EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS Lightning looking to be aggressive

The winner of today's Game 7 will meet the Calgary Flames for the cup.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Lightning made a promise to themselves for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Play to win, instead of not to lose.
"No matter what happens, we have to do what we do and do it in an aggressive manner and see where we are at the end of the day," Lightning coach John Tortorella said Friday.
"That word desperation is always thrown around. I just think it's a matter of someone with a little bit more willingness at certain times in a game, to put your team in a situation for a big play. That may be a big defensive play. It may be a big offensive play. ... It's a mental toughness and a willingness to be that guy."
The Lightning lacked that urgency Thursday night in Philadelphia when the Flyers rallied for a 5-4 overtime victory that evened the series. Game 7 is tonight (ESPN2), and the Lightning vow not to make the same mistake.
The winner advances to the Stanley Cup finals to face the Calgary Flames.
"We've got to learn. The road to the Stanley Cup is not always smooth," Lightning defenseman Darryl Sydor said.
"We took our lumps in Game 2, we took our lumps in Game 4, and we learned from it. And I think we're going to learn from our situation in Game 6. It happened for a reason. We really believe that."
On the verge
The Lightning were less than two minutes from the Cup finals when the Flyers refused to let their season end.
Keith Primeau's goal made it 4-4 with 1:49 remaining in regulation, then Simon Gagne won it with 1:42 left in the first overtime.
"They were the more desperate team," Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis said. "They played to win, and we played not to lose."
Neither team has been able to win consecutive games in the series, although Philadelphia is confident it can buck the trend.
"It's a Game 7, we can't look at it as trying to string back-to-back," Primeau said. "It's a one-game series and winner takes all."
The Flyers are looking for their eighth trip to the Cup finals, and the first since Detroit swept them in 1997. Tampa Bay, which is in the playoffs for just the third time in its 12-year history, has never been involved in a Game 7 -- let alone advanced this far in the postseason.
Under Tortorella, though, the Lightning have been quick learners.
The Lightning are 11-4 in these playoffs and confident they can rebound from the disappointment of letting Game 6 slip away.
"It's a matter of winning one game. So the approach doesn't change," Tortorella said. "Again, it's an opportunity. I think that's the way you have to look at it."
For six games, the series has been billed as matchup of Tampa Bay's speed and skill against Philadelphia's size and muscle. The question now is how much of an advantage will the Flyers' experience be in Game 7.