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By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer :
TAMPA — No matter what happens with the Lightning in the short term, it appears it has a long-term solution behind the bench.
Rookie coach Guy Boucher pulled all the right strings during this turnaround season, including the controversial decision to start backup goalie Mike Smith in Game 5 of this Eastern Conference final on Monday.
So what has been the secret to Boucher's success this season? Not looking back and not looking forward, but concentrating on the moment. For example, going into Wednesday night's Game 6 — an elimination game for his team — Boucher refused to address the consequences of a victory or a loss.
"If you start talking about elimination and pressure, it's because you're thinking of failure," Boucher said Wednesday morning. "Right now, we're thinking of the first five minutes of the game; like we've done every game since being in the playoffs. And it's kept our focus very narrow and the emotions in check."
Keeping emotions in check has been, perhaps, Boucher's greatest strength as a coach. While television cameras often catch him wide-eyed and animated on the bench, the players say he actually is quite calm and straightforward in his message.
That even-keel attitude helped the Lightning not get too low when it fell behind the Penguins 3-1 in the first round. Then that same approach helped the Lightning not get too high when it jumped to a 3-0 series lead against the Capitals in the second round.
Boucher's calm demeanor also is part of the reason why the Lightning held its nerve for a 1-0 Game 7 victory in Pittsburgh and came back for a 5-3 victory against the Bruins on Saturday after it fell behind 3-0 in the first period.
"We certainly want to continue being in the present." Boucher said.
He wouldn't even let himself dream of making the Stanley Cup final.
"That's way ahead of where we are," Boucher said. "It's so far from what I have any control over or any of our players. If we want to make it there, we have to deserve it. So I'm staying away from anything that's further than today."
Just like he has done all season.
TAMPA — No matter what happens with the Lightning in the short term, it appears it has a long-term solution behind the bench.
Rookie coach Guy Boucher pulled all the right strings during this turnaround season, including the controversial decision to start backup goalie Mike Smith in Game 5 of this Eastern Conference final on Monday.
So what has been the secret to Boucher's success this season? Not looking back and not looking forward, but concentrating on the moment. For example, going into Wednesday night's Game 6 — an elimination game for his team — Boucher refused to address the consequences of a victory or a loss.
"If you start talking about elimination and pressure, it's because you're thinking of failure," Boucher said Wednesday morning. "Right now, we're thinking of the first five minutes of the game; like we've done every game since being in the playoffs. And it's kept our focus very narrow and the emotions in check."
Keeping emotions in check has been, perhaps, Boucher's greatest strength as a coach. While television cameras often catch him wide-eyed and animated on the bench, the players say he actually is quite calm and straightforward in his message.
That even-keel attitude helped the Lightning not get too low when it fell behind the Penguins 3-1 in the first round. Then that same approach helped the Lightning not get too high when it jumped to a 3-0 series lead against the Capitals in the second round.
Boucher's calm demeanor also is part of the reason why the Lightning held its nerve for a 1-0 Game 7 victory in Pittsburgh and came back for a 5-3 victory against the Bruins on Saturday after it fell behind 3-0 in the first period.
"We certainly want to continue being in the present." Boucher said.
He wouldn't even let himself dream of making the Stanley Cup final.
"That's way ahead of where we are," Boucher said. "It's so far from what I have any control over or any of our players. If we want to make it there, we have to deserve it. So I'm staying away from anything that's further than today."
Just like he has done all season.
