By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Underappreciated
Fredrik Modin, 36, retired Thursday. The high point of his career was 1999-2006, when he had 116 goals and 229 point in 363 games for the Lightning, for which he was an alternate captain, part of a line with C Brad Richards and Marty St. Louis, and a force on defense. Despite that, Modin, right, a member of the 2004 Stanley Cup team, never got the recognition he deserved from the Tampa Bay area media or fans. Perhaps it was his quiet demeanor or that he was overshadowed by big-name talent. Whatever the reason, Modin was one of the most underrated players in franchise history. "For us he wasn't underrated," Lightning C Vinny Lecavalier said. "He was a huge part of our team. He was a great leader and great for us."
Roped off
With so many reporters covering the East final, the Lightning is serious no one even inadvertently steps on its team logo on the floor of the St. Pete Times Forum locker room. It's so serious, it barricaded the logo behind several metal poles connected by those nylon strips that funnel you toward the tellers at your bank. "We're just trying to properly respect the precedent set down by our Stanley Cup champion team of 2004," Lightning spokesman Bill Wickett wrote in an e-mail. "It's easier to put a subtle reminder in place than continually ask people for that respect."
Three stars
TIM THOMAS: The Bruins goalie bounced back after allowing nine combined goals in the series' first two games to pick up his first shutout of the playoffs, making 31 saves.
DAVID KREJCI: The Bruins center scored the game's first goal, his team-high seventh of the postseason, and was strong in the faceoff circle, going 13-for-18.
PATRICE BERGERON: The Bruins center, returning to the lineup after missing two games with a concussion, was his steady self in playing 19 minutes, 13 seconds, and he dominated the Lightning in the faceoff circle, going 18-of-28 .
Cheap Trick time
The rock band Cheap Trick will perform on the west plaza of the St. Pete Times Forum after Saturday's Game 4. The concert is free. Fans without a ticket to the 1:30 p.m. game can watch on a big screen on the plaza and stick around for the show.
Tickets
Saturday's Game 4 and a potential Game 6 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa are sold out. Unused team tickets might be released on game days. Check with the box office at (813) 301-6600 and Ticketmaster (outlets, ticketmaster.com, toll-free 1-800-745-3000).
The series
Bruins lead 2-1
Game 1, Lightning 5, Bruins 2: Three goals in 1:25 of the first spark Lightning.
Game 2, Bruins 6, Lightning 5: Bruins score five in the second.
Game 3, Bruins 2, Lightning 0: Bruins get the edge in tight defensive game.
Saturday: at Tampa, 1:30, Ch. 8
Monday: at Boston, 8, Versus
Wednesday: at Tampa, 8, Versus *
May 27: at Boston, 8, Versus *
Radio: 970-AM, except Wednesday, which is 620-AM
* If necessary