It’s a First: Lightning in Finals

Tampa Bay captain Dave Andreychuk is finally headed to the Stanley Cup finals after 22 seasons in the NHL.

“Obviously you dream about this day and for it to happen, and you don’t know how you’re going to feel,” the 40-year-old Andreychuk said Saturday night. “I don’t really feel relief. I feel excitement more than anything else.”

The Lightning defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 2-1, in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, sending Tampa Bay into the Cup finals against the Calgary Flames, who won the Western Conference title in six games over the San Jose Sharks.

Game 1 of the best-of-seven series will be Tuesday night in Tampa.

“I feel excitement for what’s happened to our club, the improvements we’ve made in the last three years, and everybody in that locker room should be pretty proud of the situation we’re in,” Andreychuk said.

“Our job is not done yet. We feel that this is another step. We have to be focused. Obviously, we can enjoy this tonight, but then we’ve got to get back to work.”

Andreychuk has played more regular-season games (1,597) than any other active player without appearing in the Cup finals.

Two other teams he played with -- Toronto in 1993 and Colorado in 2000 -- lost Game 7 of the conference finals.

“It’s great to finally see him get a chance at the Cup,” said forward Fredrik Modin, who scored one of Tampa Bay’s goals.

“But at the same time, we are all pretty excited for ourselves too.”

Ruslan Fedotenko also scored for Tampa Bay, and Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 22 shots as the Lightning rebounded from a disappointing loss in Game 6.

The Flyers were denied their first trip to the finals since 1997, but didn’t go down without a fight after rallying to tie Game 6 late in regulation and winning it in overtime.

Keith Primeau and Simon Gagne saved Philadelphia’s season on Thursday, and goalie Robert Esche kept Game 7 from getting out of hand.

“Right now, I’m just disappointed for the players,” Philadelphia Coach Ken Hitchcock said.

“Back in January and February we weren’t a very good hockey club against Tampa, and now we got to this stage.”

Fedotenko’s deflection on the power play gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead late in the first period.

Modin scored 4:57 into the second to make it 2-0 and whip a sellout crowd of 22,117 into a frenzy.

Kim Johnsson’s goal reduced Philadelphia’s deficit to 2-1 midway through the second period, and Esche stopped 17 shots in the period to keep the Flyers in the game.

Philadelphia fell behind, 1-0, when Fedotenko scored on Tampa Bay’s first chance with a man advantage.

The goal, with 3:14 left in the period, came with Primeau in the penalty box for high-sticking. Brad Richards’ slap shot from the right point hit Martin St. Louis and deflected off Fedotenko’s stick past Esche, who was screened.

The Flyers finished the series one for 25 on the power play.