Lost Opportunity Sticks in Sandstrom’s Craw

Philadelphia Flyer winger Tomas Sandstrom’s first trip to the finals, with the Kings in 1993, was memorable--for the wrong reasons.

“It would be nice to win this time,” he said.

They might have won that time but for Marty McSorley’s illegal stick.

The Kings won the opener and were leading in Game 2 when the Montreal Canadiens called for a measurement of McSorley’s stick, and it was found to have an illegal curve. Montreal tied the score on the ensuing penalty and won in overtime, the first of four consecutive victories.

“You always think back about it, but there’s nothing you can do,” Sandstrom said. “But it should never have happened in that situation. It was too bad. We could have been up, 2-0, going home and instead, we lost. . . . I’m lucky to get another chance.”

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Detroit Coach Scotty Bowman, never known as a great friend of reporters, asked an unusual favor of them Friday.

“Anybody here know anybody in the league or anywhere that can get any tickets?” he said. “I’ve been in the league now 30 years and this is the most stressful time I’ve ever experienced. . . . Our players can buy two tickets but we used to get more to buy. We couldn’t trade tickets with Philadelphia because they just didn’t have any. I’m making a plea because it’s pretty tough when your friends and your family can’t come to the Stanley Cup final. I’m [ticked] off.”

He said the Red Wings were allotted only 20 tickets for their owners, scouts and other personnel, far fewer than they’ve had access to in previous years.

Bowman got no help from the media, because the reporters didn’t have any tickets, either.