Additional article from the Toronto Star
Flames defenceman may sit out Game 7
Regehr believed to have injured foot
Commodore likely to fill in if needed
DAMIEN COX
HOCKEY COLUMNIST
TAMPA—As the tired and disappointed Calgary Flames stepped off a bus in the late afternoon Florida heat and milled around a hotel lobby to chat with reporters, one bearded face was conspicuously absent.
Defenceman Robyn Regehr was not available, further heightening speculation about a mysterious left foot injury suffered late in Game 6 Saturday night that has made the 6-foot-4 blue-liner a rather large question mark for Game 7 tonight.
The Flames weren't offering any hard information on Regehr, although at least Jarome Iginla said he'd be willing to tell all if given the green light.
"I can't say much," said the Calgary captain. "I would if I could. I'd share everything if it were up to me."
Regehr's apparent injury — he left the Saddledome with a walking cast on his foot, according to some reports — was the newsiest item of the day, along with the simmering controversy over a disallowed goal by Calgary forward Martin Gelinas in the third period that might have brought the Cup back to Canada.
Calgary head coach Darryl Sutter said he didn't know whether he'd have Regehr, so impressive this spring he was recently named to Canada's World Cup team, at his disposal.
If Regehr can't go, his likely replacement would be Mike Commodore, who was a healthy scratch the last two games after playing the first four. Commodore was replaced for Games 5 and 6 by Toni Lydman, who picked up an assist in the first game but didn't play many minutes on Saturday.
Iginla, meanwhile, was far less concerned over the health of his teammate than he was with his own two-shot, no-points performance in Game 6.
"I didn't play very well," said Iginla, who scored 41 times in the regular season and has 13 more in the post-season. "It's tough, because a lot of our forwards were really flying and it was an OT game where one shot might have made the difference."
Iginla spent most of the night trying to get around Tampa blue-liner Pavel Kubina, who blocked shot after shot.
In general, the Lightning were more physical and aggressive with Iginla than they'd been in Game 5, when he had run wild with all kinds of open ice.
"I was very nervous before Game 6," said Iginla. "I probably thought about it too much and unfortunately I wasn't very good."
Iginla and goalie Miikka Kiprusoff have been the main Calgary stars in the post-season, and Kiprusoff also had a so-so night in Game 6.
He got a piece of the puck on all three Tampa goals in the 3-2 overtime loss and the first goal, by Brad Richards, came on a goalmouth pass Kiprusoff redirected into his own net.
"(Kiprusoff) would definitely like to have that one back," said Sutter.
The Flames have won two of the three games played in Tampa this series and six of their last seven road games.
Overall, they are 10-3 on the road in these playoffs and a victory tonight would set a playoff record.
"We shouldn't have a record under .500 at home," said Iginla of his club's 5-7 mark at the Saddledome during the post-season. "We probably skate better on the road, play a little more physical and we're probably calmer.
"Maybe we get a little overexcited at home."
Both clubs have a Game 7 triumph under their belts in this post-season.
Calgary knocked off the Canucks in Vancouver to win their first-round series, while the Lightning used home ice to win a seventh game over Philly in the Eastern Conference final.
Tampa captain Dave Andreychuk has played in a Game 7 situation 11 times over his 22-year career.
"These are the games you remember," he said.
"This will be a game we remember for a long time because it's in the finals."
Tonight's game is the third time in four years and 13th time since 1941 that the Stanley Cup final will be decided in a seventh game.
"All I know is this is our last game of the year, period," said Iginla.
"There will be nothing left on the table."
--------------------------------------------
Robyn Regehr: potential Conn Smythe candidate and Darryl Sutter's illegitimate child.