By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Three stars
BRETT CLARK: The Lightning defenseman's first-period goal, on a backhand after an end-to-end rush, was the second of two Tampa Bay goals in 19 seconds. He also had an assist.
VINNY LECAVALIER: The Lightning center had a solid all-around game. He had six shots, was great on faceoffs and drew a roughing penalty on the Bruins' Johnny Boychuk after the defenseman hit Simon Gagne in the third, setting up a power play that produced Tampa Bay's fourth goal.
VICTOR HEDMAN: The Lightning defenseman was very steady, making several good plays on poke checks to thwart Bruins chances.
Quote to note
"He's a pressure guy. He's lived with it in Team Canada. He's lived it in Philly. He's been in pressure situations in the NHL so many years, and he's come up with big goals. He's one of those guys that's a clutch player. Certainly he will be playing a huge part in our team." — Lightning coach Guy Boucher, on LW Simon Gagne returning to the lineup Saturday
Number of the day
58 Playoff goals for Bruins and former Lightning W Mark Recchi, tied with Mike Modano for most among active players
The series Lightning leads 1-0
Game 1, Lightning 5, Bruins 2: Three goals in 1:25 of the first spark the Lightning.
Tuesday: at Boston, 8, Versus
Thursday: at Tampa Bay, 8, Versus
May 21: at Tampa Bay, 1:30, Ch. 8
May 23: at Boston, 8, Versus *
May 25: at Tampa Bay, 8, Versus *
May 27: at Boston, 8, Versus *
Radio: 970-AM except May 21, which is 620-AM
* If necessary
School daze
Loyalties are split, in a fun way, at the Meadowbrook School in Weston, Mass., where Joshua Vinik, 10, son of Lightning owner Jeff Vinik (far left), and Katryna Julien, 6, daughter of Bruins coach Claude Julien attend classes. Jeff Vinik said he sent 350 T-shirts to the school last week, "and I have a picture of my 10-year-old and his class all wearing Lightning shirts." Claude Julien countered Friday with an appearance by the Bruins mascot, Blades, and a rally-towel giveaway. "We had a fine arts thing there Thursday night where the kids show their art," Vinik said. "It was the first time I met Claude. We shook hands and said hello." Asked if his Lightning loyalties have compromised any friendships, Vinik, also a minority owner of the Red Sox, said no. "A lot of people I know, they switched over to Lightning fans. The other ones," he said, laughing, "aren't friends anymore."
Tooth talk
Lightning C Nate Thompson joked he has a true hockey player's face after getting a front tooth knocked out against the Capitals in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal. Thompson said he has had teeth chipped before but had never lost one until Washington F Nicklas Backstrom inadvertently hit him with his stick blade on the follow through of a shot. "Just an accident," Thompson said, adding that it was painful but part of the game. "You've got to embrace it," he said, smiling. "You have to wear it."