Overcome by EmotionAfter beating the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 7 to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, Martin St. Louis is overcome by the emotion of the moment. Teammate Brad Richards attempts to lighten the mood.
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Final PreparationLightning head coach John Tortorella goes over his notes in his office before Game 1. Tortorella became the third US-born head coach to win the Stanley Cup.
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Tools of the TradeEquipment manager Dana Heinze, right, checks to ensure the curve on the blade of Fredrik Modin’s stick is legal while preparing for Game 1 in the Lightning equipment room.
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Readying for the FightFrom left, Brad Richards, Dave Andreychuk and Vincent Lecavalier lace up their skates in unison prior to the first career Stanley Cup Finals game for each.
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AnticipationFredrik Modin sits in his stall, waiting for the start of pre-game skate prior to Game 1 in Tampa. Pre-game skate lasts 15 minutes and takes place a half hour before each game.
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Fighting ThroughLightning defenseman Dan Boyle grimaces as Dr. Ira Guttentag prepares to numb his fractured thumb prior to the start of Game 2 at the St. Pete Times Forum. Boyle suffered the fracture on a slash during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Final vs. Montreal and played the next 16 games with the injury.
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FocusPavel Kubina stretches and gets focused on the task at hand before Game 2 at the St. Pete Times Forum. The Lightning would win, 4-1, to even the series. “Tonight, we were back. We were ready to battle again” – Associate coach Craig Ramsay following Game 2.
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Waiting GameCory Sarich works off his nervous energy in the Lightning locker room before Game 2 at the St. Pete Times Forum. “When we’re quiet before games, it seems like we’re really ready, very focused” – defenseman Nolan Pratt following Game 2.
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Good HandsMartin St. Louis tosses his glove to assistant equipment manager Jim Pickard between periods of Game 2. Pickard returns the dried gloves to players prior to the next period. “They were more intense. They were more desperate. They beat us to loose pucks and they were more physical” – Calgary captain Jarome Iginla following the Lightning’s 4-1 victory in Game 2.
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Stretching OutAssistant medical trainer Adam Rambo stretches Dmitry Afanasenkov before Game 3 in Calgary. Medical trainer Tom Mulligan works on Martin St. Louis in the background.
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ConcentrationTim Taylor prepares himself mentally prior to Game 3 in Calgary. Taylor was one of five Lighting players who had previously hoisted the Stanley Cup.
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Lighthearted ChatDarryl Sydor, left, and Brad Richards shoot the breeze in a hallway outside the Lightning locker room prior to Game 4 in Calgary. Richards’ early power-play goal would prove to be the winner as the Lightning evened the series with a 1-0 victory.
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Paying the PriceRuslan Fedotenko sits dazed in the training room moments after being slammed face first into the dasher boards by Flames defenseman Robyn Regehr during Game 3 in Calgary. Fedotenko suffered a concussion on the play and missed Game 4, but returned for the final three games of the series.
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DefeatLightning director of public relations Jay Preble shows the strain in a hallway outside the team’s locker room following the Lightning’s 3-0 Game 3 loss at Calgary’s Pengrowth Saddledome. The loss gave the Flames a 2-1 series lead.
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Battle ScarAndre Roy, hit in the cheek by an errant puck in Game 4, waits to be stitched on the training table. “It was ugly as hell, but we found a way” – Lightning head coach John Tortorella following Tampa Bay’s 1-0 victory.
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IceVincent Lecavalier holds an ice bag to his head after receiving stitches in Game 4. Ville Nieminen hit him from behind into the glass during the late stages of the game. Lecavalier was able to return for Game 5, while the NHL suspended Nieminen.
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DistractionLightning captain Dave Andreychuk settles his nerves with a little television prior to facing possible elimination in Game 6 in Calgary.
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RecoveryNikolai Khabibulin and Darryl Sydor receive intravenous fluids after Game 6 dragged into double O/T in Calgary. The Lightning won to even the series, 3-3. “It’s been a hell of a series, and it’s fitting we have a Game 7″ – Lightning head coach John Tortorella following Game 6.
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ReliefFredrik Modin shares a smile of relief with Pavel Kubina in the training room in Calgary after a double-overtime victory forced Game 7 in Tampa. The entire city of Calgary had been prepared to celebrate with that evening.
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Easing the TensionBrad Richards, Martin St. Louis, Dave Andreychuk and Darryl Sydor watch an MTV special on “Fear Factor” before Game 7. Watching television in one of the lounge areas became a pre-game tradition for the four.
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Battle GearNikolai Khabibulin, left, Ruslan Fedotenko and Martin St. Louis, right, put on their gear in a pensive Lightning locker room minutes before Game 7.
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Catching His BreathBrad Richards uses oxygen to help speed his recovery between the 1st and 2nd periods of Game 7 at the St. Pete Times Forum. Oxygen was used more frequently in Calgary, where the elevation was 3,700′.
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Sweet Taste of VictoryAndre Roy makes sure Martin St. Louis gets a taste of victory, even while getting stitched up by Dr. Tony Castro in the training room following Game 7. Calgary’s Andrew Ference cut St. Louis with a high stick with one minute remaining in the game.
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Pure EcstasyLightning General Manager Jay Feaster, center, alongside, video coach Nigel Kirwan, left, and director of public relations Jay Preble, right, thrusts his arms into the air after taking a moment to speak with the team following the Lightning’s Game 7 win over the Calgary Flames.
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FulfillmentPlayers, coaches and staff gather around the object of their quest in the Lightning locker room following the Game 7 victory. “We’re going to walk together forever” – Martin St. Louis.
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Celebration
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All individual photographs are ©2004 Scott Audette and the Tampa Bay Lightning;
the assembled “Focused Passion” collection is ©2004 exclusive to Louis Buccino.
the assembled “Focused Passion” collection is ©2004 exclusive to Louis Buccino.
