIERE: You know what, at this time in the playoffs, you know, it's not about yourself, it's about the team. You know, if Johnny thinks that's the best way to go, it's the best way to go. So, yeah, we're excited. I know I'm excited about the opportunity. So, we're down, so you have to try to find a way. If that works, then great.
Like I said, it's not about what you think at this time, it's about what's best for the team.

Q. Couple of players said this morning that the mood in there was better than they expected. It was kind of upbeat. Do you get that sense?
DANIEL BRIERE: I certainly do. Yeah, we've had some tough nights the last few games against Pittsburgh, but it's bound to turn around. That's the way I see it. Try to stay positive, and make, as Mike said earlier, for us, it's about winning the next game. That's all it is. Then we'll go from there.

Q. Are they doing that good a job on you defensively personally or are you pressing too much right now?
MIKE RICHARDS: Want me to answer that one (smiling)?
DANIEL BRIERE: They're a good defensive team. They're doing some good things, and we're not finishing our chances.

could be the opposite of what it is right now, bounces or just not as lopsided as it seems when you look at it being 3 0. Do you like that mentality that your players have, that they haven't lost maybe the perspective of how hard it is to be where they are? It isn't as easy as it looks?
COACH THERRIEN: When you get to the playoffs, they're all tough games. I believe yesterday we got some breaks. The first goal was a break. You need breaks in the playoffs, but if you stick to the plan, if your work ethic is there and you do the right thing and you're disciplined, most of the time you're going to get those breaks. But there's no doubt there's times we've got breaks and it's helped to win some hockey games.
But I like the mentality of the players. They're never satisfied. And for us, nothing changed. You know, we try to concentrate about the way we can play. We try to concentrate about taking one game at a time, and we don't want to look at the picture. It's tomorrow night. Yesterday we're concentrating about yesterday. Now we won that game. We're in good position. We're pleased with our position right now in the series. But tomorrow we understand it's a cliche, but it's going to be a tough game to play.
They're going to be desperate. But in the meantime for us we're going to focus on what we have to do.

Q. I went back today and looked at your famous tirade from two and a half years ago when you were early on behind the bench here. And what you said that night kind of proved to be somewhat prophetic with lack of defensive commitment and so on. How far has this team come since then?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, when I came to Pittsburgh, the team was in last place. And there was no commitment at all. When you're in last place, there is a reason. I believe they got some good players at times, really good players.
But the commitment, not only defensively, but the all around commitment was not there. And if you want to have some success, we had a change everything, the attitude, work ethic, and commitment, because we weren't going we were going the wrong way. Pretty simple.
When I got there, I tried to be positive a lot with the players. And that was, after a month, it was the same result. So how long I was going to wait? And I decided to be, at that time, I decided to be tough with the hard way, and it's never fun. It's never easy. It's not fun when you have to breakdown mentality of a team. It's not a fun thing. But look at where we are right now, and pleased that we did it that way.
We'll try to change the mentality of everyone, because to be a winner, it's tough. It's demanding to be winners. I believe right now we're starting to be recognized as winners.

Q. Can you talk about the change in Marc Andre's game since you started working with him? And is he now becoming or has he become one of the game's elite goaltenders especially during these post season playoffs?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, Marc Andre Fleury, this is the best I've seen him play in the NHL. Even though he's only 23 years old, he went through some experience through his career right now, and he gained experience with some ups and downs. This is how you gain experience.
He got some good moments in his early stage, and he went through some tough times as well. But right now, I think with that little experience that he's got, it's helping him to have that success. The game slowed down in front of him. He's more in control. Controls his rebounds. He doesn't have to make those spectacular saves like he tried to do early on in his career. And that's a great sign.
You look at great goalies, the Marty Brodeurs, the Patrick Roys, all are pretty easy for them because they're always in good possession. And they see the plate a lot in front of them. And Marc Andre, I think is right there with those, the Brodeurs and Patrick Roy. But definitely he's going through that direction, and that's a good sign for a young goalie.

Q. The game after your speech about your defense, you went to Columbus and lost by a lopsided score. Were you, at that point did you say, oh, my goodness, what have I done? They're playing even worse than they did against Edmonton?
COACH THERRIEN: You know what, that was the first. Sometimes you can't judge a team with results. The next game, they looked like a team. They looked like they cared. And even if we lost that game, it took us some time to get results, but that was the little light at the end of the tunnel. I started to see it that day, the next game. They showed a little bit more character during that game, and, honestly, I remember that game like we just played yesterday. But that was the first step to get where we are right now.
Sometimes you've got to do those things. But that was, I would say, the game in Columbus, that was the first step.

Q. Back to Marc Andre real quick. Was one of the best things that happened to him when he came back from his injury, he had to compete for his job with Ty? Was that he had to show you that he deserved to be in net?
COACH THERRIEN: There's no doubt. Because Marc Andre's the first pick overall. We give him the number one job. He didn't have much competition to be the number one guy. Because we've got faith in him, and we know what he's capable of doing, and we want to work with him.
Due to the injuries that he got this year by the way that Ty Conklin played, we have a lot of respect for Ty. He was phenomenal. He's one of the reasons why we made the playoffs. If it wouldn't have been from Conklin, maybe we wouldn't make the playoffs.
So, Ty was playing pretty well when Marc Andre was ready to play. But we decided to send him down to the minors. He was healthy enough to play. And that gave us a chance to send Marc Andre to the minors and work on his game. When he came back, we didn't give him the net right away. We wanted him to earn it. For the first time in his NHL career, he had to earn it. He had to fight to get that job.
This is what you're looking for from your team. Not only your goalie, your defenseman and your forward. You want to have some inside competition. Inside competition is always, I believe, a good thing. Because it forces the athlete to perform and make sure that they're not losing their job.
Q. The trade deadline deal that this team has made has obviously worked out and paid dividends. But was there ever a time that you were worried that the trades that were made would not get you to this point? Trades that are made don't always work out. Was there ever a time that you were worried that these were not?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, lot of credit to Ray Shero first of all. He did a fantastic job. Before the trading deadline, we had meetings and we were looking for the needs of this hockey team. Like all the team was battling to make the playoffs, and all that stuff. But he found the right way to make those deals.
When you're capable to make those deals, first of all, it gives confidence to the players and to the team that the organization gives a tap on the back and we've got your support. We want to win. We don't want to win in two, three years. And that was big for a young team. That was probably the first time they were saying like we've got the players. We believe in you guys and you guys did a great job so far. We're missing a few pieces of the puzzle, and Ray Shero certainly with his staff did a great job to have those pieces to the puzzle to the team. It definitely brought a lot of confidence to the team.

Q. You talk about that first step of them going to that defensive process, and learning that. Not only have they bought in because you told them to do it. They bought in because they believe in it and seem to take pride in the defense as well. Can you talk about the maturation process from that first step till now?
COACH THERRIEN: We talk about before every game, about the defensive game at the first day of training camp. That's a process. It takes time. It doesn't come naturally, especially with skilled players. But they buy into it. This is why they understand, and they play well defensively. They stick to the plan the way we try to play our system. Well, they're going to get rewards.
It's not about not playing well without the puck. We try to teach the young guys to play well when they have the puck, too. We talk about puck management, it's really crucial for us, and where to position themselves on the ice. But the players really, really buy in. Even at this time of the year when they see the guys on the bench see one of the guys on the ice not doing the job, they know right away. And the players let the players know that you're not doing the right thing.
So just to show maturity for such a young team, usually you're going to see that with veteran players. But you heard the comment of guys that are 20 years old, 21 years old saying you shouldn't have been there. You didn't do the right thing there. So that is leadership as far as I'm concerned.

Q. You talked about how mentally the trades helped the team in their mindset. Just talk a little about how good Gill and Hossa have been on the ice in the playoffs?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, they've been great. You know, it's like a guy like Hossa always has been a little bit criticized about his playoff performance in the past. Right now he's playing his best hockey in his career in the playoffs. And, you know what?
Sometimes it can be a fit. A player will fit well on a team how they play. How they play their system. Do they have the speed players to play with, play with that type of player. And I really believe that a guy like Hossa is the right fit for him. The way we try to play him. It's the right fit to play with Crosby.
He's having a great time right now. You can tell. He comes to the rink, he's got such a great attitude. Gill the same thing, the way that we play him, I think it's a great fit for him to be successful. He's finally getting recognized that he's a good shut down guy. He's killing penalties really well. And Pascal Dupuis, as well. All those three guys that we brought in, it's a great fit for a team. But sometimes, you know, you could bring in some players that's not the right fit. But right now with those three guys, it's just a perfect fit for our needs.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Gary Roberts will miss tonight's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. Following this morning's skate, Penguins head coach Michel Therrien said Roberts is day-to-day with a mild case of pneumonia. "He's on medication right now, and we'll go from there," Therrien said. Adam Hall should replace Roberts in the lineup, as he did in Game 3 on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn will miss the game because of facial cuts suffered by a deflected puck in the first period of Game 2 on Sunday, head coach John Stevens said following the morning skate. Club officials were hopeful on Wednesday. He skated a bit on Wednesday. The swelling shrunk around his eyes, Stevens said. Coburn didn't suffer a setback, Stevens said. Rookie Ryan Parent will replace Coburn for the second straight game.
"He kind of progressed to a point ... where he felt 100 percent that we'd get him back in," Stevens said. "But he's not there yet. I'm hopeful he's getting closer. We'll see how he feels tomorrow."

– Victor Fernandes

Q. Can you give us an update on Gary Roberts' status?
COACH THERRIEN: He's still sick. He's got pneumonia. It's a mild case, so he's listed day to day. He's not going to play tonight.

Q. Is it something you expect him back later in the playoffs?
COACH THERRIEN: Yes, yes, hopefully. He's on medication right now, and we'll go from there.

Q. Can you talk about the play of Ryan Malone this season? Really sort of a breakout year for him, certainly under your watch.
COACH THERRIEN: Yes, Ryan, you know, he became a leader. He learned through adversity the last three years. He means well. He's going to stick up for his teammate. He's an Assistant Captain to our club, and it's fun to see him get that responsibility, especially to a guy like him grow up with the Penguins, because his dad was part of this organization for a long time.
He's doing a fantastic job. He's got a huge role as we all know in our club. He's playing with power plays, he's playing with Malkin's top two lines, he's playing on the penalty killing, so he's got no choice but to have a good game. Because if he's having a bad game, it's going to be tough for us to win. He's one of those guys that's got big time minutes. He knows his role, and it's a challenge for him, and he's doing a great job.

Q. What's been the toughest challenge for you guys during this run? You've only lost one game. There hasn't been a whole lot of adversity based off results?
COACH THERRIEN: We take one game at a time, you know. It's like our main focus is on tonight. It's not on the next game. It's not the game before. We focus on our game tonight. If you would have asked me before the series, the playoffs start, we would have been 11 1, I would have said wow. Because we don't look at the big picture right now, we're focusing on one game at a time.
This is one of the reasons why the emotion, it's like it's there, but they're not too high, they're not too low. They're having a lot of fun, obviously, to be together on the ice. They're having a lot of fun in practice like this morning, but they're still working, they're still focusing.
And they learned through the course of the season that the number one thing to have fun, first of all, your work ethic has to be there. And you've got to bring that to practice so you'll be able to bring that to the game. You can't have fun if you're not working and if you're not focusing, because things don't go your way. So they learned that through the course of the season.
This morning I thought they were upbeat, we're an upbeat group. I like our focus, and I'm expecting that we're going to play another solid game tonight.

Q. Would you mind just commenting on Jordan Staal and having him back with this team after the tough time he's gone through?
COACH THERRIEN: It's never easy to lose a member of your family. He went yesterday, got back last night. We're glad that he's back with our club. I asked him on the ice this morning how things were, and he said it was nice that he got a chance to be there. In the meantime, you know, he's got something pretty special going on with his club, so I'm sure that he wants to be part of it. He doesn't want to miss anything. But it's up to everyone how to deal with it, and he's got respect for that.

Q. Back to Ryan Malone for a second. You talk about all the responsibilities that he has, and he has no choice but to have a good game. When you first saw him when he was a younger player and you were just coming to the Penguins, what did you see in him? Did you see a guy that was going to be this important to you at that time?
COACH THERRIEN: The first time I saw Ryan Malone, I saw his potential. And he's got tons of potential, but I don't think he realized it. There were some tough love with him at the beginning, because I realized the potential that he's got.
Right now he's all the credit goes to him, because you know what, he's focusing a lot more than he was. He's playing a tough game. He's disciplined on and off the ice and he understands what it takes to be a true professional, and that's why this is what I respect about Ryan right now.
We went through some tough times together, but in the meantime, I enjoy the development that guy had over the last few years.

Q. Kris Letang plays with a lot of poise for such a young player. Could you comment about his play maybe from training camp to here?
COACH THERRIEN: We know that Letang has a lot of potential. We saw last year at training camp, and even he started the year with us. Want to give him the experience what it takes to play in the NHL. We decided to send him down to finish his Junior career and go through some experience. He was the Captain of Team Canada when they won the World Championship.
Probably put himself a little too much pressure at our training camp this year to make the team. He was not playing at the level that we were expecting. And the decision that you have to take with young players, we figure that it's easier for young guys at 20 years old or 21 years old to start in the American League. And if he's got success, things are going well for him to bring him up, to call him up. And then start him in the National Hockey League, and after that if you see things are not going his way and the ice time is not quite there, to send him down. That was the decision.
We decided to send him down. He went there. Went through a little adversity in the beginning of the year. But right now since he's back up, he's only 20 years old. It's demanding for defensemen to play in the NHL at 20 years old, and he's playing his second year of the power play, regular shift. And there were times this year he was killing penalties, and he's doing a great job.
He's learning quick. He's got a lot of ability. He's solid defensively. And if you're not solid defensively, you know, it's tough to stay in the NHL. Especially at such a young age. But he's really solid in the corner. He's got a good stick, and he's reading the game really well.

Q. Did your team learn anything from that Game 4 against the Rangers? Was that a teaching experience about not letting up when you have a chance to bury a team?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, we take game by game. It's like we've been there before, we had a three game lead with Ottawa, with the Rangers. I thought we reacted well against Ottawa. We won the series. The game against the Rangers, honestly, in the first half of the game we were dominated, and Lundqvist was outstanding that game. If it was not for him, we probably wouldn't have won that game.
Obviously, it was great. They scored on power plays, and they won that game. So every game is different. Every time is different. Yes, we go through experiences. We understand it could be a cliche like I like to say, but we know it's going to be a tough game. It's going to be a demanding game to win. They're going to give everything they've got. This is Game 7 for them. So we're going to try to match that intensity. We're going to try to match that emotion that they could have. But in the meantime, we've got to focus on the way we play, and focus on the way we're supposed to play to get success, and that's going to be a challenge for us tonight.

Q. You guys have done really well with taking the shift by shift approach. Ryan Malone actually suggested it might be a good idea to think about what this, winning this game could mean. Do you agree to maybe look at the bigger picture now might be a good idea for an approach to Game 4?
SIDNEY CROSBY: If you want to use it as motivation, obviously, that would be a good thing. But I think we've always been a team that's really focused on our task, and been confident if we do the right things, we're going to be successful. So I don't see the need to think ahead even in this situation. You stick with what works, and we know the possibilities, and we've got to go out there and do the right things in order to make that happen.

Q. Would you mind just talking about what it means to have Jordan Staal back with this team, and, basically, what he's had to go through this last 48 hours?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, it's been tough. You lose a loved one like that and it's never easy. When you're on a team you feel it even more so. You see what the guy goes through, and I think we've all kind of been through something like that before, so we know what he's feeling like.
But I'm sure in a way maybe we can help him. If hockey can take his mind off things for a while, maybe it's a good thing. But it's never easy, and we're definitely there for him.

Q. Do you feel as though maybe the team learned some lessons from clinching in Game 4 against the Rangers, which you lost?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, I think we realized, you know, how desperate teams are going to be. But I think we expected that coming into both scenarios there in the first two series, and we expect the same thing. We've always said the last one's the toughest, and that is always the case. So we know more than any time, we have to be ready.

Q. We're asking a lot of the people in your dressing room about that Rangers game, simply because it's the only example of failure for you guys in the playoffs. Are we splitting hairs a little bit?
SIDNEY CROSBY: No, they played well. Sometimes in the playoffs it's one of those things where both teams play well, and you don't get wins. I don't think we played the way we wanted to, but we still have to realize that those are desperate hockey teams. And the two situations we've been through, and obviously, one we won, one we lost. But our desperation has to be there.

Q. You haven't had a ton of chances this series, but can you talk a little about the level of talent you have, and how that translates into the power play and running about 25%? And as a sidebar, can you tell us what you were talking to Mike Yeo about during the whistle in the last game?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Well, for the power play, we have a lot of skill, but you have to have guys who are working hard. So we're lucky to have, I think, guys that can move the puck, shoot the puck. We've got a big body in Ryan Malone who is in front of the net a lot. I think we're covered in a lot of areas there.
As for me talking to Mike Yeo, it was just about our breakout and our set up. We kind of changed things up a bit and made an adjustment. Just wanted to make sure we were all in the right place.

Q. When Marian first came, there was talk about how he had previously been a guy who liked to carry the puck, of course, you like to carry it, too. The other night he scored a goal where he was carrying it with authority in the offensive zone. Have you guys started to trade off a little bit in terms of who is lugging the puck, and your approach as a tandem on the ice?
SIDNEY CROSBY: I think it's really going to depend on where the open ice is. I don't think we've really talked about it, because in a way we're both guys who like to move it. So whoever is really ahead and able to carry it with speed, we're going to try to get each other the puck. We've got another guy in Dupuis who can motor, too. It's more or less where the open ice is, for him as a winger, it's tough to get his speed going because he's stopped a little more than I typically am.
But, for sure, he's got wheels, and if he has open ice and he can carry it, I think we'd love to see him carry it like that.

Q. This organization's 15 months removed from semi serious talks about you wouldn't even be playing in Pittsburgh this season to be on the precipice of this, what has this whole thing been like seeing it go from one extreme to the other for the city of Pittsburgh, and for you guys, too?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Well, it's been great. We've all worked really hard, and are continuing to work hard. I don't feel like being in the conference final, being up 3 0 we've accomplished tons, but we've come a long way, there's no doubt. Want to continue to keep going. But I think a lot of people worked hard, and the fans, they support our team a lot. Everything that's happened, we've been deserving of it and we've worked for it, and everyone's worked for it.
So it's nice to see everyone's rewarded for that. You know, I think the big key is just the work ethic and attitude everyone's had.

Q. What is the status of Braydon Coburn?
COACH STEVENS: Coby's out today. We were hopeful yesterday. He got on the ice a little bit, but still not ready to play. I think he's getting closer, but definitely not playing tonight.

Q. So are you going to keep Ryan Parent?
COACH STEVENS: Ryan, absolutely, yes. I was very happy with the way he played. Thought he came in and played very well for, one, being out that long, but a young kid in that situation. So I was actually very impressed with his play, and I would expect him only to get better.

Q. John changed the lines in practice yesterday, he said that was probably something you were going to stick with today. Little skate around today, is that something you are going to stick with?
COACH STEVENS: Yeah, we just thought it was better suited for that aerial attack, so, yeah, we're going to stick with it. I actually liked the way it looked. Put Vinny in the middle. Vinny's a great distributor of the puck. He's got speed down his wings.
And Danny and Richie have been great together all year when they've been on the ice together. So, and Hartnell, Danny's playing with Hartnell, I think that line has an opportunity to have success the way it's put together. And we're going to go with it.

Q. Patrick Thoresen coming back in the lineup, what do you expect to get out of him going forward?
COACH STEVENS: Just all of what we've seen to this point. He's a very smart hockey player. He's very responsible about the puck. He brings a physical element. He's more physical than people realize. This is a kid that does a lot of little things well, and gives you another penalty kill in your lineup. So he's played very well this year, and he's had some very good stretches in the playoffs. And that's what we'll see out of him tonight.

Q. What was your message to the players this morning? And did you bring up the Dallas game last night how they forced Game 5?
COACH STEVENS: No, actually, just more of the same from yesterday. We're looking at one game here. We need to win a hockey game. It's not a series. It's not four in a row. It's one game. As always, we looked at a couple of things I think we need to do better. Couple of adjustments we need to make. But we're all just getting ready coming here tonight. Trying to get our best game. We always try to get better every game that we play. And we're looking to have our best game of the playoffs tonight.

Q. How tough was that on Braydon to get that news that he wasn't going to play, and was that his decision or a medical decision?
COACH STEVENS: Well, both. I mean, we're not going to put anybody back in the lineup if we don't feel they're ready to play, and clearly that's the case right now. He's a young kid that wants to play. He's really kind of distraught right now that he's not able to play.
But we're hopeful we'll win this game today, and we have a couple of days before we play again, and hopefully we can get him back. Just like you talk to Kimmo and you talk to Gags (Gagne) for a long time and now Coby. If you're a hockey player and you can't play this time of the year when your team's playing, it's harder on them than anybody.
It's hard on us not having these guys in here. Having been a player and as soon as you're injured, you're removed from going on in the competition with your teammates, it's tough. But he's got a great future, and he's been a big part of our success this year. And as soon as he's ready, we'll get him back in, but not at the expense of his health.

Q. Just to clarify - was there a setback with Braydon yesterday or he's just not ready to play?
COACH STEVENS: No setbacks. He got on the ice a little bit yesterday. He felt okay. The swelling has gone down on the eyes, he can see, and he just doesn't feel quite ready to get back in and play it. I don't think there are any setbacks. He kind of progressed to a point that he continued to progress where he felt 100% that we'd get him back in. But he's not there yet. I'm hopeful he's getting closer. We'll see how he feels tomorrow.

Q. Coach, I know you said it's not that you're blaming Downie, but with Thoresen does that mean he's out and what did you say to him if he is indeed not playing?
COACH STEVENS: Steve is coming out. But it's just one of those changes we made. Just like we took Patrick out and put Downie in. And I think Downie did some good things in the hockey game, and he brings a lot of fire and energy and gets in on the forecheck.
But, you know, we have Kapanen on the left side, we moved him back over to the right. Now I think he's more comfortable on the right. And Patrick's done some good things as well. So I think it was good to get Steve in. I think there's an opportunity for him to create more offensively when he plays.
We'll put Patty (Patrick Thoresen) back in there, and that's just a learning experience. Any time a young player goes in, comes out and goes back in, they're better prepared the next time. I'm actually going to meet with him again here today when he gets off the ice, and make sure it's very clear the areas that he needs to get better at, and the things he needs to do to get back in.

Greg McKegg, the No. 2 pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, will join fellow Erie Otters prospects Joe Basaraba (second round) and Connor MacLeod (seventh) at the 2008 Ontario Under-17 Provincial Camp. The camp, which will feature 70 players, will be held June 26-29 in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
McKegg, 15, Basaraba, 16, and MacLeod, 16, earned invitations after participating in Association Camps in April and May. The final selections will represent the Ontario Under-17 team at the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, set for Dec. 28, 2008, to Jan. 4, 2009, in Port Alberni, British Columbia.

Q. The Flyers are getting through the neutral zone especially in the first period much easier than they had in any of the first three games. Did they change anything tactically?
COACH THERRIEN: I thought the first half of the period we were pretty sharp. Even got 11 shots against 6. They capitalized on their break, on their chances, and put a little bit of us on the heels for the rest of the period. That's where after that they took over.
It's tough when you're trailing by three goals. We lost the battle of our special team tonight. We finished minus 2 it's going to be tough. You can't win the game when you're losing the battle of the special teams.
But I've got to tell you something, since they complained about the penalties after the second game, well, they're disciplined. They're really I've got to give a lot of credit to that team. They seem to be really disciplined. Because we don't have a power play. We don't have power play tonight. We didn't have it. We got two, two last game. They're disciplined.

Q. How difficult is it for your guys not to retaliate after the post whistle stuff? And were you disappointed in the way they responded that way tonight?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, retaliate. And Bruce Orpik received three crosscheck in the red, and put his hand on the head to the player, got a penalty. It's tough. It's tough.
But, in the meantime, that's not the thing. It's like we've got to look at the big picture here. And after four games, we're leading 3 1, and that's the most important thing for us. I like our chance. I like our chance after four games, you know.
We're in good possession, good command, the same position that we were against the Rangers, and we played a solid game. And this is what we've got to focus on. You know what? It's tough to lose. We didn't quit. It's a good thing, we didn't quit. Guys are battling, and trying to make a comeback. It's tough to make those types of comebacks in the playoffs. But in the meantime, we've got to look at the big picture, and play the type of game that we play at home.

Q. Can you talk about Jordan Staal's game tonight and how big it was for what he's gone through?
COACH THERRIEN: Yeah, he played really well. We'll make a change with that line with Talbot and Kennedy, trying to bring some speed. Not only the reason to bring some speed, not only to try to score some goals, I was figuring that they had a hard time to handle the speed. Sometimes when you use speed and you're always first on the puck, you could draw a penalty. We didn't draw a penalty, but because they were disciplined. But in the meantime, we scored two goals.

Q. How would you assess Malkin's play the last couple of games?
COACH THERRIEN: You know what? You've got to give credit to the Flyers. They checked him well. It's tough to dominate like sometimes he can dominate. But they did a great job against him.

Q. The couple goals they got to jump out to that lead, one was a tip in off Gill's stick, the other was a power play just out in front. Two goals that weren't really Marc Andre's fault. One was kind of a fluke in there.
COACH THERRIEN: Well, the first goal was a bad break. Sometimes that happens. And we lost some battles in front of the net. They played with a lot of desperation around the net, and we lost some battles. But after the second period, I thought we bring our game to the level that I was looking for, and we've got to make sure we play that same level at home that we did in the second and third.

Q. I know that fourth game was always a tough game to get. How disappointing is that to be able to finish off the night and get a bit of a breather for that first round?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, we would have liked to, obviously. You want to win every game. But, you know, they had a good first period, and we didn't. And that was really the difference. We fought hard in the second and third, and you give them too many opportunities. But it was just too little too late.

Q. Can you guys talk about their aggressiveness going to the net, more so in this game maybe than the other three?
JORDAN STAAL: Yeah, they threw a lot of pucks on net. You know, I think we had a tough time containing them in front. You know, they're strong players. You know, we knew coming into this game we had to do a better job in front, and, hopefully, we'll do that next game.

Q. What was the secret, the reason that you and Talbot and Kennedy really worked together well in the third period? When did that when did coach change those lines up a little bit there?
JORDAN STAAL: He always likes to mix it up, especially when we're behind. I think throughout the whole game, you know, we had a few chances, and it really just clicked when we had us three out there. You know, we just tried to keep it simple. Just kind of getting pucks deep and working down low, and we had a few opportunities after that.

Q. All along people talked about this being a really physical series like it was during the course of the year. Was this game more what you thought it would be especially considering they were coming out more desperate?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, I mean, you know, it's been pretty physical. You know, we're skating with a lot harder hits. The first period we weren't skating well, but that's the playoffs. You know, there's a lot of history in things like that with the two teams. But, you know, in the Eastern Conference final it's going to be intense no matter where the teams are playing.

Q. In the first 12 games of the playoffs you really had played with the lead for all but 60 minutes or something ridiculous like that. Is it more mentally exhausting to play with the lead or to play from behind?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Well, I think everyone will tell you it's easier to play with the lead, I mean, that's natural. But I don't think we're a team that panics when we don't have the lead. I think we really believe in the way we play. You know, there's been a lot of times in these playoffs where we haven't scored the first goal.
We've been down. We were down 3 with the Rangers early on in that series and came back. We really believed we'd come back here tonight. Came up a little short. But you never want to put yourself behind the eight ball like that. But I think we all believe in ourselves if we play the right way for 60 minutes no matter how it starts off that we give ourselves a chance to win.

Q. The Flyers were getting through the neutral zone much easier tonight than they were in any of the first three games, especially the first period. Did they change anything, did you notice?
SIDNEY CROSBY: No, I think we just didn't get pucks deep a few times and they capitalized on that. You know, for sure, they're going to try to move their feet into the zone, get speed, get pucks in deep. That's normal. Every team wants to do that. But we can still do a better job and make it tougher on them. So we'll make sure that we do that next game.

Q. The importance of trying to get this series done and not give them anymore playoff life?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, obviously, we're at home. We want to play well there, we want to finish it off. We have to play better than we did tonight and give ourselves a better chance. But I don't think you go into every series expecting to win four in a row. For sure we'd like to get it done, but we're going home. We've got a great opportunity here.

Q. For both of you, how much do you think with the plays after whistles impacted the game tonight? And did Philadelphia make it more of a series along those lines is that something you need to address going into game 5?
JORDAN STAAL: Yeah, I think that's something we've got to improve on. I think they're really trying to slow the game down for us. We were trying to get a lot of scrums and stuff. It's not our game. We know that if we play whistle to whistle hard, they're going to get more intimidated by that than anything else.
SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, we want to stay with that stuff. I think they're looking more for those little scrums more so than we are. You know, we'll play to our strengths and that's our skating and our speed and our skill, and being physical in a disciplined way.

Q. You had talked all series about the team's execution offensively. Do you think something in their minds was different for this game? A little less nervousness, perhaps, or they had nothing to lose?
COACH STEVENS: Yeah, but I just thought we'd come out with real good energy. We were skating with the puck. We got pucks, we didn't just get pucks through the neutral zone, we had speed after the puck, which I thought made a difference. We got our power play, we started shooting the puck again. You know, I think we were trying to pass the puck to the net.
They're a very good penalty killing team, and sometimes you don't score on the initial shot, but you create secondary chances at the net. I thought the power play did that early, and really gave us momentum. Obviously, getting the lead was big for us, but we did some really good things in the game, especially early.

Q. On the trap to break in with the stick handling like you did so often and your forecheck, did you change those consciously or did that just happen to be the way it worked out?
COACH STEVENS: We did a couple things differently tonight that I think helped us get through the neutral zone. But the trap's not new, they're just playing it really well. Their forwards are really committed right now. They've got a really good skating group. They've got some really intelligent players that angle really well. If you don't get going right away, they catch you from behind, and you chip pucks into their defense, and they come back at you. So we're not seeing a new scheme or anything, we're just seeing it executed really well. We'll have to execute with the puck to get through it.

Q. The line changes were very effective, can you talk about that?
COACH STEVENS: Well, yeah, I thought the line changes were good. Danny looked like he had jump. I think, you know, he gets the puck a lot from Richie. Richie is more of a puck possession guy, and Danny can get the holes. I thought Vinny did a great job moving in the middle. He's strong on face offs. He reads well. I think there is a little confusion a few times coming back on our end. But overall I thought he did a great job. And for guys to move their position in such a critical game, I thought really showed a big commitment for the team, and a little sacrifice for their own game, so it was terrific.

Q. Could you evaluate Biron's performance tonight?
COACH STEVENS: Marty was good. He was solid. He looked like he was really sharp seeing the puck. He looked like he read things like he had previously. So he looked like he was really confident. We knew we were going to need him to be good, and he was.

Q. Randy Jones in the playoff series is one of the stories that has been underlined. He's really seems to have taken advantage of the opportunity here, very solid on the puck. Could you talk about him? You've been with him a long time, what do you think of his play?
COACH STEVENS: I would agree with you. Jonesy has been a very good, quiet player for us. Obviously had to pick up and play huge minutes with the absence of Kimmo. Cobe is doing great and is on a first unit power play. He is playing kill penalties, playing against top lines. He's been terrific. He wants more responsibility. He played for me in the minors and the cup run there, and he sucked it up. He played hurt, and did everything he could to help our team win. It's nice to see him have success at this level.

Q. With all the trouble you've had protecting leads in the third period, how good were you in the final 5:30, and what kind of things were said going into it?
COACH STEVENS: Well, I just thought we didn't move our feet with the puck a few times there. We got a little scrambly. I think we got a little bit too desperate without composure with the puck there. But the first goal, I'd have to see it again, but from what I recall it was kind of a lucky break. It bounced up in the air and found its way into the net.
But the second goal we made a nice play. I thought we settled down a little bit and started to relaxing and doing good things with the puck like we had earlier in the hockey game. They're a good team. They come with a lot of pressure, and they start to activate their "D". Gonchar was up on every play. And he's one of the defensemen in the league right now.
Bottom line we got the win. I thought it was a gutsy effort by our team. I'd like to keep it 3 0 when we get it there. But we seem to have a way to make it exciting one way or another.

Q. Picking up on that theme, you used all your energy tonight to stay alive. You have life. How do you duplicate that energy now going back to Pittsburgh and trying to find life?
COACH STEVENS: Well, just for us, it's about winning one game. We actually had Kimmo come in and give our last starting lineup like we do before we go out. He was a part of things. You know, I just think we're looking at one game, you know. We need to win a game to keep playing, just like they do.
In that sense, we're in the same boat. You know, who knows, we could get some help with getting people healthier on the weekend. But we've got two days to rest here and get ready to do it again. We're going to need that kind of urgency the rest of the way.

Q. You kind of hit it on the health issue. You had a couple of days off now. Is there a shot for Coburn to play Sunday and possibly even Timonen?
COACH STEVENS: Well, we won't know until each day, we see what it brings. But is there a chance? I think there is, either or both. The first thing is you have to make sure of the health of the player here, and we're not going to put anybody at risk. If they're not able to go, we'll keep marching ahead like we are. But if we're able to get one or both back, it would be a huge lift for our team.

Q. Danny, you met yesterday with John Stevens, I guess, you and Mike both met with him to talk about the line change. How did that go and what did you think of the results of the change tonight? Was that a factor in you guys getting on track?
DANIEL BRIERE: I believe so. I thought, you know, two lines that moved around had a lot of jump. You know, Richie's line, and Vinny's line both created a lot of scoring chances. When we met with him, we I played the wing before. I played quite a bit when I was in Phoenix, I played a little bit when I was in Buffalo. So moving to the wing for me is not something that bothers me. I was fine with it. And the way we play, anyway, I mean in today's game, it just seems you're all over the place. After the face off, it's read and react. A lot of times you can end up anywhere on the ice.
So it's just for the face off. I didn't have a problem. When he said to play with Richie, I just felt we had a lot of chemistry on the power play throughout the year, and I thought, wow, maybe that can work five on five. So I was excited and enthusiastic about the idea.

Q. Marty, seems to me that in the last two series, controlling your rebounds has been a big strength, then tonight grabbing the puck really up high like this. Has that been a big focus?
MARTY BIRON: Yeah, especially against a team like the Penguins. You don't give them the second opportunity, you know, you can smother their attack and that makes a big difference. In the first few games, they've gotten rebounds goals, they've got scrums around the net where they were able to bring it back up and organize their attack again. I think tonight we did a good job of maybe boxing out a little bit more, and seeing a little bit more of the shots. When you're able to do that, it sticks a little bit better.

Q. You played tonight like you had played in games against Montreal and Washington. It looked very similar. Did you feel any different, do anything differently? Was there anything preparation wise?
MARTY BIRON: No, the same. You know, you get a start to the game like tonight for a goalie where you see a bunch of shots early on. And then, you know, you give your team a chance to go on the attack afterwards and get a bit of a lead. It was definitely a big, you know, a big thing for us. We know they've got offensive power. We know they can come up and score goals any time in the game. To have played the way we played in the first period really gave us a chance to kind of, you know, be ready for their two goals in the third period and that gave us a cushion a little bit.

Q. You had a good jump in the first two periods and then it looked like you hit a wall. Is that what happened? You got a little gassed in the third period and things started to slip away?
DANIEL BRIERE: Well, I mean, it's you know when you get that three goal lead, it's just I guess human nature. You kind of sit back. You don't want to make any mistakes. You know, it's always it's tough, you know. When you have that two or three goal lead, sometimes you play a little bit more patient. That's what made us so successful in the first two periods. We were always moving, always going. In the third period we kind of sat back. I don't know.
It's really easy to say to keep going, but at the same time you don't want to take any useless chances. Once again, that's what happened to us in the third.

Q. Do you think that you guys moving your feet in the first period constantly drew some penalties on them that you didn't probably do in the first three games?
DANIEL BRIERE: Definitely. I think we had more jump. Also the fact that we wanted to start with the lead. The last two games, especially, you know, they got some breaks with two power play goals where it hit our defenseman and it goes in. It's kind of, you know, frustrating always having to play from catch up hockey from behind. We wanted to find a way to play with the lead, which we did in the first period and kept going. So that was the plan, and it worked for the first period.

Q. Just a question getting back to the playing with that lead, is it a little bit of a catch 22? You play one way, you get the three goal lead, and you know if you keep playing that way maybe it's four or five, but at the same time maybe you run a risk of letting a goal in and all of a sudden they're catching up faster, how do you balance that?
DANIEL BRIERE: Well, if you look at the beginning of the third period, we kept going there for the first three or four minutes. And it was three on twos one way, three on two the other way. It was kind of run and gun in the beginning of the third period.
I mean, when you're up 3 nothing, it's not the way you want to play. You don't want to give them chances. You want to try to clog the middle as much as possible. We didn't do that early on, and I think that's why. When they got that first goal to make it 3 1, we kind of sat back and that's why it looked like we weren't moving our feet. But we just didn't want to take, you know, useless chances.

Q. Marty, how encouraging is it to hear that Coburn is pretty likely, and Kimmo was skating today at least?
MARTY BIRON: Oh, I didn't hear much. I just heard what Johnny said in the press conference last night, and I think that's good signs. Guys want to play. It's the best time of the year where guys want to make a difference. You're not going to tell anybody, you know, it's your choice, but we suggest that you don't. If it's your choice, guys are going to go in. So it's encouraging to see that.

Q. Marty, you know you still have a long way to go. But can you take something out of the way you guys won the game last time, how you really set the tempo and jumped out to the big lead?
MARTY BIRON: Yeah, I think that's been the key all throughout that whole series. You look at the way Pittsburgh played the first three games, they got the lead, and they were able to play their style of hockey, and kind of shut things down. Last night, we got the lead. We were able to shut things down a little bit more. But I think that it's been the key so far in this series. Get up to the lead, and then you get a couple of power plays to get your momentum on your way. It's made a big difference, especially last night.

Q. Do you think the team performs better when your backs are against the wall?
MARTY BIRON: Well, I think that we've shown some desperation and urgency in our game throughout the season when we've had kind of been in a bad or not so good situation. But I also think that when this team is put to the challenge, to the test, they find a way to respond. It's a lot easier to respond when you're at home with your fans and the energy in the building, and we'll have to find a way to bring that energy into our game on the road Sunday afternoon. Because, this is a team that's played really well at home for the last two months. For us to be able to react and respond the way we have last night is going to be important.

Q. A lot of people talked about how Detroit struggled when Lidstrom was out. Can you talk a little bit about Kimmo and what he means to this team, what he brings when he is in the lineup?
MARTY BIRON: Well, I mean, Kimmo is one of the best puck moving defensemen in the league. He's good, and he's even better on the ice when you don't notice him because he does the little things right all the time. He makes guys think twice. It's no secret he's an All Star. There's guys around the league that have probably never noticed him. But when you play against him or play with him, that's when you appreciate his full value. I think that our defensive corps really looks at the way he plays to be able to settle the game, and settle our, you know, our emotions or anything out there.
We had him in the locker room last night. It felt great to have him around. And we want him in the locker room healthy and ready to go if he can, yeah.

Q. Can you talk a little about Ryan Parent and his poise and what he's shown to you out there?
MARTY BIRON: Well, we talk about Kimmo and Cobe and being ready to being on the ice and possibly playing, but I think that defensively our guys have done a great job. Bernie, as we like to call him, has played really well.
I was just watching some video clips this morning, one on ones against some of the best players in the league, really holding his ground. Really playing with confidence. Making the simple play. But, you know, making great passes at times. You know, he's just a young guy. He's like, you know, it's his first year pro, you know. Been around a little bit last year.
But, you know, he hasn't played a lot in the last two months, but he's definitely responded well. And him and Jason have played well together. They seem to have fed off one another, I mean, he's been a lot of help to us.

Q. How does your game change, if at all, when Kimmo is out there? Are you less likely to take any kind of risks or more likely to take some certain risks playing the puck, anything like that?
MARTY BIRON: No, my game doesn't change, you know. I think the whole circumstances of the game might change in the way we play it. But I like to think that, you know, you face the shots that you have to face as a goalie, and you focus on that. I like to think that everybody else is playing as hard as they can with him or without him.
He's a key guy in our lineup, and that makes a big difference out there. But we'll see what happens with him. But we have to play the same way we did last night. Then, after that, if he's there then it's a bonus. If Cobe is there, it's a bonus, too.

Q. You've seen and heard about how long playoff series and being in the playoffs a long time can take its toll physically and emotionally. Where do you feel like you stand personally and this team stands for being in a long run for the first time in a lot of their careers?
MARTY BIRON: It's been great. Physically, I feel great. A lot of the guys feel really good physically. I think we were able to feed off a lot of the emotion and the intensity the last couple of games. That showed up last night. I think we've got to keep that going. I'm losing my voice, and other than that, that's fine. I just won't be talking for the rest of the day and tomorrow, I'll save it for Sunday, which will be hard, but that's okay.

Q. Can you talk about what Kimmo will mean not just on the ice, but off the ice in the room if he does come back and play on Sunday?
COACH STEVENS: Well, he's a huge part of our team. I mean, through this year he's progressed and in the playoffs he's really taken his game to another level. I think just his presence around our team all year, he's got deep respect by all his teammates. He just has composure all the time. I think that's infectious on our team.
You get into a game like last night and get the lead. You can't have enough Kimmo's in your lineup. And Derian Hatcher and Jason Smith really settled the team down. We have young players on our team, and they seem to have the ability to keep our team composed and obviously played big minutes in a hockey game in all situations.
He's an invaluable guy that can't be replaced by one player. I think we've done a pretty good job by committee. But there's no question if he's able to play, he makes us better.

Q. If he does return?
COACH STEVENS: Absolutely, any time a player's out of his status and he can come back, it's big for your team. Even when Hatcher and Knuble went out, and they were around the locker and just happened to be around.
You go through a lot as a hockey team through the course of the season. You go through a lot of ups and downs. And there is an affection and bond with this group that they're a big part of. Just having them around is one thing, but having them able to play is totally different.

Q. Are you banking on having Kimmo and Braydon or something?
COACH STEVENS: I'm not banking on anything. Have you seen the markets lately (smiling). It's a good thing we've got a couple of days. I think time is our friend right now. And in terms of Braydon and Kimmo, I don't know. I can't say with any kind of certainty when they're in or they're out at this point.

Q. Before the series started, you were asked how do you use Timonen against Crosby or use him against Malkin. Four games in and with his injury situation, have you seen anything that would lead to you change or rethink how you might use him? Or is he still going with the original plan you had at the beginning of the series?
COACH STEVENS: Well, if he's able to play, he's going to play against both those guys, and he's going to play. Hopefully, he feels well enough. If he plays, he's probably going to play big minutes. So they're going to get the last changeup there.
I think a lot of our guys are starting to do a good job, better job defending. Getting more help from our forwards here to try to do a better job of slowing their attack down. Kimmo's been our best guy in that sense. So whether it's Malkin, Sykora or whether it's Crosby and Hossa, Staal seemed to step it up yesterday. They're a good offensive team. It doesn't matter who you're on the ice with, we're going to have to do a good job defending.

Q. If they both come back, you're going to be left with a couple of decisions on the blue line as to who would come out. Has Ryan Parent shown you in the two games he's played, that he would be someone you would seriously consider keeping in as one of the six moving forward?
COACH STEVENS: Well, he definitely deserves consideration. I think all of our guys do. I mean, when guys go out like that, you're asking a lot of other players for guys that haven't played. Guys that are playing need to play more. Those are decisions that are difficult to make for a coach, because these guys all want to play and they all want to help.
But there's no question to me that Ryan, he's been impressive for a young player coming in in this situation. Pittsburgh is arguably the best team the East. They've been the hottest team in the playoffs. He's coming in in an intense environment with our season on the line and played very well for us.

Q. Could you kind of differentiate the Timonen and Coburn situations? I know Timonen skated today. Has Coburn skated? What do you have to see? Does the eye need to open more for him to be able to play or what is the determining factor between now and Sunday on Coby?
COACH STEVENS: He has skated since his injury, and his eye is improving. I think his vision, the swelling has gone down to the point where he can see. I still think it's a little disported. He'd know better than me just in terms of looking peripherally. I think the swelling hasn't gone all the way down. But I think he can get to the point where he can see well enough to play.
It's just a matter of getting back on the ice. He's going to have to wear a visor now. He rode the bike today for a little bit just to keep his legs going. We're hopeful we can get him on the ice tomorrow in practice, and see how he does. That will be the tell tale sign for us. The opportunity tomorrow for a good practice day for both these guys hopefully, and that will give us a better indication if he's ready. Kimmo's obviously, a totally different situation with his comfort level. We'll see how he responds being on the ice tomorrow.

Q. It may have had to do with getting the lead last night with the success, but how much was that physical pounding that you guys were able to do against Pittsburgh key to that? And partially getting Sidney off his game with the frustration level of Richards and Hatcher on him all night?
COACH STEVENS: Well, I thought obviously we got the start we wanted. We were able to get the lead. And I thought we had some good execution in getting up the ice with the puck. Even though when we didn't enter with possession, we had pressure on the puck. It seemed like sometimes in the previous three games we had the pucks where we were chasing the puck and, the puck was moving. You don't have an opportunity to have puck battles or win puck races.
I just thought our support was better, and our ability to get on the puck, whether with possession or with pursuit and speed on the puck, it allows you to be physical. Obviously, if he can have the puck more, guys like Crosby and Malkin have it less, and that's a good thing for us. But there's no question they're good players. If you're not physical with those guys and you don't get them pushed off the puck, they make plays.
They're competitive guys, and they battle hard, and they welcome the physical challenge. So, they're good players and competitive guys this time of the year. I thought Richie and Hatch, and Smitty, those guys did a great job. It's going to have to continue.

Q. By putting Richards with Briere and putting Umberger with Vinny, did you do that to have a defensive presence against all of their lines? And what did you see last night from those two lines?
COACH STEVENS: I really liked it. I really liked Danny and Richie together. And Hartsy and Danny they just seem to play well together. And Richie and Hartsy have played well together. But I really like Danny and Richie together. I think, obviously, Richie's use d to playing down low in his own end. He's a puck possession guy.
Seems like Danny had the puck more, and then you put Vinny in the middle. I thought Vinny was good in the middle, too. He's good on face offs and he has lots of speed, and his wings with Lupul.
I like the way the lines have changed, and I thought Carter's line looked good all year so. That's something we're going to stay with. I thought Danny had his best game of the series. I know it's only one game, but I like what those guys bring to the line, and I like how they plays together.

Q. Whether teams fall down 3 0 in the series, there's always talk about belief and talking about the history that's been done before. How much more does that belief set in when you do get that first win and you can feel the ball start to roll?
COACH STEVENS: Well, I don't know how the ball's rolling, but we're certainly still here today, and that's a good thing. I just think you gain confidence from winning. I think your team starts to believe you can win. When you don't win a game and even if you play well and you don't win, you still have to win to kind of get that enthusiasm and hope going.
But our big challenge now is that we won a game, and we can't sit here and relax. We need to play better. We need to have the same kind of urgency in our game. We've got to find a way to get our focus back. It's just one game. But now we're in that situation again. We're looking at one game, and we want to go to Pittsburgh and win that game and try to bring it back home for Game 6.

Q. Continuing that theme, Mike Richards said that the adversity you went through down the stretch in the Washington series, he feels might make you a little more emotionally equipped to handle elimination games. Can you talk about that?
COACH STEVENS: We haven't talked about it. We'll probably talk more about it tomorrow. But I had the same conversation with myself driving in in my truck this morning. We were looking at the last nine games in the Atlantic division, and really, it was every game we had to win. We had to win one game to the next one, always the game we had to win. All the way down to the second to last game against Jersey, was a game we had to win against a team we hadn't had a lot of success against.
So we kind of put ourselves in that situation, where you get hardened to it. And we have the ability to get up and get focused and if you remember, Danny was out, Kapanen was out. We had guys out of our lineup. Hatch was out. You know, we had the ability to beat good teams that had as much to gain as we did.
So I certainly think that reference point for what we had to go through. This team just seems to embrace adversity. I don't know what it is. We never do things the easy way, but we never run away from adversity and never back down from a fight and things are tough. I think it speaks volumes about the character of this group.

Q. How did the skate go this morning, and what do you think your chances are for playing?
KIMMO TIMONEN: You know, the symptoms are still the same that they were a week ago, which is, you know, my toes go numb and the cold feeling gets in pretty quick. But at least now I know, you know, there's no danger. It's just a matter of how much pain I can take.

Q. Is it more pain that you're dealing with in that regard. Can you talk to us about what it was like in game 5 in Montreal, because you did play with numbness in your toes at that time?
KIMMO TIMONEN: Well, it takes only 15 minutes to skate, and I can't feel my toes. That is the biggest thing. When that happens, the pain comes in. But I'm sure we've got some medicine for pain (laughing). So we'll see how it goes. I'm going to practice tomorrow, and I'll let you know tomorrow after practice how it goes. But the pain and the numbness is still what we're dealing with here.

Q. Could you play today or if it was today, would you be able to go?
KIMMO TIMONEN: I would like to try. Again, it comes to the pain medicine and how much pain I can take. So I feel confident that I'm ready to go Sunday, but I won't know for sure until I practice with the team and really be out there with the boys and do some really good drills and that kind of stuff. So we're going to see tomorrow after practice for sure.

Q. It doesn't matter if the team is up or down 3 1 or anything. You're not basing your return on where they're at in the series, are you? Is?
KIMMO TIMONEN: No, I've got to trust the doctors. You know, we go back a week, doctors told me that nobody knows if it's going to be ten days, two weeks, two months, five months. Nobody knew that. And I went to the hospital yesterday, I didn't know what to expect. I didn't expect this news. So, obviously, this is a good chance for me to play, and I wanted to make sure, and I'm sure everyone else wanted to make sure that there is absolutely no danger at all, because that's not the risk I want to take, and I'm sure nobody wants to take that risk. So it's, like I said again, it's just a matter of how do I take that pain, and the numbness feeling.

Q. I know you've been upset that you haven't been in there, but has it been inspiring for to you see what the defense has been able to do throughout this series?
KIMMO TIMONEN: Oh, yeah. It's been frustrating, obviously, being up there and watching the game and not be able to be there and help my teammates. But how the defense has played without me and Coburn, it's been unbelievable. They've been doing a great job. Hopefully, we can keep doing the same things.

Q. Can you talk a little about what the doctors told you yesterday in terms of where the blood clot is, the size of it, and what are some of the risks? And long term, what are some options for you?
KIMMO TIMONEN: Well, the blood clot is still there. It hasn't moved anywhere. The biggest thing was it hasn't gotten any bigger, because that's why I am on blood thinners. They want to prevent that clot getting bigger, and it hasn't gotten any bigger. Now it's been two and a half weeks since I got hit by the puck. So they think that timewise, they don't think it's going to break loose anywhere.
So those two things were the issues, and that's why they were able to decide and give me a green light to go.

Q. What about the options? Are there other options for you right now?
KIMMO TIMONEN: The only option is, obviously, just keep taking the blood thinners which I'm going to keep taking it. The only thing I can't do is on the game days, I can't take those shots. It's 12 hour period. If I take it in the morning, I can't do anything in the next 12 hours. You know, obviously, on game days I can't do that.

Q. Just seems so unlikely when the series began that you would be at this point and be sitting here today. What does that mean to you and what was it like yesterday when you heard that this was possible?
KIMMO TIMONEN: Well, like I said, you know, when I walked in the hospital yesterday, I wasn't expecting to get this kind of news. And when I got that news that, you know, you can try to skate tomorrow, it was unbelievable. I was just hoping, maybe, guys were able to win yesterday and I'd get a chance to play on Sunday.
You know, like I said before the series started, it's my dream to be able to play in this kind of situation, and now I'm back in it so it is a pretty good feeling.

Q. If you can tolerate the pain on Sunday, is there no limit to how many minutes can you go, how many shifts you can go on Sunday?
KIMMO TIMONEN: We haven't talked about that yet. Tomorrow I'm going to practice, and I'm sure I'm going to know a lot more tomorrow after practice when I am out there for an hour. And then I'm going to talk to coaches and trainers how we go forward. So I'm sure tomorrow is easier to give you an answer.

Q. When you start to feel that numbness in your foot, is it kind of a mental note like oh, there it is, and I have to be more careful? How do you handle that? Do you just plow through it?
KIMMO TIMONEN: Well, there's not much you can do. Obviously you can't take your skates off during the game. Only thing can you do during the periods, you can take your skates off and try to heat it up, get the blood flowing again. But, again, there's no danger, even if it goes numb, they said there's no danger. So, hopefully, there is good medicine I can take before the game (laughing).

Q. First, did you ask for any input from your family on this decision? And number, two given the history of your career and that had you never advanced this far and the stakes are so high, did that weigh on your decision here as well that maybe, you know, this may never come again or you had never been this far before?
KIMMO TIMONEN: I don't think so. I've got to trust the doctor's opinion about this. I have no idea how these things work and how do they get better. So that's why we have good doctors and I've got to respect their opinion. And they said 100% there's no danger.
So that was the biggest thing. I don't think it matters what I think. I want to be out there to help the team to win. But this case, you know, I've got to really trust the opinion of the doctors.

Q. If Kimmo, assuming Kimmo comes back, how much does that free up forwards at all to be a little more aggressive offensively? I mean, obviously you want to back check him and play the defense and all that, but does it allow you to take an extra rush and make an extra chance because he's there?
MIKE RICHARDS: No, I don't think we want to get into taking chances and giving up on man rushes. But Kimmo always seems to be in the right spot at the right time. He's great at making that first pass out of the zone. So it just helps us, helps our offense better that we don't have to take rushes because we can carry the puck up or take chances and carry the puck up a lot smoother when [] the puck's the first pass is on the tape all the time, and the right decision is made.

Q. You guys being able to control the game physically, and I guess all that stuff after the whistle may be part of it. Is it part of the game plan to try to slow it down and frustrate them with all the physical play that you guys have been able to do?
MIKE RICHARDS: We've wanted to play physical, but I don't think it's us that is creating all the scrums after the whistle. We know when we go into scrums that we're not going to get the power play coming out of there, so we want to stay away from those as much as possible.
But being physical is a huge part of our game.

Q. Did you sense that Hatcher and perhaps yourself really frustrated Sidney last night?
MIKE RICHARDS: I thought we did well as a team shutting them down. I don't think you can frustrate Sid too much. He's such a skilled player, and he's so used to getting picked on, I guess. People going after him physically and verbally. So you're not going to frustrate him too much. But as a group I thought we did a good job shutting him down.

Q. You guys know that they've played really well at home, what are some of the challenges that you face, win eight big games like that when they haven't lost in such a long time at home?
MIKE RICHARDS: Well, I think the biggest thing is the match ups and getting who you want on the ice against certain players. I think in the first couple of games they did a good job getting Malkin on the ice against different people. I mean, they feed off the energy of the crowd and hopefully we can go in there on Sunday and try to eliminate the crowd and have the start that we had the other night.

Q. The line changes that John made, does that help you in terms of match ups when you go to Pittsburgh?
MIKE RICHARDS: I think it does. I think we have four solid lines that can compete against really anybody on Pittsburgh. And I'm sure that they feel the same way. With Danny playing on the wing, I know it helps out big time on the face off circles, both him doing on his forehand side, and me on my forehand or my backhand. So just when you have the puck it's obviously a lot better than trying to chase it, too.

Q. Since you brought it up a few minutes ago, what exactly happened with Crosby in that last little scrum off the face off toward the end of the game?
MIKE RICHARDS: I was trying to go forward with the puck. They had two guys set up far, so I didn't want to get into that side. My defense, I didn't want them right up against the winger, too, so he could push it forward. So I was just trying to go through with the puck. I think that he was thinking I was trying to slash his ankles, but, whatever (laughing).

Q. When you get down 3 0, what is the emotional does a team feel a little less pressure even though you're up against it? Do you sort of play with the idea that, you know, it's not quite a tight series now. We have nothing to lose?
MIKE RICHARDS: Yeah, I think so. Everyone around the dressing room yesterday was very laid back. Really we just had to go out there and play a game and win. No one really expected us to. So it's not like we had a lot of pressure. Our team has been doing that all year, just making life difficult on us going from second to 10th or 11th spot, and then back to 6. And then 3 1, Washington. All of a sudden, 3 3. We don't like to do things easy on ourselves, but it seems we always play our best when our backs are against the wall.

Evgeni Malkin's play the last three games of this series? What have you seen in him the last three games?
COACH THERRIEN: Yeah, you know what, he hasn't been productive like he was in the past. But he's going to have to find a win next game to make sure he's going to be productive like he used to be as soon as the playoffs start.
But, in the meantime, I think they did a good job about checking him. It's not sometimes a matter of the players not being productive. Sometimes you've got to give credit to the other team. They're doing a good job right now to contain him. It's going to be up to Evgeni Malkin to make sure he's going to be productive offensively.
But, in the meantime, you know, I think he's playing good both places on the ice. He's got to keep focused on those things and keep his concentration there.

Q. If I could ask a quick follow up, do you think he might be getting, not tired necessarily, but these are probably more games than he's ever played. He's only played in one NHL playoff. Do you think there might be an issue of, you know, it is a long season and maybe there is some fatigue for him, or do you see any of that?
COACH THERRIEN: Yes, it is a long season. He had been through that last year. I think he's got more experience this year to play through the schedule that we're facing in the NHL, plus the playoffs. But, in the meantime, I could understand of fatigue would be a factor if we would have played 7 games in every round. I think we had some quality time for rest. And because of the amount of games that we played in the playoffs, so I don't think fatigue is a factor.

Q. That high line has not played well, do you attribute that to the guys being able to shut down Malkin, where the other two players are also having difficulties of their own?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, I didn't hear well the question. Which line are you talking about?

Q. The Malkin line.
COACH THERRIEN: You know what, you want all your lines to be productive. Yesterday, I thought we made some adjustments with the third line with Jordan Staal. We put Maxime Talbot in there yesterday to try to find some offense, and they certainly did a great job in the third period. But in the top two lines offensively we didn't produce or we didn't get results.
We did get some scoring chances, then beer roan made some key saves. At times, this is going to be like this sometimes. You can't expect your top two lines. You wish it's going to be like this to give you one or two goals a game. Because you're not going to score four, five, six goals a game in the playoffs all the time.
They did a good job to contain that line so far the last few games. And it's going to be a challenge for them to make sure they're going to be able to get some results defensively, because this is offensively because this is what they're supposed to do. Bring some offense to the team. But, in the meantime, you know, I'm not losing any faith in that line. They've been really good so far in the big picture.

Q. I'm wondering if you could, now that we're a month into your playoffs with this team, obviously, a lot of the focus both on Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Could you kind of compare what you've seen from these two young stars day in and day out? And in these their biggest games in their young careers?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, they've been really good. Honestly, they've been pretty good. You're looking at the big pictures. They receive the kinds of pressure regarding the team to get success. And you're looking at the big picture about a record in the playoffs, and 11 2. So I've got to be really pleased about the way that they've been performing since the beginning of the playoffs. That's why we're optimistic for the rest of the playoffs.

Q. Yeah, do you see the position that your team is in right now as being significantly different from where you were after four games against the Rangers?
COACH THERRIEN: I believe it's the same way. You've got to look at the big pictures every single round. After four games, we're optimistic. We're really optimistic and positive about the record that we have. It's demanding to win games in the playoffs on the road. We all know that.
We were capable to have a split in Philly. It was a good accomplishment for our team to win game number three. I liked the way we responded yesterday. I think we had the momentum on our side. We could have made a comeback, we were really close. We had some close scoring chances in the third and almost made that comeback. So we're going to make sure we're going to bring that momentum to the game at home that we're going to play Sunday.
But you know what, we're in the same situation against the Rangers and, again, another quality team against another team that was playing really well defensively. And that was a challenge for us to play game number 5 at home in front of the fans, and we did a great job of winning that game. This was going to be almost the same thing.
This is going to be a challenge. Every game is a challenge in the playoffs. And, obviously, we played some really solid hockey with the support of our fans, with the emotion that they bring. We're a tough team to to play against at home there's no doubt. We've proven it in the past, and we'll be a tough team to play on Sunday afternoon.

Q. If I could ask you, did you have any second thoughts about having Crosby on the ice after it became 4 2 last night?
COACH THERRIEN: When it became 4 2 after the scrum, first of all, Crosby was not there at the scrum. They were there when we got that one goal. When they got the scrum, the referee came to the bench and told us they're going to be five on three. They got two minors.
So on a five on three, you pull your goalie with 30 seconds left, and you could have a chance to go six on three. And we're still feeling with a good rush and in ten seconds we could have scored a goal, and you're still hoping.
When all the players were on the ice, he came to the bench and told us they don't have two minors. They've got one minor. All players were there already. So that was a bad communication from the referee to the bench. They changed their mind. They changed their call and the call was there.
So at the beginning of the call he told us you're going to be two men down. So as soon as the players are there for the face off, they changed their mind. It was bad communication against both referees.
But one thing for sure, if I would have been five on four, our top player would be on the ice. But on six on three, and with 30 seconds left, I still believe we've still got a chance on the quick rush. But, you know, they came to the bench and apologized and what are you going to do? What are you going to do? I was not pleased with the response, but what are you going to do?

Q. You mentioned the switch up on the third line with Staal, Talbot and Kennedy, is that something that you're looking to keep together now for Game 5?
COACH THERRIEN: When you're trailing by three goals, you're trying to make a comeback, that is the number one thing. We take a lot of pride in playing well defensively. We take a lot of pride about trying to get the lead and we can concentrate really well about checking. Having a good checking game.
Obviously, you know, after the first period when you're trailing by three goals, you know the game's not about playing a great checking game. You've got to go to plan B and try to open up the game and try to get some offense from different lines.
We're going to come back with the same recipe that we had success so far. That means we're going to try to rotate four lines and try to get the lead early to get the pressure on them and concentrate on the way we're supposed to play. That's not something that I'm planning to do right from the start with Staal and Kennedy, because I like Maxime, first of all as a centerman. And I like to rotate four lines to the majority of the game. But we're in position that we've got to go with plan B pretty quick.

Q. One other quick question. There's a lot of talk yesterday about the third period bringing momentum. Can you, given momentum, can you bring momentum into a game 5 after a loss? Can momentum carry over after a loss like that?
COACH THERRIEN: Especially the way we played in the third period, I believe so. I thought we played very well. We started skating. We started to play the way we're supposed to play, and that would give confidence to the players. Even if we're a team that plays with a lot of confidence, but there's no doubt we've got to take some positives from that game and try to bring it to the next game.

Q. You mentioned about how tough you guys are to play at Mellon Arena and this goes back a long way into the regular season. I wondered do you have an explanation for why you've played so well at home?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, first of all, we feed off of the crowd. We've got a great crowd. And, you know what, in the regular season, it is demanding to win on the road. And in the playoffs it's demanding to win on the road as well, because, you know, the crowds are into it. Teams come for a big purpose. Like Philly it's a tough place to play. We've got success on them as well, and that was a good accomplishment from our team to be able to win a lot of games over there. That was part of the plan.
The reason why we feed off of the crowd. We feel comfortable. The crowd brings us emotion. We're a young team that we'll feed from those emotions. We've got the confidence at home that we can accomplish good things.
We're so confident, we've got the good routine. We're not on the road. There are a lot of factors that could that we'd be able to play really, really solid at home. And there are a lot of factors. But there's no doubt that the way that the crowd gets into the game and brings the emotion that we're looking for for a young team.

Q. I'm wondering, even though you'd much rather be home and have a few more days off while Detroit and Dallas still played. Losing last night, does it help maybe reinforcing your message, maybe, a team that's only lost one game? Maybe sometimes you cut the corners a bit the silver lining of losing last night is there will be some pretty attentive audience for you tomorrow at practice.
COACH THERRIEN: Well, we face exactly the same thing we did against the Rangers. We're exactly in the same position. Like today, you know, we gave a day off to the players. They don't have to show up to the rink. I think it's important to get rested mentally and physically as well. Those are demanding games physically and mentally.
So tomorrow they're going to come and be in a good frame of mind. We're going to be really positive with our team. Just to make sure we're back to what we're supposed to do, to do the right thing.
There's no doubt in the first period we took some penalties and especially teams were not sharp. There were a lot of things that our game was not sharp when we start losing our focus. I think the attention, when we start the game was really good. At times we were 11 6, when they scored those two quick goals, we lost totally our focus. And you can't afford to lose your focus on the playoffs.
After that we started to pick it up. We started controlling the game. We started skating a lot more in the second and third, and the third we got some results. Capable to score two goals. But in the meantime we understand that we've got to keep the focus for 60 minutes if we want to have success. The.

Q. The first two rounds, both the Senators and Rangers kind of complained about the officiating going towards the Penguins, and Stevens did the same thing early in this series. Do you feel kind of a backlash that maybe you're not getting some of the calls that you would have been getting on the first two series because of that?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, I don't know. It's tough for me to say. The one thing I know, since the Flyers complained after Game 2 that they spent time in the penalty box. And it seems that since then they're really disciplined. We only had two power plays a game. And that's all I could say. That, yes, they're disciplined. We're having a hard time with our speed to be able to draw a penalty.

Q. Is that affecting your game plans at all? Or affecting your team that they're not getting some of the of calls that they have come to expect to get?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, you know what, we're not going to change our game plan. We're going to use our speed. I think speed is important to this game. It's just we try to sell the game with speed. We try to sell the game with the offense. Even if you have to play really well defensively, and it's just we try to do it with our club.
We're not going to change our game plan. We've still got to move. We've got to be really quick. Because speed usually brings scoring chances. Speed, usually, it's tough to contain speed. And there are times that the other team has no choice to get obstruction, to get hooks and hopefully we'll get some calls eventually. We're not going to change our game plan, we're going to use a lot of speed.

Q. Sort of a follow up, I'm wondering if you had a chance to take a look at the Jones hit on Malkin midway through the second period last night, hit from behind, behind the net. Just wondered if you had seen it and what your thoughts were on that?
COACH THERRIEN: Honestly, I didn't look at the tapes so far. So I'm going to work on it tonight, and I have to make sure the teams are prepared tomorrow for the practice. So I wouldn't make any comment, sorry.

Q. Who has the greater amount of pressure tomorrow, you or them?
DANNY BRIERE: I think both teams have a lot of pressure on them. They're trying to move to the next step. We're trying to move to the next game. So at this time, I think both teams have a lot of pressure there. I don't have the feeling that there's more pressure on one side or the other as of right now.

Q. The power play clicked a lot better in Game 4 than it did in the first three games, did you guys do anything differently or was it just a matter of bouncing the puck the right way and more opportunities?
DANNY BRIERE: A little bit of both. We're trying to find ways. It wasn't very good in the first few games of the series, and we're trying to find ways. We're watching a lot of tapes and trying to see where we can take advantage of them.
I mean, my goal, it's not something you it's not a designed play. But with Jeff's goal we had a couple of guys there in front, and they were able to find the rebound.
But I think we were passing the puck a lot better. And it gave us a chance to take some better shots on net compared to the first two games where we weren't even able to pass the puck around and take some good opportunities taking the puck to the net. So it's a little bit of both.

Q. Can you talk about skating with Richards full time? How that makes a difference for you guys out there on the ice?
DANNY BRIERE: Well, I mean, at this time of the season whatever the best thing is for the team, that's what matters. I know I had a lot of fun. I don't know about Mike. But I had a lot of fun, and I thought our line played well. We created a lot of chances.
As for myself, I just felt I was on the puck a lot more. I was on the forecheck a lot more. So, I don't know. It forced me to be involved a little bit more in the offensive zone. So I had the chance to get there a little quicker on their defenseman. Maybe it was just that game. I don't really know. But, you know, it worked out. I know it's going to keep going like that at least until the end of the series. So, yeah, I'm happy about it and I'm excited about it.

Q. Coming off the must win game that you guys did and the possibility of Kimmo and Braydon coming back, how much of a boost is that for this team confidence wise?
DANNY BRIERE: Well, the win was huge, obviously. That's what you're looking for, just to find a little spark to get you going and guide you in the right direction. You know what? Right now it looks like Kimmo's going to play, so that's a big boost for us. There's no doubt about it. And the guys that have played the last couple of games have done a tremendous job, but you get a guy like Kimmo back there, which probably was our best defenseman this year, it's a huge boost for us.
Cobe, I don't want to get too excited right now. I'm not sure if he's going to be in or not, so we'll wait and see. As of right now, I'd rather think that he's not playing, but we're getting Kimmo and I'm excited about that.

Q. You're in a similar situation last year at this time. Eastern Conference finals, rivalry team, down three games to 1. I'm wondering if you could compare the situations, are there more similarities and differences to what the Sabres faced last year and Flyers?
DANNY BRIERE: You know what? I think the mood is completely different. Last year I remember we were down 3 0, and we won that Game 4. But it just felt like we just kind of squeaked by and we kind of got lucky. We had lost Zubrus and we had, I remember a couple more guys got injured really bad. They didn't even know if they were going to play. Like last year the mood was going the other way, where this year we've played extremely well for two and a half periods. You know, we let them back in late in the game. But for two and a half periods, we played a solid game.
We're getting Timonen back, maybe more. So I just have the feeling that the mood is different than it was when I was in the same situation last year. It's a lot more upbeat.

Q. With staving off elimination last game, and now with the game tomorrow in their place where the track records speaks for itself, you could have a bad game, Richards could have a bad game, but Marty can't afford a bad game. Is that a fair assumption or analysis?
DANNY BRIERE: Well, I'm not here to put pressure on Marty. Marty knows what he has to do. And you know what, I can't really compare or I can't really compare, because I don't know what the situation is to be a goalie.
But I can't worry about what the other guys are going to do. I have to worry about my own game and try to be ready. That's all we can do at this point. It wouldn't serve anything to you know, to put the pressure somewhere else.
I know I have to be good, get on the puck, create turnovers, create some offense. That's what I have to do. Everybody's going to have to take care of their own business.

Q. Upshall says that it's easier for you guys to play tomorrow without pressure, that all the pressure is really on Pittsburgh.
MIKE RICHARDS: Yeah, yeah, in a big way it is. I think after last game we can't help but think on their part. For us, it's desperate times again, and we'll go out there and play hockey. I think before last game everyone was loose and joking around the room. Not worried about making mistakes. And we go out there and have a great first period, a great start. So hopefully we have that same mentality tomorrow night. I don't see why not. It's the same situation, pretty much.

Q. You guys have a lot of confidence after a big win. How much more boost will it be to get Kimmo back?
MIKE RICHARDS: Huge for us. He's our best defenseman. He's the quarterback on our power play. He kills penalties. He's really one of the best leaders in our dressing room, and maybe even in the league.
He does so many great things out there. I mean, it is just like you said, the confidence that we have in him back there, it just echos throughout the dressing room.

Q. How much more confidence do you have knowing that you can beat Pittsburgh in this series?
MIKE RICHARDS: Yeah, I think we've had troubles with them in the series, just not playing our best. Knowing that we're able to beat them when we do play well. With players coming back, I think that boosts that confidence more. When you have confidence in beating a team, you do different things. You're more confident moving the puck. At the end of games you're just more confident being composed with the puck.
When you have that confidence in the game and that little bit of a strut, I guess, it really shows on the ice in different aspects of the game. And the power play you're making right decisions. You're not panicking with the puck. I think we've had that for a while. They might have taken it away in the first couple of games, but I think we're getting it back with the way we're playing now.

Q. You went back to the net more in Game 4, I guess. Talk about that aspect of the strategy of trying to get to him and maybe rattle him a little bit from up front?
MIKE RICHARDS: Yeah, the first couple of games I think we let him off the hook. Not going to the net and trying to pass around him too much. Maybe giving them too much respect. Obviously a good goaltender. But when you get pucks to the net and he's having trouble seeing them, there are going to be rebounds there.
As long as we have people there to follow up, that's how we scored most of the goals in the playoffs so far. So if we keep doing that, I think he's going to keep having trouble seeing the puck and clearing the rebounds.

Q. How does Coburn look to you out on the ice? And have you had a chance to talk to him about how he feels in general, how his spirits are?
MIKE RICHARDS: I haven't had a chance to talk to him, really. I mean, it's tough for him. He obviously wants to play. I'm not sure how he's feeling, but he looks all right out on the ice.
But it's not always how you feel right away. It's the after effect. He might have headaches or dizziness or things like that. Even though at this point in the season you want to play pretty bad, you don't want to risk something like that for the future. You're concerned about his health, but you obviously want him on the ice, too.

Q. We had the updates on both Timonen and Cobe?
COACH STEVENS: Kimmo looks like he's going to be ready to go. Cobe, I'm still not sure. He was still talking to Jimmy and the doctors. I think that's something that will probably be a decision that if not made today, it is something we'll make in the morning. I have not heard on Cobe.
He had a full practice, looked good. Step in the right direction. Kimmo looked great. So looks like we'll get one for sure.

Q. What is that going to be based on? The decision whether Coburn will be able to go tomorrow?
COACH STEVENS: Pardon me?

Q. What will it be based on? What has to happen?
COACH STEVENS: He just has to decide if he feels well enough to play. I mean, he's still trying to get back on the ice and see how he sees through his eye with the injury he's had, and make sure he feels 100%. So make sure the doctors feel comfortable with him playing, and make sure he feels comfortable in his own mind.
So make sure of his health, he's a healthy player. And if he is, we're glad to have him back. If he's not, we're not going to put him in harm's way, either.

Q. Scotty Upshall said the pressure really tomorrow is on Pittsburgh. He said he's got nothing to lose. We can play almost with a different type of relaxation, but it's on them to end it and not have to come back to Philadelphia. Do you agree?
COACH STEVENS: Well, I think there's a certain degree of pressure on both teams. I said this to our team the other night, we both have to win a game and move on. You know, we need to move on in the series, and they need to win a game to move on.
But we were in that situation ourselves. You want to try to close it out as soon as you can, and for us, we'll have to continue to try to make strides in our own play, and play with the urgency, discipline, and execution level that we did last game.

Q. For everything that Kimmo and maybe Braydon if he comes back, give you on the ice, is it at least a nice feeling from a psychological standpoint to see your top two defensemen back out on the ice?
COACH STEVENS: Well, yeah, no question. They're great players. They're a big part of our team all year, but I think that's true of all the guys. It's great to have these guys being able to be around. But Kimmo's an elite player in the league. He's not just a great player, he's one of our leaders. To lose a guy like that, they're not easily replaced. You need a lot extra from everybody in your lineup just to try to close the gap that was left behind when he was out.
So Cobe's a big guy, plays in all situations, creates speed, good defender. And Kimmo plays in every situation that there is in the hockey game. So to get one or both back would be a great lift for us in a lot of ways.

Q. You got the first win in this series, how has the confidence of your club changed now knowing that you can win? In their building, does it change anything, that you know can you win in this series?
COACH STEVENS: I think any time your team wins, it builds confidence in your team that you can win. In the playoffs I felt we had some trouble closing on Washington. But I thought once we finished them off, it really helped us getting into the Montreal series. Now that we're able to win a game in this series, I mean, Pittsburgh's playing well. They were on a roll.
And now we're able to win a game. It builds confidence. The enthusiasm in the group starts to build. The belief in the things that we're doing continues to build. Our power play had success. Our penalty kill I think is getting better. And Marty played solid, so there are lots of good things that come out of that game that we can build on leading into the next one. Because there's no question we're going to have to play extremely well, we'll have to play hard, and we'll have to be disciplined to win on the road.

Q. You mentioned the power play, it's been such a huge advantage for you guys this season. What happened in Game 4 that wasn't there for games 1 through 3? Did you change anything or was it just a matter of pucks bouncing a different way for you?
COACH STEVENS: Well, no, we changed our units a little bit. We put Hartsy with Danny and Lupul. And Jonesy played the first unit with Kimmo being out. But I think there was a willingness to shoot the puck. We had a lot of pucks at the net, we won a lot of puck battles. The goal that's we scored came off rebounds at the net. And that's been our m o all year. I think early in the series we were looking to pass the puck into the net, and Pittsburgh just angled too well. They take lanes away.
They've got big guys out there, experienced guys. You're not going to have the highlight goals that end up in the net through five passes through the seams. I think you have to shoot the hockey puck when the lanes are there, and I thought we did that.

Q. The NHL playoffs are famous for guys playing hurt and through all sorts of injuries. But even by those standards is what Kimmo's doing a little extraordinary? Does it feel a little different when he's playing well?
COACH STEVENS: Well, I think it's different the fact that it's an unusual injury. I think in Kimmo's case, it's been killing him not to be able to play. But I just think he had to get to the point where the doctors told him he's beyond any risk of long term injury, and putting himself at risk of something severe happening. I think that's what we needed to hear in his case.
There is some discomfort there, and there is some pain there. He still has some of the issues that he had before. But in terms of the medical danger, he's by that point. I think that's what he was waiting for. You know, he wants to play. There's lots of guys in our lineup right now that are playing through stuff. Obviously, he's playing through a lot here, and he can't wait to get back and play.

Q. The possibility of getting two defensemen back, you have three guys available for that number six spot. How do you base that? On experience? What goes into that decision?
COACH STEVENS: Well, that's going to be a tough one, to be honest with you. Guys have stepped up and really played hard for the team. All the guys that have played. So, we'll wait and hear on Cobe, and then we'll look at our pairings.
Some guys play special teams, some guys don't. Some guys have played together, before, but ultimately we'll have to make a decision. It will be a hard one, but we feel comfortable any one of those guys can come in.

Q. Have you given any limitations to Kimmo and how much you can play him? And are there some techniques he can use during the game to keep the blood flow going or between periods?
COACH STEVENS: First of all, I think we're going to try to keep him under 40 minutes. But I think Kimmo's one of the guys like hatch, the more they play, the better they play. He's been able to work a little bit since he's been off. I don't think that will be an issue. He'll continue to play a lot of the situations he has.
As far as what can he do during the game? He can take his skate off between periods and walk around a little bit. Allow his foot to circulate a little bit, and retie before he goes back on. That is one thing can he do.
But in terms of limiting his ice time, we don't have the margin of error to do that or luxury to do that. As long as he's feeling well, we'll keep an eye on him. But I would expect him to play significant minutes.

Q. Do you expect to hear about Braydon today?
COACH STEVENS: I can't even tell you that. I'll wait, I'll talk to Jimmy and see where we're at. It might be a thing that he feels great right now, but we want to get through the night and see in the morning.

Q. Give us your Kimmo daily update here.
KIMMO TIMONEN: I think I'm ready to go. Now it's up to coaches. I haven't talked to John yet. But personally I'm ready to go tomorrow.

Q. Do you really think he won't play you if you say you're ready to go?
KIMMO TIMONEN: Well, I've got to say that. He's our coach and he's going to make the lineup, so I'm going to talk to him today and we'll see what happens tomorrow. But I hope to be on the ice tomorrow.

Q. How confident are you with all the issues about potential risks are gone now and you can just focus on trying to play the game?
KIMMO TIMONEN: You know, again, I got to trust the doctor's opinion that there's no risk at all if I play tomorrow. The symptoms they won't be gone tomorrow, they're going to be the same, but it felt pretty good today in practice. That's why I'm pretty confident to say I'm ready to go tomorrow.

Q. I know you were probably more worried about yourself and getting a sense of how you felt today in practice, but did you have any chance to kind of grade Braydon and see how he was out there? How did he look?
KIMMO TIMONEN: I didn't talk to him, but he was out there with me. He went full practice, too. So now it's probably up to the doctors and himself.
But I don't really know what's going on with him.

Q. What you had is a pretty rare injury, but you played with Tomas Vokoun, he kind of went through a blood clot issue. Did you talk to him at all to see at least you guys have something in common to talk about the blood clots?
KIMMO TIMONEN: No, I haven't talked to him at all. But the only thing, I talked to is the doctors and our trainers in the last couple of weeks. I just want to make sure there is no risk of me going out there and then something bad happens. I don't want that to happen. I don't want that to happen to me. That's the only issue.
But how I felt out there, I felt pretty good today, and that's why I'm pretty confident to say I'm ready to go tomorrow.

Q. You said you feel pretty good, are you in any discomfort? Are you laboring at all? Your body language, how does that work?
KIMMO TIMONEN: Well, I haven't skated in nine days, so obviously, that was a little bit of an issue. But hopefully that doesn't matter tomorrow. Obviously, my leg could be better, but it could be worse, too. But in this situation, you know, it can't get any better. So that's pretty much it.

Q. Is there anything specific that you will do during the game in terms of keeping the blood flow circulating either on the bench or between periods?
KIMMO TIMONEN: Yeah, during the periods I'm going to take my skates off and try to warm my feet up somehow. I don't know which way we're going to do that, but I'm sure we're going to find a way to do that. But that's what we have to probably do.

Q. Have you gotten a sense at all of how much your presence is going to help this team confident wise?
KIMMO TIMONEN: I don't know, you know. I always said it doesn't need one guy, it's a team work. I'm just one piece of the puzzle. Hopefully I can do my job out there and help the team somehow, and hopefully we'll be able to win the game. That's what matters to me.

Q. Not to overdramatize this, but was this something you felt like you needed to talk over with the family? Did your wife get to weigh in on this decision or did it come to that?
KIMMO TIMONEN: Yeah, I talked to my parents a lot. Talked to my wife, talked to my brothers. But again, the doctors have way more information about this than my mom or dad or my brothers, so, I got to really trust their opinion about this (laughing).

Q. We keep hearing that you're not feeling that well, and that's why there's been this uncertainty. Do you have concussion symptoms, and if so, what are they?
BRAYDON COBURN: Right now, I'm just kind of dealing with some things with the eye and stuff like that.
So every day it's been getting better. Tomorrow we're reevaluating it again.

Q. Do you think you'll play tomorrow?
BRAYDON COBURN: Yeah, I think there's a good chance.

Q. What would change that if you didn't?
BRAYDON COBURN: You know, if I don't feel like I'm able to play and react to the play like I did it before.

Q. Can you talk about your practice today? How things went? How you felt during the practice? Are there any limitations?
BRAYDON COBURN: Nope, no limitations. Everything felt pretty good. Felt like I've been off the ice for a couple of days. Wearing the visor is a little bit of an adjustment as well. But it's something I'm going to have to do right now.

Q. Everybody knows you want to play, but how much pressure, given the situation, given the kind of hockey players and what they play through at this time of the year, does that add to your situation and your desire to get out there?
BRAYDON COBURN: Well, it's an important time of the year. But I think that I don't think they put me out there if they didn't feel that I would be able to contribute and felt well and I wouldn't put myself in that situation either.

Q. In terms of your depth perception, is that becoming more and more of an improvement and how much will that add to play tomorrow?
BRAYDON COBURN: I don't know. It's getting better every day. Yeah, I don't think it's limiting me at all. So I think it's getting better.

Q. I know we talked about this earlier, but when you have seen the doctor, what have they told you about your eye? I mean, is there any kind of damage to actually itself or can you kind of fill us in on what that status is?
BRAYDON COBURN: The status is it's improving and getting better, and it will be reevaluated tomorrow.

Penguins forwards Evgeni Malkin and Petr Sykora missed practice Saturday at Neville Ice Arena in Pittsburgh because they were ill. But both are expected in Game 5 today at Mellon Arena. “They should be ready,” head coach Michel Therrien said. “We believe at this time of year rest sometimes could be more important than practice. They should be there (today).”

* Timonen ready: Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen (blood clot in left foot) expects to play today, he said after Saturday’s practice at Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, N.J. He originally expected to miss the entire series and possibly the Stanley Cup finals, if the Flyers advanced, after being diagnosed with the ailment May 8, the day before this series began.
But Timonen said doctors told him “there’s no risk at all if I play (today). The symptoms, they won’t be gone (today). They’re going to be the same, but I felt pretty good (Saturday) in practice. That’s why I’m pretty confident to say I’m ready to go.”
Head coach John Stevens also was confident Timonen could play. “Kimmo looks like he’s going to be ready to go,” Stevens said. “It’s been killing him not to be able to play. But I just think he had to get to the point where the doctors told him he’s beyond any risk of long-term injury and putting himself at risk of something severe happening. I think that what we needed to hear.”

* Coburn ready?: Defenseman Braydon Coburn believes he can play for the first time since needing 50 stitches to close a cut on his face caused by a deflected puck early in Game 2. “Yeah, I think there’s a good chance,” he said Saturday, although he continues “dealing with some things with the eye.”
Yet, Stevens remained unsure Saturday. “He has to decide if he feels well enough to play,” Stevens said. “He’s still trying to get back on the ice and see how he sees through his eye … and make sure he feels 100 percent. So (we have) to make sure the doctors feel comfortable with him playing, and make sure he feels comfortable in his own mind.”

– Victor Fernandes

Q. I guess is there any concern about Malkin and Sykora for tomorrow?
COACH THERRIEN: They should be ready for tomorrow. They should be there.

Q. Is it just a sickness?
COACH THERRIEN: A sickness. And we believe at this time of year rest sometimes can be more important than practice, and they should be there tomorrow.

Q. This is déjà vu for you. You've been in this situation before. Does it help it's a similar situation?
COACH THERRIEN: Certainly helps. But, in the meantime, every series is different, but it's a challenge. Every game is a challenge. Tomorrow's going to be a different challenge. It's going to be fun to be part of.
And usually we bring our game, an "A" game for a challenge like tomorrow. And I'm expecting tomorrow we'll have an "A" game.

Q. How did Gary Roberts feel after practice today?
COACH THERRIEN: He felt pretty good we'll see tomorrow.

Q. Think he'll play tomorrow?
COACH THERRIEN: We'll see tomorrow.

Q. You guys spent some time in February in the regular season, how important is home ice advantage throughout the playoffs for you guys?
COACH THERRIEN: Home ice is huge. And you work really hard through the course of the season to get home ice. We felt comfortable in that building. We like to play in front of our fans. Our fans have been great, and we've got their support. And that's why we're glad that Game 5 is going to be home. We're glad that we have home ice advantage, because we're a tough team to play in our building.

Q. What do your guys have to do to avoid playing the kind of game that Philly likes to play, as they did for a period or so?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, they played really well in the first period. They were desperate. And we had a hard time in that first period to match the desperation. But I believe in the second and third we started to play the way we're capable of playing, and we're going to need to bring that to the next game.
We've got momentum, especially in the third period. We could have tied the game. We got some great chances. Biron was good, obviously. So we'll try to bring the momentum that we got especially in the third period to the start of tomorrow's game.

Q. Timonen and Coburn, if they come back does that have much impact?
COACH THERRIEN: We focus on our team, how we're supposed to play. Timonen is a good, obviously, he's a good defenseman for them. But when we played Ottawa we had a similar thing. The got Alfredsson back in the lineup and it brings some energy.
But it's demanding for players. Especially when you're missing so long, you lose your game shape. This is playoff hockey and a playoff game. They're demanding.
But, for us, Timonen is going to have to be ready to play a playoff hockey game. In the meantime, it's not about them, it's about us. And we're going to play, and we're going to focus on the way we're supposed to play.

Q. Can you give us perspective of what Jordan Staal was doing? Can you put his performance in perspective?
COACH THERRIEN: Yeah, you know, we deal with adversity on a different way. Obviously, he had the loss of his grandfather. This week he came back and played probably his best game of the playoffs, so that was a good inspiration for him, there's no doubt.

Q. Hoping for a few more power plays now that you're back home?
COACH THERRIEN: You know what, I'm a true believer about speed, and we've got a team that can skate really well. And tomorrow we're going to have to use that speed, because I believe speed brings scoring chances. Good speed, you can play a good checking game. When you lose the speed really well, it's tough to contain.
If we keep using our speed, eventually we're going to have the power play. We're going to draw penalties. Obviously, we haven't gotten a lot of power plays in the last few games, but we're going to keep using that speed to try to generate the power play.

Q. You said the players are going to go out and have fun with this series. Is this time of the year fun for you or is it more stress?
COACH THERRIEN: It's fun. We're fortunate to be part of it. We work hard to be part of it, and they're fun games to be a part of. We're having a good time right now.

Q. You guys talked about not falling into their trap and doing what they do. How hard is it not to fall into it, considering guys like Ruutu has two black eyes and stitches. How do you not retaliate or keep from retaliating?
COACH THERRIEN: We believe, eventually, we're going to get rewarded.

Q. Talk about Malkin is he just being defended well? Is he struggling a bit?
COACH THERRIEN: That line is going to have to play better. You've got to give credit to the Flyers. They contain that line really well. I don't like to focus only on one player.
Like with Malone and Sykora and Malkin, they're going to have to bring their game to another level tomorrow, and we expect that. They know, they've been there in the past. This is going to be a huge game. Everyone's going to have to be on top of their game.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

Q. How about bussing back and forth to practice? Does that harken back to maybe to your Mite days?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, we've done it before. We did it a lot my first year here, we had to do that. So we weren't at a practice rink for the most part. We've all done it before, and it brought back some memories, for sure.

Q. How about Malkin and Sykora being sick right now?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Oh, yeah. Just battling a cold, I guess. So they want to make sure they rest their bodies. It needs rest, so I'll see them tomorrow.

Q. How good to be home, Sid?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Oh, it's nice. Especially in this position, to be at home. It's a great opportunity for us to finish the series off. You know, we're looking forward to it.

Q. Going back to Game 4, what do you have to do to kind of get away from what they were effective with in their game?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Well, I think they came out hard, which we expected. They came out hard in Game 3. But we just made a few mistakes and got a bad bounce on the first goal there.
Second half of the game, we did a great job of doing what's made us successful. I think in the second period we might have gotten caught being a little bit undisciplined and getting stuck into the after the whistle stuff. That's not our game. We can play physical and be a tough team to play against without all the other stuff. So we'll make sure that we focus on playing whistle to whistle, and go about our game.

Q. Last round did you expect anything easier this time around?
SIDNEY CROSBY: No, not at all. They came out hard last game which we expected. They're in the same position here coming into our rink. So we expect it to be a tough game. You know, we always say it's always true that the last one's always the toughest.

Q. Did you hear that Timonen will play in Game 5. What does he do and how does he affect the game through your eyes?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Well, he's just going to be a guy who is probably going to play some good solid minutes. I don't know if he'll play what he typically plays. He moves the puck well, he's a quarterback on their power play. So he'll probably just bring some familiarity to everything they do.
So he's been a big part of their team. I don't know what the match ups are going to be, but he usually plays against the top line. So I'm sure either our line or Geno's line will see a lot of him.

Q. (Indiscernible)?
SIDNEY CROSBY: No. I don't think it's something that he has. When your body's worn down through the playoffs, it's a little easier to pick up something like that, so it's not a big deal. I think we're all battling through something at this point in the process, anyway.

Q. Did you worry after the offensive production a year ago, and they have to do this every year? Or do you have sort of a comfort zone with what you've been asked to do and obviously what you've done very well defensively this year?
JORDAN STAAL: Well, I think knowing personally as long as the team was winning, I was happy. Obviously, my numbers weren't the same throughout the season. It was obviously disappointing.
I know I can be a player that can put up numbers, and I know I can be an offensive threat out there every time I'm on the ice. It's something that hopefully my game will turn into though.

Q. Do you have to teach yourself not to take pride or pleasure in doing what you do, whether it's killing penalties or shut down an opposing line? Do you have to sort of learn to appreciate that in yourself?
JORDAN STAAL: Yeah, obviously, every player you want to be just great on both sides of the puck. And I take pride in applying a sound defensive of the game. I play well on both sides of the puck. The defensive side is something I've obviously played well on. I want to keep getting better now.

Q. What is our game plan early tomorrow after the way things went in the first period of Game 4?
JORDAN STAAL: Obviously we want to get a better start. I think we had a tough start in Philly. You know, we started two games in the round in the second and third and started playing well. We just want to carry that through to this game, and I think, feed off our fans and we'll go from there.

Q. On the trip on the bus, did it remind you of your days back in Mites?
JORDAN STAAL: Yeah, something like that. It it's always fun. Always brings the guys together a little bit, too. We were chatting on the way back. Obviously, we wouldn't want to do it every day, but it's always nice to have something like that.

Q. This Game 5 scenario, it's that point in the series where you're getting over it, and now you're back to Philly. Characterize how important it is for you guys to get this thing done here?
JORDAN STAAL: Yeah, we're definitely don't want to go back to Philly, that's for sure. It ain't fun playing there. It's obviously, we want to get this done right now, and we're focused on just one game right now. One, tomorrow. I think right now we feel pretty good about our game, and we just want to have a good start again and we'll go from there.

* Malkin, Sykora ready: Penguins forwards Evgeni Malkin and Petr Sykora missed practice Saturday at Neville Ice Arena because they were ill. But both are expected in Game 5 today at Mellon Arena.
“They should be ready,” head coach Michel Therrien said. “We believe at this time of year rest sometimes could be more important than practice. They should be there (today).”

* Timonen ready: Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen (blood clot in left foot) expects to play today, he said after Saturday’s practice at Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, N.J. He originally expected to miss the entire series and possibly the Stanley Cup finals, if the Flyers advanced, after being diagnosed with the ailment May 8, the day before this series began.
But Timonen said doctors told him “there’s no risk at all if I play (today). The symptoms, they won’t be gone (today). They’re going to be the same, but I felt pretty good (Saturday) in practice. That’s why I’m pretty confident to say I’m ready to go.”
Head coach John Stevens also was confident Timonen could play. “Kimmo looks like he’s going to be ready to go,” Stevens said. “It’s been killing him not to be able to play. But I just think he had to get to the point where the doctors told him he’s beyond any risk of long-term injury and putting himself at risk of something severe happening. I think that what we needed to hear.”

* Coburn ready?: Defenseman Braydon Coburn believes he can play for the first time since needing 50 stitches to close a cut on his face caused by a deflected puck early in Game 2. “Yeah, I think there’s a good chance,” he said Saturday, although he continues “dealing with some things with the eye.”
Yet, Stevens remained unsure Saturday. “He has to decide if he feels well enough to play,” Stevens said. “He’s still trying to get back on the ice and see how he sees through his eye … and make sure he feels 100 percent. So (we have) to make sure the doctors feel comfortable with him playing, and make sure he feels comfortable in his own mind.”

* Confidence boost: The return of Timonen and possibly Coburn should provide the Flyers with a boost of confidence, Stevens said. “They’re great players. They’re a big part of our team all year,” he said. “So to get one or both back would be a great life for us in a lot of ways.”

* Much-needed boost: Flyers center Daniel Briere had no goals on two shots in the first three games of the series. But after being moved to wing alongside center Mike Richards, Briere scored in Game 4.
“I just felt like I was on the puck a lot more. I was on the forecheck a lot more,” Briere said. “It forced me to be involved a little bit more in the offensive zone. So I had the chance to get there quicker on their defenseman. Maybe it was just that game. But it worked out.”

* Defense never rests: Penguins center Jordan Staal’s offensive numbers fell from 29 goals and 42 points last season to 12 goals and 28 points this year. Ultimately, he said Saturday, “I know I can be a player that can put up numbers. I know I can be an offensive threat out there on the ice.”
But Staal still values his hard work on defense. “I take pride in playing a sound defensive game,” he said. “I think I play well on both sides of the puck.”

* More speed and power: The Penguins have recorded only 14 power-play chances in their four games against the Flyers. They need to use their speed to generate more power-play chances in Game 5, head coach Michel Therrien said. “I’m a true believer about speed,” he said, “and we’ve got a team that can skate really well. We’re going to have to use that speed, because I believe speed brings scoring chances.”

* Pressure on Pens: Richards said his team can play loose again since the pressure to win remains with the Penguins. “For us, it’s desperate times again,” he said Saturday, “and we’ll go out there and play hockey. I think before last game everyone was loose and joking around the room, not worried about making mistakes. So hopefully we have that same mentality (tonight). I don’t see why not.”

– Victor Fernandes

Q. Someone comes up to you two months from now and says "how do you remember this season?" what will you say to them?
COACH STEVENS: I just told the guys that I have been in the game a long time. Working with this group has been one of the more enjoyable experiences I've had in pro hockey. It really has been. We've made tremendous strides this year, and we've come an awful long way.
And if you look back, we played the one, two, three season in the East in the playoffs and I thought we did a remarkable job. You give Pittsburgh credit. To me they were the number one seed in the East in terms of what I've seen.
And they're very deserving of moving on.

Q. Because the run was so exhilarating at times, is there any danger, you think, in overvaluing what you have here? I mean, moving on, getting better? How do you assess that?
COACH STEVENS: I don't see any danger, to be honest with you. I see it as a great stepping stone. We handled a lot of adversity. We had the ability this year with our team to have setbacks that sometimes you have to wait for the next year. Look at Washington, we let a series slip back. And we won Game 7 able to move on. And Montreal, we had some issues in the series we were able to iron out and move on.
Sometimes the lessons are learned. And we have to wait until next year. I thought we had the ability to right the ship and keep moving on and learn lessons and still keep our season alive. But there's no question we need to get better. But I think we have. I think all our young players have vastly improved. I think our veteran guys we brought in are exactly what we hoped they would be.
And now we've made strides and now we have to try and get better from there. We wanted to get into the playoffs. Now we want to come back in here, compete longer than we did this year.

Q. What makes the Penguins such a formidable opponent? Do you think they've got what it takes to handle either Dallas or Detroit?
COACH STEVENS: I certainly wouldn't count them out. First of all, they've got very talented players. And on top of that they're talented players, have great passion for the game. And their staff has really got them to buy into a real team game.
So they've got the three ingredients, in my opinion, that you need in terms of a team. They're solid in every position. Goalie is playing great, obviously. Back end has experience. They've got big guys that are puck movers and big guys that are stay at home, and they've got great depth up front. They're a great team, and they'll be a test for whoever comes out of the west.

Q. Does how today's game went, would a 2 1 loss have felt any better at all?
COACH STEVENS: I think we got down and we were trying to catch up. I thought we had guys trying to do too much. And we started to fall into some habits that were there before.
But they got rolling and just seemed like it hadn't happened all year but our spirit was a little bit broken there. But I thought we continue to play right to the end. I mean a loss is a loss. We don't have the opportunity to move on. We dug ourselves a hole early on. But we would have loved to get this thing back to Philadelphia, but that wasn't to be.
I don't think you can put too much weight into one game. I think we're going to look at our season as a whole, have a really good evaluation of the things we did well and the areas we need to get better. And this one game to me is going to have very little to do with that overall evaluation.

Q. Marty, did John ask you something in the third?
MARTY BIRON: He said keep playing. Everybody's playing for I'm playing, too, that's the way it is.

Q. Marty, on the line, is it a disappointing game in your career?
MARTY BIRON: The game was disappointing because we just played two great series against two really tough opponents, the top three seeds in the East in the playoffs. And played Washington the first round, which was probably one of the toughest teams to play against.
They had momentum. Montreal number one and this number two. That's tough. And we achieved good things.

Q. What happened with the play behind the net?

MARTY BIRON: Yeah, my stick got caught in there, and I didn't have time to try to get it out and push it out because the puck went to the guy. And I tried to get it out of the net. And the puck, took a weird bounce before it went back in.

Q. Are you able to look at, I know the loss is too fresh, are you able to look to him?
MARTY BIRON: I mean we know we've seen all year, this team has the ingredients in place. I could see it last summer, where they were positioning themselves and move ahead for the future. And there's different guys, veteran guys, you know first line, front line. Guys are stepping it up. And that was why we got some success and that's why we wanted to finish the season the way we did. It was hard finishing the season trying to get to the playoffs. It was a big battle. It was a big battle against Washington the first run. Montreal. I mean that's the team that can even go further.

Q. Ryan, what are your last memories of the Stanley Cup in Pittsburgh?
RYAN MALONE: I think it was '93 when the Islanders came off the two on one and buried it. I think it would be the three peat everyone was hoping for. I remember the other Cups as well, but for whatever reason the last one sticks out in my mind, be part of the team now. I think four years ago where we were and Craig rebuilding the team.
He did a great job. And Ray coming out and the extra pieces. The fans have been patient. And I think so far so good.

Q. Mark, can you talk about the series early in the second period, I think it was Briere and Hartnell, what it did for your confidence and talk about that play.
MARC ANDRE FLEURY: I was too busy. It was sometimes you don't see so much action. But to make two saves, helps me to stay more focused in the game.

Q. Ryan, you were in the dressing room a couple of minutes ago. Were you surprised to see Mario? What did he say to you?
RYAN MALONE: Good job. I think playing with him in my early years was a big privilege. Now I think for any hockey player not playing and watching it's a little tough. And you always wish you were out there. But I think Mario plays a big part in the team. We all look up to him still.
And he's always led by example. And I think he's passed that along to a lot of guys.

Q. Ryan, you mentioned the lean years and because of the fact this was against Philadelphia, do all these circumstances make it extra special to be playing for the Cup now?
RYAN MALONE: I don't think it really matters who we beat in the first three rounds, as long as we kind of get there and give ourselves a chance in the next round here. We realize we've got a tough test in front of us, still, and our goal wasn't to get there. Our goal is to get the whole thing done.
We have to be refocused now, make sure we're sharp in practice and be ready in the next level to take it.

Q. Sidney, did you expect success in terms of going to the Stanley Cup to come this quickly?
SIDNEY CROSBY: I don't think we had any expectations as far as I was concerned. I think we did everything in our control as players to have the right attitude and to learn as much as we could, as quick as we could. We're lucky to have some mix of guys with veterans and younger guys that have really shown they can play even early on in their careers.
So having that mix has helped us. And I think we've set some high standards for ourselves.

Q. Sidney, can you talk about the play when you back checked and set up the goal at the other end, what you saw, what you were thinking?
SIDNEY CROSBY: When I came back, I was the closest guy to Richard. So I just did my best to get my stick on him.
And I don't think he expected somebody to be coming back. So I didn't have to put much weight on my stick. I was able to just poke it away. And I saw Hossa coming up behind me, tried to leave it for him, showed some great speed coming down the ice. Gave it to Max there, broke up the play and put it to him up front.

Q. Talk about some of the emotions you're feeling, being four wins away from winning the Stanley Cup?
RYAN MALONE: I think I don't know if it set in or not, but I think, Game 1, everyone's going to be excited. And it's what you play hockey for is to put yourself in this situation.
I think everyone dreamt about it as a hockey player, to get a chance now to battle for the best prize there is out there. So it's going to be fun. I think we're all excited to get going.

Q. Sidney, in walking through the stands en route to the locker room, you could hear about 17,132 people screaming at you not to touch the trophy. Did you get an assist from your other players in that regard? Could you hear any of that? How cognizant of that were you as you were approaching the trophy?
SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, I was aware of it. I've watched a lot of Stanley Cup playoff games. You don't see too many guys touch it. And made sure, with couple of the guys who have been through it before, Sykora, they all gave me a heads up, for sure. And it's a good feeling to go up there.
But we all realized that's not the one we want to be holding.

Q. Sidney, could you believe when you slipped on the Penguins Jersey on July 30th, 2005, in Ottawa that last than three years ago you would be going to the Stanley Cup at the age of 20?
SIDNEY CROSBY: No, probably not. I think coming in here I was just so focused on trying to have a good first year, let alone going to the Cup final this quickly with the amount of youth we've had.
Now you look at the second half of my first year, a lot of our first years, and it was pretty difficult. But we've come a long way, and we've worked hard for it and earned it and this is a great opportunity for us all.

Q. I know you guys are watching the other series, any thoughts on a potential opponent? Is there a better match up one way or the other, somebody you'd like to play?
RYAN MALONE: I don't think it matters too much. I think we have to make sure we're playing our game and playing our type of hockey. I think we were playing the way we want to play. We like our chances.
I don't think we played Detroit. I think exhibition games early in the year.
So, no, Dallas, we're not too familiar with either team. So we just have to make sure we have our A game going in there going in there for Game 1 and coaches will make the adjustments as needed. But it's pretty simple hockey come playoff time. And just gotta make sure we have our A game.

Q. Ryan, you guys were part of the '03/'04 team. Things were pretty bad here. How big a difference is it going through a season like that to where you are right now?
MARC ANDRE FLEURY: I think everything is a lot more fun. Everybody has adjusted to it. I guess everyone is always happy and it's pretty cool that altogether we lived those tough days. And I think everybody improved together. As a team we're winning, so it's big fun.

Q. Ryan, you're pretty cool about all this, but you grew up here. You watched the Penguins your whole life. You just had one of your best games and the biggest game. This must be really cool for you.
RYAN MALONE: Yeah, I mean I think since day one of training camp, getting a shot to make the team was a great circumstance for myself.
I think to be where I am right now, I think Fleury was saying we all worked hard together. When you have all 20 guys on the ice pulling in the same direction and trying to make a difference, it's the biggest thing. Personally, you go out there, try to win your one on one battles and just battle hard and sometimes you get the bounces.
So I think personally it wasn't really, I don't know, expecting too much; you just want to make sure you're playing your game and everything else falls into place. We still have a long way to go. So there's nothing to celebrate, that's for sure.

Q. Your team was so powerful these playoffs. Did you think, coming in after learning in only four games last year that, you could put together a run like you put together this one?
COACH THERRIEN: You always approach the playoff with a lot of confidence. And the confidence that we had is the way that we've been finishing the year the last two months I thought we played some great hockey.
Not only offensively, but defensively, too, as well. The way Marc Andre Fleury was playing, too. There was no doubt that we were approaching every single game with a lot of confidence. But to be quite honest, when we start the playoffs, we're not thinking about the Stanley Cup final. Our main focus was on the first round, and that was our philosophy with that young group.
I'm not a big fan to look on top of the mountain when there's a lot of steps to be made. And the next one, it's another step.

Q. Can you talk about your team's ability to finish, especially after such a tough game in Philadelphia on the other night?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, we didn't play our best game. We didn't deserve to win that game. And for the first half of the game I don't think we were sharp. Our focus was not there. But we finished a game like we're supposed to play.
We brought momentum today. We approach it with the team, and I thought today we set the tone right from the start. We deserved to win. 95 percent of those games we played so hard in the playoff it's about deserving, and those guys deserved to win most of those hockey games with the result we got.
Today it was not any difference. I thought we set the tone. We were really sharp offensively. We concentrate well defensively. When there were a few breakdowns, Fleury was outstanding.

Q. Was there an approximate point where you didn't have to keep harping the system and selling the system, where you and the staff realized, hey, they're getting it, they're playing the way we want them to play, we've kind of turned the corner here?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, since day one, we've been working with those guys. We've been teaching them the way that we think that we're going to have success. And they buy into it. They believe in it. And they know when they execute what we're supposed to do, we get a chance to get success. That goes from your leaders, when your leaders buy into it, the rest will follow.
And their leaders, there's no doubt that they're buying into the way we're supposed to play.

Q. Given that you have your series done right now, how big an advantage is it with Dallas and Detroit still going at it right now?
COACH THERRIEN: Well, we're going to have extra days to rest. And we all know that's really demanding to play playoff hockey.
Whoever we're going to play against, one thing we know we're going to play against a good hockey team. But we figure we're a good hockey team as well, too.
So the next few days, like tomorrow's a day off and we'll see what's going to be the result tomorrow night. We're not quite sure yet when we're going to start the next round, the final. But one thing I know we're going to be well prepared.

Q. Would you describe your and your team's lack of finals experience a liability?
COACH THERRIEN: We don't have much experience. But we compensate with a lot of things. We compensate with passion. We play a mature game for a young team. When you put those two together, then this is a team who wants to learn. And they're ready to learn and they are making those sacrifices to learn.
And we're coming from a long way. And short the amount of experience we got last year gave a lot of confidence to the players. They know what they were expecting when we started the playoffs. And I believe Ray Shero did a great job. We're missing some piece of the puzzle, the trading deadline. It was crucial for us. And all those three guys that we brought in, they really buy in right away to the team concept and with the result that we got.

* Hossa’s wait ends: After several disappointing showings, Penguins winger Marian Hossa will play in the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in his nine-year NHL career. “It’s a dream come true,” Hossa said. “We know we’re still four games away (from) being winners. But we completed something special.”
Sunday’s win also confirmed that general manager Ray Shero’s well-scrutinized decision to acquire Hossa from Atlanta at the February trade deadline was the right one. “Ray Shero did an excellent job,” said Hossa, who had a goal and three assists in Game 5. “I try not to disappoint him.”

* Timonen in, Coburn out: Defenseman Kimmo Timonen (blood clot in left foot) rejoined the Flyers’ lineup for Game 5 Sunday, much sooner than expected. He was expected to miss the entire series and possibly the Stanley Cup finals, if the Flyers advanced. But the chance to play arose when doctors told Timonen he wasn’t risking his health by playing. He had no points, a minus-2 rating and two penalty minutes in a team-high 21 minutes, 43 seconds of ice time.
The club scratched veteran defenseman Jaroslav Modry to make room for Timonen. But rookie Ryan Parent remained in the lineup, since injured defenseman Braydon Coburn was unable to play.
Coburn hasn’t played since being struck in the face by a deflected puck early in Game 2. He needed 50 stitches to close the gash and also encountered swelling around his eye. But after Saturday’s practice at Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, N.J., Coburn said there was a “good chance” he could play Sunday. But he was scratched from the lineup.

* Silver lining: Despite falling short of the Cup finals, Flyers head coach John Stevens praised his team, which doubled their win total from last season and reached the conference finals for the first time since the 2003-04 season. “I just told the guys that I have been in the game a long time,” he said. “Working with this group has been one of the more enjoyable experiences I’ve had in pro hockey.”

* Roberts out: Penguins winger Gary Roberts missed his third straight game with a mild case of pneumonia, a day after practicing with the team. He has played in only six of 13 playoff games because of an injured groin and his latest ailment.

* By the numbers: Hossa has nine goals in 14 playoff games this spring. He had 13 goals in 54 playoff games entering this season. … Penguins winger Ryan Malone had two goals and three points Sunday, giving him six goals and 15 points in the playoffs. … Sidney Crosby and Maxime Talbot added two assists in the win. … Evgeni Malkin scored a goal the day after missing practice because he was ill. … Ten Penguins recorded points in the game. … Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has three career playoff shutouts, all this spring. … The Penguins were 2-for-4 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.

* Roster moves: Penguins winger Petr Sykora played Sunday after missing Saturday’s practice because they were ill. … Pittsburgh also scratched goaltender Dany Sabourin, defenseman Darryl Sydor and forwards Kris Beech and Jeff Taffe. … The Flyers also scratched goaltender Scott Munroe, defenseman Nathan Guenin and forwards Ryan Potulny, Stefan Ruzicka, Steve Downie, Riley Cote, Denis Tolpeko and Kyle Greentree.

– Victor Fernandes

* Franzen update: Detroit winger Johan Franzen (concussion-like symptoms) was cleared to practice today, general manager Ken Holland said during a NHL conference call Thursday. But Franzen remains doubtful for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals against Pittsburgh on Saturday night.
“We are optimistic that he’s going to play sometime in this series,” Holland said. “We’re going to see how it goes each day. As we go along each day, we’ll ramp it up. And if he doesn’t have any setbacks, certainly the possibility that he’s going to be in our lineup before the end of the series is going to be good. Now if he starts to ramp it up and push and he gets some setbacks, that’s going to be another story.”
Franzen had 12 goals and 15 points in the first 11 playoff games. But he hasn’t played since Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against Dallas. “We’ve got our fingers crossed,” Holland said.

* Running out of time: Detroit winger Dallas Drake, 39, appreciates his first trip to the Cup finals in a 15-year NHL career. Until now, he said, winning a NCAA Division I championship at Northern Michigan remains his biggest hockey accomplishment. “Playing in the NHL has been great and you treated great and you get paid a lot of money,” he said during Thursday’s conference call, “but I really want to win a championship. … I obviously want to end (my career) on the right note.”

* Boyhood idol: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has been compared to Steve Yzerman, the former Red Wings’ captain and likely future Hockey Hall of Famer. But Crosby always has admired Yzerman for his stellar two-way play, character and leadership. “That drew me to him because that’s the way I wanted to be,” Crosby said.

– Victor Fernandes

DETROIT, Mich. - Detroit winger Johan Franzen (concussion-like symptoms) said Friday he won’t play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals on Saturday night at Joe Louis Arena. Instead, he will undergo further tests Saturday. Doctors will re-evaluate Franzen daily, he said.
He has been headache-free for about a week, said Franzen, who was cleared to practice Thursday. “I feel good,” he said. “I’m just waiting for the doctor to clear me.” Head coach Mike Babcock was impressed with how Franzen looked in practice. “He’s flying around, going 100 miles an hour,” Babcock said Friday. “He looks like a million bucks. But I guess that’s why I don’t make those decisions.”
Franzen didn’t experience any setbacks. Yet, general manager Ken Holland still lists him as doubtful for the opening game. But Holland expects Franzen to play in this series. He played with headaches for two weeks during the Western Conference semifinal series against Colorado. He hasn’t played since Game 1 of the conference finals against Dallas. “It was a different kind of headache,” Franzen said. “It didn’t go away. It was there morning and night. And it was different.”

– Victor Fernandes

* Wings' Franzen out: Detroit winger Johan Franzen (concussion-like symptoms) said Friday he won’t play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals on Saturday night. Instead, he will undergo further tests on Saturday. Doctors will re-evaluate Franzen daily, he said. He has been headache-free for about a week, he said.
“I feel good,” he said. “I’m just waiting for the doctor to clear me.” Head coach Mike Babcock was impressed with how Franzen looked in practice. “He’s flying around, going 100 miles an hour,” Babcock said. “He looks like a million bucks. But I guess that’s why I don’t make those decisions.”
Franzen hasn’t experienced any setbacks. Yet, general manager Ken Holland still lists him as doubtful for the game. But Holland expects Franzen to play in this series. He played with headaches for two weeks during the Western Conference semifinal series against Colorado. But he hasn’t played since Game 1 of the conference finals against Dallas. “It was a different kind of headache,” Franzen said. “It didn’t go away. It was there morning and night. And it was different.”

* Roberts out?: Penguins winger Gary Roberts appears ready to play tonight. “I’m feeling good,” said Roberts, who hasn’t played since Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against Philadelphia because of a mild case of pneumonia. “I’ve had a good week of practice and my health is real good. We’ll just see what happens. I’m going to let (head coach Michel Therrien) talk about why I’m not playing tomorrow.”

* Chelios still kicking: Detroit defenseman Chris Chelios will attempt to win his third Cup title at the age of 46. He won with Montreal in 1986 and the Red Wings in 2002. “I’m just very happy, very fortunate to be in this situation,” he said. “I’m on a great team, and I’ve been lucky enough to hook up with a team where I fit in nicely.”
Roberts, who turned 42 Friday, is really impressed that Chelios continues to play well at his age. Roberts still sees the same competitor that he played against in the 1989 Cup finals. Roberts’ Calgary Flames beat Chelios’ Canadiens that season. “He still plays real well, anticipates and cheats at times,” Roberts said. “He anticipates so well he gets away with it.”
Left wing Henrik Zetterberg, Chelios’ teammate, vows he won’t play in the NHL at age 46. But Chelios is glad he has remained in the league. “I’d be kicking myself if I had retired a year or two ago and missed out on this,” he said. “It’s a great time of year. I’m really happy to be a part of this.”

* Good choice: Ray Shero, Penguins executive vice president/general manager, chuckled when asked if he considered acquiring a goaltender to replace struggling Marc-Andre Fleury earlier this season.
“There was none available,” Shero said with a smile. All along, he planned on staying patient while Fleury overcame his sub-par play and a high ankle sprain, which cost him two months of the season.
“The patience early on with the organization was certainly critical, and the kid has talent,” Shero said. “If you get to know Marc-Andre, he’s certainly a winning kid. And he’s a great kid with a great work ethic. I’m glad we stuck with him. I think moving forward he’ll have a great career for himself.”’

* A big challenge: Detroit’s defense faces a major challenge in the Penguins’ top line of Sidney Crosby, Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis. The trio has produced 15 goals and 46 points in the playoffs.
“It’s going to be tough,” Red Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski said. “They have good speed. You have to look over your shoulder. They’re really good at jumping into the open space, finding the soft spot in the offensive zone and getting quick shots off.”

* Instant classic?: The Penguins-Red Wings series has been billed as one of the best Cup final matchups in recent memory. “On paper, it’s so even, the matchup,” Chelios said. “You look at the rosters – the stars and the skill. I couldn’t think of a better matchup. I think everybody’s happy this is the way it turned out.”

* Mirror image: Crosby compared himself and fellow Evgeni Malkin to Detroit’s high-scoring duo of Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk – but not just for their offensive skills. “I think all four guys are pretty responsible players,” Crosby said. “We all obviously like to create things offensively, but try to be responsible defensively as well.”

* Providing input: Rafalski faced the Penguins regularly during his seven seasons with New Jersey. But he credits the Red Wings’ scouting staff, not himself, for providing useful information about the Penguins. “(I’ll provide) a few things here and there, but nothing major,” he said.
Yet, defense mate Nicklas Lidstrom said Rafalski’s input helps. “It helps having a player who knows more about their tendencies and their players than most of us do,” Lidstrom said.

* Keeping cool: A team from a warm-weather city won’t play in the Cup finals for the first time in five years. But Dan Craig, NHL facilities operations manager, and his staff will remain on top of the ice conditions in Detroit and Pittsburgh. “There’s nothing that has us right now of any concern,” Craig said. “It’s the engineers in the building that really have to monitor what goes on.” Their work includes pressuring the arena’s concourses to keep hot air to the outside – away from the ice.

– Victor Fernandes

DETROIT – Penguins winger Gary Roberts (mild case of pneumonia) participated in Saturday’s morning skate at Joe Louis Arena. But he won’t play tonight in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final against Detroit.
Roberts has been unable to supplant rookie Tyler Kennedy or veterans Jarkko Ruutu, Georges Laraque and Adam Hall in the lineup, head coach Michel Therrien said. He wants to utilize on Kennedy’s speed and intensity, Ruutu’s strong play, Laraque’s physical presence and Hall’s penalty killing and faceoff skill.
“Those guys did a great job so far,” Therrien said. “And that’s the No. 1 reason why we’re not changing the lineup. It’s not that we don’t want Gary Roberts in our lineup. … I’m not saying that he’s not going to play. That’s the way we feel that we’re going to go tonight because those guys did a great job.”

– Victor Fernandes

DETROIT – Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock will match No. 1 center Henrik Zetterberg’s line and top defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom against Penguins No. 1 center Sidney Crosby’s line in Game 1 tonight. Although Babcock won’t disrupt the rhythm of his top three lines, he said after the morning skate today, “We always try to match to give ourselves the best opportunity, whether that be at home or on the road."
Babcock also will have the Kris Draper and Valtteri Filppula lines on the Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal lines. “It’s a great challenge, for sure,” Crosby said of facing Zetterberg and Lidstrom. “But you always face great challenges during the playoffs. And this is a similar situation.”

– Victor Fernandes

DETROIT – It took less than four hours to reach the Motor City's downtown on Friday afternoon. It took nearly 30 minutes to drive the final three miles to the NHL's Stanley Cup headquarters - the Detroit Marriott at Renaissance Center Hotel. A section of Interstate 75 near the hotel and Joe Louis Arena is closed for construction.
That means winding detour ... after winding detour ... after winding detour. Now I know how that mouse searching for the piece of cheese in the maze feels. But while winding my through the city's streets, I quickly discovered why Detroit is called Hockeytown. The city is filled with banners, billboards murals dedicated to the Red Wings. The Pistons, which plays Game 3 of the NBA's Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics Saturday night, appear to be the forgotten team. I saw one banner, shaped like a basketball, about five miles south of the city. There were many more banners for the Red Bull Air Race, which takes place on the city's riverfront next weekend.
The Pistons play in Auburn Hills, located roughly 30 miles north of the city. But they might as well play in different state.
Shortly after arriving, I headed to COBO Arena for the "Live From the Stanley Cup" media session. "Live" being the key word. The NHL Network aired both interview sessions live. Factor in all the podiums for every player, and the event resembled Super Bowl media day - only indoors. Of course, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby didn't have a podium. If they had, he would have been surrounded by every media member in the room. As usual, he sat at a podium to answer questions.
Coming up Saturday: An invasion of Penguins

DETROIT – My wife, Shelly, couldn't believe I walked from Joe Louis Arena to the hotel - not in that bad neighborhood. Or at least that's how she remembered it from her last trip 15 years ago.
If the city's riverfront area was a rough place to be back then, that isn't the case anymore. From the beautiful boardwalk that runs along the water to the high-rise buildings on the opposite, the area apparently has received a major, and well-done facelift. The bright, sunny day didn't hurt either.
So at 5 p.m. I walked leisurely along the boardwalk and Steve Yzerman Drive towards Joe Louis Arena, wondering if I could somehow cover Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final from outside the arena. But within minutes, my attention turned to the fans walking past me - many wearing the black and gold of the Penguins. One fan wore a "Friday the 13th" style goaltender's mask.
One Red Wings' fan couldn't believe how many Penguins' fans made the trip to Detroit. But after seeing all of those empty seats at Joe Louis Arena during the Western Conference finals, I expected Penguins' fans to grab any available seats for this weekend's games.
One particular couple caught my eye, as they walked hand-in-hand down the boardwalk. He had a Penguins' T-shirt with black-and-gold face paint. She had a Red Wings' T-shirt with red-and-white face paint. I guess love really is blind.
But no one could miss the number of Penguins' fan in the arena. The "Let's Go Pens' chant were as loud and clear as the boos from Red Wings' fans. No one could miss the fire that shot from the four corners of the scoreboard as the Red Wings skated onto the ice. I felt the heat from the press box. By the way, I felt burn during a great earlier this evening. I simply climbed stairs ... and climbed stairs ... and climbed stairs until I found the auxiliary press box. Mental note - take the elevator next time.
Coming Sunday: Regrouping from my Cup debut

* A marked man?: Detroit winger Tomas Holmstrom had a goal disallowed with 4:40 left in the first period on Saturday because officials ruled he interfered with Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.
Defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom’s wrist shot through Holmstrom’s screen slipped past Fleury. But video replays appeared to show Holmstrom’s stick between Fleury’s legs as the shot reached the crease.
So instead of a 1-0 lead, Holmstrom received a goaltender interference penalty. Holmstrom had a similar goal disallowed in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals against Dallas. Detroit head coach Mike Babcock argued vehemently after the play. He wasn’t happy after the game either.
“You watched the game. Was he in the crease?” he asked a reporter. When asked about Holmstrom’s stick, Babcock said, “That’s the rule? You can’t put your stick in the crease now, is it? Did they change that when I wasn’t watching?” When asked if officials are too focused on Holmstrom, Babcock said, “They’ve got to decide. I just coach the game. I don’t get to referee it.”

* Power vs. power: Babcock matched No. 1 center Henrik Zetterberg’s line and top defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom against Penguins No. 1 center Sidney Crosby’s line in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals Saturday night. Although Babcock won’t disrupt the rhythm of his top three lines, “We always try to match to give ourselves the best opportunity, whether that be at home or on the road.”
Babcock also had the Kris Draper and Valtteri Filppula lines on the Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal lines. “It’s a great challenge, for sure,” Crosby said Saturday of facing Zetterberg and Lidstrom. “But you always face great challenges during the playoffs. And this is a similar situation.”

* No room for Roberts: Penguins winger Gary Roberts (pneumonia) participated in Saturday’s morning skate. But he didn’t dress for Game 1. Roberts has been unable to supplant rookie Tyler Kennedy or veterans Jarkko Ruutu, Georges Laraque and Adam Hall in the lineup, head coach Michel Therrien said. Therrien wants to utilize on Kennedy’s speed and intensity, Ruutu’s strong play, Laraque’s physical presence and Hall’s penalty killing and faceoff skill.
“Those guys did a great job so far,” Therrien said. “And that’s the No. 1 reason why we’re not changing the lineup. It’s not that we don’t want Gary Roberts in our lineup. … I’m not saying that he’s not going to play. That’s the way we feel that we’re going to go tonight because those guys did a great job.”

* No room for Chelios: Detroit defenseman Chris Chelios faced a similar predicament Saturday. He didn’t dress in Game 1 to allow a strong unit to remain intact. He joined right wing Johan Franzen (concussion-like symptoms) on the club’s scratch list. Franzen’s situation remained unchanged Saturday.
“We won last game,” Babcock said of the clinching win against Dallas in the Western Conference finals, “and we’re not changing. We’ve got a lot of respect for his ability and what he brings to the team. But this isn’t about Chelios or about me. It’s about the Detroit Red Wings and winning and that’s it.”

* A physical presence: Speed and offensive skill will be displayed throughout the series. So the Red Wings will focus on slowing down Pittsburgh’s forwards through physical play. “We’re probably not going to get the big hits,” defenseman Brad Stuart said. “Guys like Crosby and Malkin, you’re not going to line them up and run them over. But if you can get confrontational in the corners, in front of the net, I think it will be effective. We’ve got to look to do that early and as often as we can.”
Ruutu said the club will play physical at opportune times. “But you can’t start running around trying to hit them,” he said. “If you do it, you’re going to get picked apart. They have a lot of skill.”

* Just another day: The Penguins completed the morning skate feeling as calm as they have on game days throughout the playoffs. “(It’s) pretty normal. It’s kind of like any game day,” Ruutu said. “We’re ready to go. … The last five days have been pretty boring.”
The club has maintained the same pre-game routine, including practicing at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh before traveling later that same day. “I’m not a big fan (of changing) preparation, the way we do things,” Therrien said. “We’re not going to change because we’re in the Stanley Cup playoff.”
The players have enjoyed the unique activities of the Cup finals, including Friday’s media day, defenseman Ryan Whitney said. “We’re a loose group. We have a bunch of guys that like to have fun,” he said. “We’ve known each other for a long time. We’ve been together through a lot of the tough times. That just makes this that much sweeter.” Yet, they also simply enjoy playing hockey, said defenseman Darryl Sydor, a two-time Cup champion with Dallas in 1999 and Tampa Bay in 2004.
“You’ve just got to focus on playing the game,” he said. “That’s what these kids love. They just go out there and play the game. We’re so young that I don’t know if we understand what adversity is yet.”

* A calming influence: Detroit has 10 players with a combined 23 Cup rings playing in this series. Those players have helped the first-timers remain even-keeled. “If we just look at them and the way they conduct themselves, the jitters go right out the window,” defenseman Brett Lebda said. “That’s why they’re here, and that’s why this group has been so successful.”

* A unique wager: Penguins winger Ryan Malone and Detroit center Mark Hartigan, friends since their days at St. Cloud (Minn.) State University, have considered placing an interesting bet on the series.
“We both have newborns,” Hartigan said. “I said in the summer one of us will have to babysit for the weekend. That would be a pretty good wager.”
Hartigan experienced his first Cup final with Anaheim last season alongside former St. Cloud teammate Joe Motzko. Now he will enjoy facing Malone. “To be with a guy there (in Anaheim) was pretty exciting,” Hartigan said. “Now going against a guy is pretty exciting as well. I hope he doesn’t win.”

* An adult decision: Stuart left Calgary, his hometown club, for Los Angeles before this season. Yet, “it wasn’t (about) money,” said Stuart, a native of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, two hours northwest of Calgary. “I have a stepdaughter who probably couldn’t move up to Canada to live without a lot of problems.” Detroit acquired Stuart from the Kings at the February trade deadline.

* Cleary cleared: A surgeon has cleared Detroit winger Dan Cleary to play without the small shield that has protected his once broken jaw since rejoining the lineup March 25. Cleary suffered the injury Feb. 2 against Toronto. “The concern was if the bones weren’t healed properly, a slight smack could break it again,” said Cleary, who underwent a final x-ray on Thursday. “But the bones have formed real well and they have fused together. Everything looks good.”
The shield caused Cleary to lose sight of the puck, especially in the corners and in front of the net. “For me, that’s a big part of my game,” he said. “You lose it for that second. It’s a game of inches.”

* Hasek staying ready: Detroit goaltender Dominik Hasek hasn’t played since Game 4 of the Western quarterfinals against Nashville. Since then, teammate Chris Osgood has posted a 10-2 record, 1.60 goals-against average, .931 save percentage and one shutout entering Saturday’s game.
“Of course, it’s disappointing to sit on the bench,” said Hasek, the No. 1 goaltender on the Red Wings’ 2002 Cup title team. “It’s the way it is. I practice and try to get ready. If there (are) changes, I’ll be ready. If the team needs me, I’ll be back in the best shape.”

* Around the rink: Detroit was 1-for-6 on the power play, while the Penguins failed on all five chances. … Pittsburgh scratched goaltender Dany Sabourin, Sydor, Roberts and forwards Kris Beech and Jeff Taffe. … Detroit scratched goaltender Jimmy Howard, defensemen Chelios, Kyle Quincey, Derek Meech, Jakub Kindl and Jonathan Ericsson and forwards Justin Abdelkader, Aaron Downey, Mattias Ritola, Hartigan and Franzen.

– Victor Fernandes

DETROIT – Penguins winger Gary Roberts will play in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals on Monday night at Joe Louis Arena. He learned of coach Michel Therrien’s move before today’s practice, a day after watching the Penguins lose 4-0 to Detroit in Game 1. Roberts will replace right wing Georges Laraque in the lineup, Therrien said today.
“I’m excited about the opportunity,” said Roberts, who hasn’t played since Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against Philadelphia. “You wait 19 years to play in the Stanley Cup final, you want to be a part of it.” Roberts, 42, won a Cup championship with Calgary in 1989.
“I’m excited about playing and trying to help the team,” Roberts said. “Bring some emotion, bring some intensity. I’m not going to try and change my game at this point. I know what I need to do to be successful. … I feel like I’m still part of the team and I feel like I can contribute.”

– Victor Fernandes

DETROIT – Detroit winger Johan Franzen (concussion-like symptoms) could play in Game 2, he said after today’s practice. He hasn’t endured headaches, allowing doctors to clear him for full-contact workouts. “It looks good,” said Franzen, who hasn’t played since Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against Dallas. “If I don’t have a setback in practice (Monday morning), we’ll make a decision tomorrow.” Franzen has 12 goals and 15 points in 11 playoff games this spring.

– Victor Fernandes

* Roberts in, Laraque out: Penguins winger Gary Roberts will play in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals on Monday night at Joe Louis Arena. He learned of coach Michel Therrien’s move before today’s practice, a day after watching the Penguins lose 4-0 to Detroit in Game 1. Roberts will replace right wing Georges Laraque in the lineup, Therrien said Sunday.
“I’m excited about the opportunity,” said Roberts, who hasn’t played since Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against Philadelphia. “You wait 19 years to play in the Stanley Cup final, you want to be a part of it.” Roberts, 42, won a Cup championship with Calgary in 1989.
“I’m excited about playing and trying to help the team,” Roberts said. “Bring some emotion, bring some intensity. I’m not going to try and change my game at this point. I know what I need to do to be successful. … I feel like I’m still part of the team and I feel like I can contribute.”

* Franzen back in Game 2?: Detroit winger Johan Franzen (concussion-like symptoms) could play in Game 2, he said after Sunday’s practice. He hasn’t endured headaches, allowing doctors to clear him for full-contact workouts. “It looks good,” said Franzen, who hasn’t played since Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against Dallas. “If I don’t have a setback in practice (Monday morning), we’ll make a decision tomorrow.” Franzen has 12 goals and 15 points in 11 playoff games this spring.

* Standing behind Malkin: Since recording three points and scoring in the winning goal in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, Penguins center Evgeni Malkin has one goal, two points and a minus-2 rating. Yet, Therrien said, “We still have a lot of confidence in him. He’s a world-class player. He needs to stay focused. He needs to stay on top of his game. He needs to skate. He needs to battle. And if he’s doing those things, good things can happen to him.”
Therrien spoke with Malkin about his recent play before Sunday’s practice. As usual, Therrien maintained a positive approach with him. “With a player like this, I believe you’ve got to stay positive with him. He feeds (off) positive (words).” Therrien expects Malkin to respond as well as he did during captain Sidney Crosby’s nearly two-month absence with an injured ankle.
“I want him to be a leader,” Therrien said. “We need him. He’s a big part of our success.”

* Rising salary cap: The NHL set an attendance record (21 million fans) and total revenue record (more than $2.5 billion) this season, commissioner Gary Bettman said in his annual pre-Cup final address Saturday night. Given the increase in revenue, the $50.3 million salary cap likely will increase for the 2008-09 season. Yet, Bettman remained uncertain about the 5 percent escalator in the league’s current collective bargaining agreement with the NHL Players Association.
“If you go with the 5 percent,” he said, “it’s more likely that there’s a bigger escrow that gets returned to us at the end of the year. This is a decision that the Players Association has to make. At the end of the day, no matter what they do, we don’t pay out more than the 57 percent, which is what I assume it will be, because we’ll be at $2.7 billion by next year. It’s really the Players Association’s decision, and I’ll respect whatever view they have. I’m kind of ambivalent on the point.”
However, Bettman isn’t concerned that small market clubs will suffer because of the cap increase.
“Revenues are going up for virtually everybody,” he said. “Revenue sharing is intended to help bridge that gap. And as revenues go up, the amount of revenue sharing goes up. The system in that regard is working the way we had anticipated it would. … So I’m not concerned. It may be over time we have to keep looking at the numbers to see if the formulas are working exactly right. But I think it should be OK.”

* Expansion a no-go: Meanwhile, Bettman said Las Vegas, Kansas City, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Seattle remain interested in possible expansion teams. “I talk to anybody on the phone and I invite anybody into my office,” he said. “But as I sit here today, I’m not in a position to say that we’re going to engage in a formal expansion right now or at any time. (But) that could change at any point.”

* Scheduling change: Starting with the 2008-09 season, all 30 teams will play at least once, either home or on the road, in the regular season. League officials will implement an 18-game inter-conference schedule, up from 10 games this season. For example, that guarantees one game between the Penguins and Red Wings. Those teams are meeting for the first time this season in the Cup finals.
“It was a move to create more inter-conference play,” Bettman said, “because … a substantial number of fans and clubs were vocal about wanting to move in that direction. We thought that was a good step in that direction.” Three of the inter-conference series will be home-and-home series.

* Awaiting word: Detroit head coach Mike Babcock planned to speak with NHL officials today about left wing Tomas Holmstrom’s disallowed goal on Saturday. “I assure at that time we’ll get some of sort and explanation,” Babcock said. Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood said officials aren’t over-protecting goaltenders against forwards setting screens in front of the net. Yet, he said, “I’d like the rule to be more defined. He pointed to Holmstrom’s disallowed goal in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals against Dallas, which didn’t result in a goaltender interference penalty. Holmstrom was penalized on Saturday.

* Speaking of Osgood: The Red Wings placed him on waivers after the 2000-01 season. “It was time to leave. I had been here 10 years,” he said. “But I knew I’d be back. Osgood, who has known general manager Ken Holland since Osgood was 14 years old, re-signed with the club before the 2005-06 season.

* Hockey meets football: Osgood calls Detroit defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom the Peyton Manning of the NHL. Osgood compares Lidstrom to the Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback because “he always gets the puck behind the net, always sees the ice and never makes a bad pass.”
* A better start: Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury wants to start Game 2 better than he began Game 1. Fleury stumbled as he stepped onto the ice before that game. I’ll be ready for next game,” he said. “I’ll make sure I don’t fall again.”

* A great following: Crosby was impressed with the number of fans that traveled from Pittsburgh for Saturday’s game. “We were pretty surprised,” he said. “It’s great to have a big turnout like that, especially on the road. We’ve been lucky enough to play in some places that have been close to Pittsburgh. To have them there, it certainly helps.”

– Victor Fernandes

DETROIT – Right wing Johan Franzen (concussion-like symptoms) will rejoin Detroit’s lineup for Game 2 tonight at Joe Louis Arena. But earlier today, confusion arose regarding his availability. After the morning skate, head coach Mike Babcock initially said he was unsure about Franzen’s status. Then while speaking with the media, he was handed a note from Piet Van Zant, the club’s athletic therapist, stating Franzen wouldn’t play. Yet a short time later, Babcock told a reporter Franzen will play. Franzen didn’t speak to the media after the workout. But on Sunday, Franzen said a decision would be made after the morning skate. He also said, “It looks good.”

– Victor Fernandes

DETROIT – All was quiet as I walked along the riverfront's boardwalk towards Joe Louis Arena Sunday morning. But soon enough, it seemed I ventured into a completely different world.
French, Russian, Czech, other languages I couldn't identify – the world revolved around the Stanley Cup finals. With so many nationalities represented on the Penguins and Red Wings, it's no surprise media from throughout North America and Europe are in attendance. But it still opens my eyes. Soccer may be the world's sport, but not for the next two weeks.
Even on an off day, there's a little international flavor for everyone. And even though I understand little of the questions being asked and the answers being given, I still listen. Given the parity in the NHL, who knows when I can experience this unique stage again?
Coming up next: An exciting, yet tiring weekend ends

* Franzen returns: Right wing Johan Franzen (concussion-like symptoms) rejoined Detroit’s lineup for Game 2 Monday night. But earlier in the day, confusion arose regarding his availability. After the morning skate, head coach Mike Babcock initially said he was unsure about Franzen’s status. Then while speaking with the media, he was handed a note from Piet Van Zant, the club’s athletic therapist, stating Franzen wouldn’t play. Yet a short time later, Babcock told a reporter Franzen would play.
Franzen didn’t speak to the media after the workout at Joe Louis Arena. But on Sunday, Franzen said a decision would be made after the morning skate. He also said, “It looks good.”
Right wing Darren McCarty looks forward to having Franzen back. “We’ve seen him come into his own (this season),” McCarty said. “It’s just another weapon to the arsenal.” But the Penguins weren’t fazed.
“There’s no difference for us,” left wing Jarkko Ruutu said after morning skate. “Whoever they have out there is not going to make a difference in the way we play.” Head coach Michel Therrien pointed to his team’s earlier series against Ottawa and Philadelphia. High-scoring forward Daniel Alfredsson and top defenseman Kimmo Timonen returned from injuries for the Senators and Flyers, respectively.
Therrien also said Franzen could have a difficult time getting acclimated to the pace and intensity of the series. “It’s going to be tough to be ready to play playoff hockey – all the intensity, all the hitting,” Therrien said. “We’re not going to give him a free pass.”

* Early wake-up call: The Penguins awakened at 1:30 a.m. Monday morning to the sound of the fire alarm in their hotel. But apparently, they were unconcerned. Some chatted in the hallway outside their rooms. Ruutu put a pillow over his head and fell asleep. “It’s happened a couple of times to me,” he said. “It’s nothing new. It’s not going to make a difference for us.”
Forward Maxime Talbot recalled being awakened by a hotel fire alarm at 3 a.m. the night before his Gatineau club (QMJHL) faced host Kelowna (WHL) in the 2004 Memorial Cup final. When asked if the Red Wings were behind the alarm, Talbot said with a grin, “If that’s what they need to beat us, whatever.”

* Putting it behind them: Babcock spoke with league officials Monday about left wing Tomas Holmstrom’s disallowed goal in Game 1 Saturday night. Afterwards, he put the matter behind him.
“That’s over with,” Babcock said. “We’re fortunate and they’re fortunate that it didn’t have an impact on the game. Now it’s Game 2. We have to get (prepared).”

* Clear-ly successful: Detroit winger Dan Cleary endured an up-and-down, roundabout road to the Red Wings and the Stanley Cup finals. He developed into a legitimate scorer with Belleville (OHL) from 1994-97, including a 53 goal, 115-point season in 1995-96. Chicago chose him 13th overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. But he played for three clubs (Chicago, Edmonton and Phoenix) and two AHL teams (Portland and Hamilton) before heading to Mora, Sweden, for the 2004-05 season, which was cancelled by the lockout. Now, he has become a key role player in his three-year stint with the Red Wings.
“It just never happened for him (early in his career), for whatever reason,” Babcock said of Cleary. “He’s earned the right to feel good about himself.”

* Keeping his pearly whites: Detroit center Kris Draper continues to wear braces to protect teeth that were damaged on his goal in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals against Dallas. The puck deflected off his chin and into the net. He will need more x-rays, likely before the team travels to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. “But so far, so good,” he said. (The braces are) holding everything in place. I’ve been drinking a lot of milk the last few weeks. Hopefully they’ll stay in.”

* Another good-luck charm?: McCarty appreciates his children’s pictures and inspirational words that hang in the back of his locker stall. But one in particular, a large octopus hanging in the team’s dressing room, has special meaning. His daughter’s kindergarten class built it. In the same classroom six years ago, another daughter’s class built an octopus that McCarty brought to the rink. The Red Wings won the 2002 Stanley Cup championship that season.

“Superstition or whatever, I look at it as a good omen,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about, everyone getting involved. Everybody feels a part of it. That’s why (the Cup finals) are so great, because you get to share it with your family and friends the fans.”

* A physical presence: Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall has developed a reputation this season as a hard hitter, especially against unsuspecting forwards. His big hit on Penguins winger Ryan Malone early in Game 1 set the stage for a hard-hitting series. He knocked Ruutu to the ice in the same spot at the Penguins’ blue line 3:30 into Game 2. “It’s always been there, maybe more now than before,” Kronwall said, referring to past injuries. “You have a chance to step up (and make the hit). The more experience you get, the more comfortable you feel out there.” After the game, Therrien accused Kronwall of "occasionally" leaving his feet on those hits.

* By the numbers: The Penguins have been shut out in consecutive playoff games for the first time since the 2001 conference finals against New Jersey. … The Red Wings have outscored the opposition 25-8 in the first period during the playoffs.

* Around the rink: Pittsburgh scratched goaltender Dany Sabourin, defenseman Darryl Sydor and forwards Georges Laraque, Kris Beech and Jeff Taffe. Left wing Gary Roberts replaced Laraque in the lineup. …. Franzen replaced right wing McCarty in the lineup. Detroit also scratched goaltender Jimmy Howard, defensemen Chris Chelios, Kyle Quincey, Derek Meech, Jakub Kindl and Jonathan Ericsson and forwards Justin Abdelkader, Aaron Downey, Mattias Ritola and Mark Hartigan.

– Victor Fernandes

PITTSBURGH – Washington’s Alex Ovechkin received the Art Ross Trophy and Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s goals and scoring champion on Wednesday. The presentation headlined the NHL Awards Luncheon at the Omni William Penn Hotel’s Grand Ballroom.
Ovechkin, 22, had 65 goals – a league record for left wingers – and 112 points this season. Meanwhile, Detroit’s Chris Osgood, 35, and Dominik Hasek, 43, earned the William M. Jennings Trophy for teaming to allow a league-best 184 goals in 82 games. General manager Ken Holland and goaltending coach Jim Bedard accepted on their behalf, since both players were taking a pre-game nap at the team hotel.
“They have some work to do tonight,” Bedard said. “But one thing they wanted me to stress was they think of this as a team trophy. They don’t think of this as an individual trophy.”
The league also handed out awards for off-ice exploits. Toronto’s Mats Sundin, 37, received the Mark Messier Leadership Award for exemplifying leadership qualities on and off the ice. Messier, widely considered the best leaders in NHL history, presented the award.
“This award means more to me,” Sundin said. “The award is towards not only leadership on the ice, but off the ice in the community. The community … supports the hockey team through good and bad. That’s why we have to give back to the community, too.”
Tampa Bay’s Vincent Lecavalier, 28, and Vancouver’s Trevor Linden, 38, were co-recipients of the 10th annual NHL Foundation Award, which honors players for their commitment, perseverance and teamwork.
The Vincent Lecavalier Foundation, established in 2003, supports children’s charities in the United States and Canada. In Oct. 2007, he announced a $3 million commitment to build the Vincent Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorder Center at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla. When it opens in 2009, it will be one of the state’s largest pediatric cancer centers.
The Trevor Linden Foundation, established in 1990, has provided more than $650,000 to the Canadian Camp GoodTimes, a camp for children and families dealing with cancer. The Linden-led Canuck For Kids Fund raised more than $25 million this season. “Twenty years ago, when I came to the league, the Vancouver Canuck … family showed me being responsible to the people in your community is very important.” The league will present its other major regular-season awards at the NHL Awards Show on June 12 at Elgin Theater in Toronto, Ontario.

NHL award winners
Name (club) Award
Alex Ovechkin (Washington) Art Ross Trophy/Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy
(NHL scoring/goals champion)
Chris Osgood (Detroit) William M. Jennings Trophy
Dominik Hasek (Detroit) (goaltending tandem allowing the fewest goals in a season)
Mats Sundin (Toronto) Mark Messier Leadership Award
(best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice)
Vincent Lecavalier (Tampa Bay) 10th annual NHL Foundation Award
Trevor Linden (Vancouver) (best applies commitment, perseverance and teamwork)

PITTSBURGH – Veteran defenseman Darryl Sydor will make his 2008 playoff debut for the Penguins in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals tonight at Mellon Arena. Head coach Michel Therrien inserted Sydor, 36, in place of rookie defenseman Kris Letang, 21. Therrien also could make line changes for the second straight game. Meanwhile, Sydor said after the morning skate that he was ready to play.
“I always wondered (if I would play),” said Sydor, a two-time Cup champion with Dallas (1999) and Tampa Bay (2004). “But at the end of the day, I still know I can play this game and play it at a high level. … Every day you’re not sure what’s going to happen. I prepared myself in case anything happened.”

– Victor Fernandes

The large photo of an elated Mark Messier lifting the Stanley Cup after Game 7 of the 1994 final brought back memories for this lifelong New York Rangers' fan. But it was the image in front of me that produced chills - the real-life Messier. He was at the Omni William Penn Hotel's Grand Ballroom for the NHL Awards luncheon. This time, he wasn't being honored. He was presenting awards - first the Mark Messier Leadership Award to Toronto's Mats Sundin, then the Art Ross and Maurice "Rocket" Richard trophies to Washington's Alex Ovechkin.
Messier epitomizes the sport of hockey - great player meets great leader. I'll always remember Messier predicting victory before Game 6 of the 1994 Eastern Conference finals against New Jersey - and then scoring three third-period goals to win the game.
Seeing honorees like Ovechkin, Sundin, Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier and Vancouver's Trevor Linden was special, too - especially Lecavalier and Linden. The list of off-ice accomplishment and charitable work in their respective communities was, to say the least, impressive.
The hotel wasn't shabby either. It resembles an elegant, old theater - with its fine-crafted, gold railings and dark red, plush drapes. OK, even the NHL's nightly rate of $189 was too rich for my blood. But hey, I ate for free.
But my favorite guest of honor on Wednesday - a police dog. This dog spent several minutes attempting to sniff out any unwelcome objects around the media work area on the Mellon Arena's bottom floor. While watching the dog work, a thought crossed my mind.
If I didn't write a game story tonight, would my editors accept the excuse that the dog ate my homework?

* Sydor in, Letang out: Veteran defenseman Darryl Sydor made his 2008 playoff debut in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals Wednesday night at Mellon Arena. Head coach Michel Therrien inserted Sydor, 36, in place of rookie defenseman Kris Letang, 21. Therrien also considered making line changes for the second straight game. Meanwhile, Sydor said after the morning skate that he was ready to play.
“I always wondered (if I would play),” said Sydor, a two-time Cup champion with Dallas (1999) and Tampa Bay (2004). “But at the end of the day, I still know I can play this game and play it at a high level. … Every day you’re not sure what’s going to happen. I prepared myself in case anything happened.”

* Controversy – Day 3: NHL officials spoke with the Penguins and Red Wings on Wednesday. But the hot topic was blows to the head, likely a direct result of Penguins winger Gary Roberts’ punch to winger Johan Franzen’s face in Game 2 Monday. Detroit head coach Mike Babcock didn’t recall discussing the series’ original hot topic – the Penguins’ continued claims that defenders are obstructing their forwards and goaltender Chris Osgood dives after initiating contact with forwards to draw penalties.
But Therrien said the Penguins spoke with the league about Osgood. “Hopefully they’re going to let us play around the net, because we need to score some goals,” Therrien said.
Penguins winger Ryan Malone credited Detroit’s defense for their play – in a way. “Those guys are all veterans,” he said. “They’ve been around so they know all those little sneaky plays. That’s just experience.” Yet, the Red Wings understand why the Penguins have made those comments.
“We know they’re frustrated and they’re looking for something to say,” defenseman Brett Lebda said after morning skate. “They’re trying to get their team going any way they can. If that’s the way need to do it, then that’s their team and that’s their prerogative.”
Lebda said the team’s plan to clog the middle, force the puck outside and slowing down their speedy forwards has been its plan all season. “Teams know we’re very tight defensively,” Lebda said. “If they want to call it obstruction, they can. The refs aren’t seeing it that way.”

* Bittersweet feeling: Former Penguin Colby Armstrong was at Mellon Arena Wednesday. Armstrong, who was traded to Atlanta along with Erik Christensen in the Marian Hossa deal in February, watched the Penguins participate in morning skate from a spot at the east end of the arena.
“Yeah, definitely very strange,” he said. “I thought it would be pretty weird coming back and doing this. But at the same time, it’s nice to see everyone. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen all those guys.”

* Last line of defense: As the home team on Wednesday, the Penguins enjoyed the game’s final line change for the first time in the series. Defenseman Rob Scuderi didn’t consider that “the biggest thing in a hockey game.” But any advantage is a good advantage, he said.
“We’ll be able to match up differently if the coaches have something in mind,” he said earlier in the day. “Maybe we can take a slight advantage, maybe give us an edge that can put us over the top.”

* Game 3 scratches: The Penguins scratched goaltender Dany Sabourin, Letang and forwards Georges Laraque, Kris Beech and Jeff Taffe. … Detroit scratched goaltender Jimmy Howard, defensemen Chris Chelios, Kyle Quincey, Derek Meech, Jakub Kindl and Jonathan Ericsson and forwards Darren McCarty, Justin Abdelkader, Aaron Downey, Mattias Ritola and Mark Hartigan . …

* Around the rink: Hockey Hall of Famer Scotty Bowman, who holds the NHL record for most coaching wins, dropped the ceremonial first puck. He won nine Stanley Cups, including titles with Detroit and Pittsburgh. ... Versus earned a 1.9 national rating and 2,537,560 viewers for Game 2 Monday, making it the most watched program in the cable network’s history. It replaced Game 1, which received a 1.8 rating and 2,351,582 viewers. In contrast, Games 1 and 2 of the 2007 Cup final netted Versus 0.6 and 0.9 ratings, respectively. … The club has 65 straight sellouts. … The Penguins handed out free white T-shirts to fans to create a “whiteout effect” for Game 3. The club plans the same for Game 4 Saturday night.

– Victor Fernandes

* Linden, Sundin retiring?: Vancouver’s Trevor Linden, 38, and Toronto’s Mats Sundin, 37, become free agents on July 1. But they may not play for any club – ever again. Both are still considering their plan for the 2008-09 season. “The biggest decision for me, that I have right now,” Sundin said, “is to make sure that I feel that I’m physically and mentally ready to train for another season to continue my career.”
Sundin also will wait to see what Maple Leafs officials choose to do. “It’s going to affect my decision in the future,” he said. Meanwhile, Linden said, “I’m taking it all in right now, just kind of weighing everything out.” Canucks officials haven’t placed a deadline on Linden to make a decision.
Linden earned $600,000 this season, while Sundin earned $5.5 million, according to the USA Today.

* An impact veteran: Veteran winger Gary Roberts’ hard work, toughness and experience sparked the Penguins to their Game 3 win Wednesday night. Head coach Michel Therrien pointed to his pressure on Detroit’s defense, which led to linemate Adam Hall’s winning goal in the third period.
“I’m glad I have Gary in my lineup and not playing against him,” Therrien said. “He’s been there. He’s got experience. The young guys rely on him a lot. … He’s a good leader, always has a good attitude regarding his team. So you need those types of players.”

* Learning from a legend: Detroit head coach Mike Babcock spends much time talking with Hall of Famer Scotty Bowman, who won nine Stanley Cup titles, including with the Red Wings and Penguins.
“We talk about many, many things,” Babcock said – children, Florida weather, his top Penguins’ teams.
They also coaching style and strategies. “He’s good to have as a friend,” Babcock said of Bowman, who dropped the ceremonial first puck before Game 3. Apparently, Bowman’s coaching abilities have rubbed off on Babcock. Defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom said both coaches are similar in some ways.
“They want to be intense, don’t let the group be too loose at times, and at other times have to get on them a little bit,” Lidstrom said. “And knowing who to push and who to leave alone a little bit.”

* Banged-up Holmstrom: Detroit winger Tomas Holmstrom “didn’t feel too good” after Game 3, the result of being upended by Penguins defenseman Hal Gill. “The good thing is we have (Thursday) to look at it and see how he is (today), and then we’ll move ahead from there.”

– Victor Fernandes

* Holmstrom update: Detroit Tomas Holmstrom (hamstring) didn’t participate in Friday’s practice at Mellon Arena. Instead, he enjoyed the day off and a ride on the stationary bike. “We’ll skate (in today’s morning workout) and see how it feels,” Holmstrom said. “(Today) will be a big day for me.”
Holmstrom was injured while getting tangled up with Penguins defenseman Hal Gill in front of Pittsburgh’s net late in Game 3 on Wednesday. If tonight’s Game 4 was played on Friday, Holmstrom said, he could have played. Meanwhile, head coach Mike Babcock expects Holmstrom to play.
“He’s a tough guy,” Babcock said. Yet, Holmstrom will decide if he can play, Babcock said.
Facing the Red Wings’ offense without Holmstrom would make life a bit easier, Gill said. “He’s a guy that’s tough to move,” Gill said. “He drew some penalties.”

* An easy day off: The Penguins and Red Wings enjoyed a leisurely day off on Thursday, but in different ways. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby slept most of the day. “Nothing exciting, trust me,” he said. “I laid around. When you get a chance to relax, you’ve got to take it.”
Meanwhile, the Red Wings traveled to Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, located 70 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Some played golf. Others rode on mini-Hummers. Five two-man teams competed in a miniature golf tournament. Forward Kris Draper and goaltender Chris Osgood won the event.
“Ozzie once again really elevated his game,” Draper said with a smile. Of course, there was money at stake, Draper said. “You’re not going to play mini-golf without money,” he said. “I play for money with my kids.” The Red Wings originally considered returning to Detroit after Game 3 on Wednesday.

* Surprisingly good move: In January, Penguins winger Pascal Dupuis was looking forward to discussions on a long-term contract with Atlanta and the birth of his third child. A month later, the Thrashers traded him and winger Marian Hossa to Pittsburgh for forwards Colby Armstrong and Erik Christensen. Dupuis’ wife, Carole-Lyne, couldn’t travel to Pittsburgh because she was 8 months pregnant. “I was surprised,” Dupuis said of the trade. “I did not expect. I obviously didn’t ask for it.”
But three months later, life is good for the Dupuis family and for his hockey career. “It’s the best thing that could have happened to me,” he said. “I’ve got a great wife. She’s making it easy on me.”

* A cool experience: According to published reports, the NHL could hold the 2009 NHL Winter Classic in Chicago at Wrigley Field, home of Major League Baseball’s Chicago Cubs. Detroit defenseman Brett Lebda believes that could be “cool.” Lebda is a native of Buffalo Grove, Ill, a northwest Chicago suburb.
He learned about the possible game through friends that work for a Chicago-based marketing firm that Lebda said could be handling the game. “To be able to be a part of the game would be great,” he said.

– Victor Fernandes

PITTSBURGH – Detroit winger Tomas Holmstrom (hamstring) participated in the morning skate today. But he remains a game-time decision for tonight's Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Penguins at Mellon Arena.
"It felt pretty good," Holmstrom said. "We're still talking about it. We're going to try to make the right decision." Holmstrom suffered the injury late in Game 3 on Wednesday during an awkward collision with Penguins defenseman Hal Gill. Although Holmstrom didn't practice Friday, he believed he could play if the game had been held that night. Holmstrom said he will attempt to wrap the leg differently in hopes that will allow him to play.
Head coach Mike Babcock said Holmstrom participated in every drill today. "He felt pretty good," Babcock said. "He's going to come back for the game tonight (and) see how he feels. If he's ready to go, he's playing. If not, obviously he'll be scratched. If Holmstrom can't play, Dan Cleary likely would take Holmstrom's spot in front of the Penguins' net on offense.
But for now, a frustrated Holmstrom waits. "It's terrible. It's the best time of the year. You want to be out there," he said. "But you want to make the best decision."

– Victor Fernandes

PITTSBURGH – Detroit winger Tomas Holmstrom (hamstring) was scratched from the lineup prior to tonight's Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, although he skated with the team in the morning skate and said, "It felt pretty good."
Right wing Dan Cleary is expected to take Holmstrom's spot in front of the Penguins' net on offense. Right wing Darren McCarty took Holmstrom's spot in the lineup.
Holmstrom suffered the injury late in Game 3 on Wednesday during an awkward collision with Penguins defenseman Hal Gill. Although Holmstrom didn't practice Friday, he believed he could play if the game had been held that night. Holmstrom said he will attempt to wrap the leg differently in hopes that will allow him to play.
Head coach Mike Babcock said Holmstrom participated in every drill today. "He felt pretty good," Babcock said. "He's going to come back for the game tonight (and) see how he feels. If he's ready to go, he's playing. If not, obviously he'll be scratched.
"It's terrible. It's the best time of the year. You want to be out there," Holmstrom said after the morning skate. "But you want to make the best decision."

– Victor Fernandes