Calgary's Lydman makes most of chance

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Flames defenseman Toni Lydman wasn't in Calgary's plans for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals Thursday morning.
But the defenseman worked his way into the lineup and assisted on the first goal in a 3-2 overtime victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning later in the night.
"He met the trainers and then made the decision this afternoon that he was going to go in warmup, and that was it," Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. "We were going to give him at least another day and it was his call."
Lydman missed 20 straight games after playing the first three of the postseason.
He sat out the final 10 regular-season contests because of a concussion. That is believed to be what sidelined him again.
He logged 16 minutes, 47 seconds of ice time in his return and earned his first career playoff point by setting up Martin Gelinas' goal just 2:13 in.
"I felt pretty good considering the time I took off there," he said. "The legs were there. I was a little rusty maybe, but the adrenaline took care of that."
Lightning guarantee
The Lightning are taking their 8-3 road playoff record to Calgary will the full intention of forcing a decisive Game 7 back home on Monday.
"Yes, we will," Lightning coach John Tortorella said after the 3-2 overtime loss.
Tampa Bay will be facing elimination for the second time in these playoffs Saturday night in Game 6. The Lightning outlasted Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference finals by winning a seventh game at home.