By Damian Cristodero and Joe Smith, Times Staff Writers
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Meal time
Lightning players had a team dinner planned for Thursday night at Morton's steakhouse. D Randy Jones said it would be good for camaraderie and to "lighten the mood. … In playoff time, it's a special time, and you just want to stick with each other, especially off the ice. As for who would pick up the check, Jones had an idea. "I think we should maybe pull (a name) out of the hat and see how it goes," he joked.
Number of the day
44 Lightning hits in Game 1, a season high.
Crowd control
Penguins players were impressed with the frenzied atmosphere in Wednesday's Game 1, the first playoff game at the Consol Energy Center. A sellout crowd of 18,390 produced noise levels favorable to those of the team's former home, Mellon Arena, also known as the Igloo, which closed last year. "(Consol) was louder," C Max Talbot said. "I think because it was more of a tight building, it was louder. Mellon was so high — obviously the atmosphere at Mellon was great, too, but (Wednesday) night it was fun to see what it was about and our fans can be loud." Said G Marc-Andre Fleury: "All game long, from the start, they were really loud. It's something we fought for all year long, to get home-ice advantage. And we showed (Wednesday) why it's so important to get it."
Boucher insight
Lightning coach Guy Boucher had this take on the Penguins' defensemen Thursday: "They're very quick on the transition of the puck. They're very quick to break out. So, you think you have them on the forecheck, but they want to be pressed. They want to draw you to make that quick pass, and they're very good in traffic areas to make that first pass. You either have to press them really hard or back off. If you're stuck in between, it ain't going to work for you."
The series
Game 1, Penguins 3, Lightning 0: Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury wows in getting his fifth postseason shutout.
Tonight: at Pittsburgh, 7, Sun Sports
Monday: at Tampa Bay, 7:30, Sun Sports
Wednesday: at Tampa Bay, 7, Sun Sports
April 23: at Pittsburgh, TBA * #
April 25: at Tampa Bay, TBA * #
April 27: at Pittsburgh, TBA * #
* If necessary # Sun Sports or FSN
Games 2, 3, 4 and 7 on 970-AM Games 5 and 6 on 620-AM
Tickets
$30-$220. Available at the St. Pete Times Forum box office and via Ticketmaster: ticketmaster.com, outlets, toll-free 1-800-745-3000.
Damian Cristodero and Joe Smith, Times Staff Writers
Quote to note
"The nets were in the same place, and the rules were the same. It's hockey. But it's hockey with a lot more intensity.
— Lightning LW Sean Bergenheim, on his first NHL playoff game