Coach: Lightning Must Be Aggressive

Tampa Bay Lightning players made a promise to themselves for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Philadelphia Flyers: Play to win, instead of not to lose.

“No matter what happens, we have to do what we do and do it in an aggressive manner and see where we are at the end of the day,” Lightning Coach John Tortorella said Friday.

“That word desperation is always thrown around. I just think it’s a matter of someone with a little bit more willingness at certain times in a game, to put your team in a situation for a big play ... It’s a mental toughness and a willingness to be that guy.”

The Lightning lacked that urgency Thursday night in Philadelphia when the Flyers rallied for a 5-4 overtime victory that evened the series. Game 7 is tonight in Tampa, Fla., and the Lightning players vow not to make the same mistake.

“We’ve got to learn. The road to the Stanley Cup is not always smooth,” Lightning defenseman Darryl Sydor said.

The winner advances to the Stanley Cup finals to face the Calgary Flames.

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Pittsburgh Penguin assistant Lorne Molleken resigned to become coach and general manager of the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League.

From Associated Press

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Flyers in the Seventh

Philadelphia will play in its 12th Game 7 tonight when it takes on Tampa Bay, which has never played in a seventh game of a Stanley Cup playoff series. A look at the Flyers’ previous 11 Game 7s (* overtime):

*--* Year Round Opponent Result 1968 Quarterfinal St. Louis L 3-1 1974 Semifinal NY Rangers W 4-3 1975 Semifinal NY Islanders W 4-1 1976 Quarterfinal Toronto W 7-3 1981 Quarterfinal Calgary L 4-1 1987 Div. final NY Islanders W 5-1 1987 Cup final Edmonton L 3-1 1988 Div. semifinal Washington *L 5-4 1989 Div. final Pittsburgh W 4-1 2000 Conf. final New Jersey L 2-1 2003 Conf. quarterfinal Toronto W 6-1

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