Tampa Bay Lightning Nuts and Bolts

No friends on ice

Not many are courageous enough to take on the Wild's Derek Boogaard, below, a 6-foot-8, 257-pound mountain known as a devastating puncher. But there was Tampa Bay's Zenon Konopka on Nov. 12, battling him. "You just want to get inside in a hurry and try not to let him swing out," said Konopka, 6-1, of handling a large, powerful foe. "If he swings out, it means trouble." Interestingly, Konopka and Boogaard are buddies. Konopka said they fought several times in the minors and then got friendly at a charity event in Las Vegas. "I fought him my second year as a pro, and I guess he just kind of respected me for at least showing up," Konopka said. "I have a lot of respect for him, obviously." But it's strictly competition on the ice. "I fought my buddies before, and good buddies of mine," Konopka said. "It's part of the business. There are no friends on the ice, and that's the bottom line."

Blue-collar reward

Lightning C Zenon Konopka, below, said when players decided to award a red, plastic hard hat after every win to the team's hardest worker, a few adjustments were needed. "For my liking, the hat looked too new," he said. "We had to scuff it up with some puck marks and (scratch it with) a couple of razor blades to make it a real hard hat." Coach Rick Tocchet made the initial presentation, to D Mattias Ohlund after the Nov. 3 win over the Maple Leafs. The rules dictate that the current recipient decides who is next recognized. Until the hat is passed, it hangs in the current recipient's locker. "You don't have to be a goal scorer," said G Mike Smith, presented the award Monday after his 30-save victory over the Coyotes. "It's the guy who works the hardest and deserves the blue-collar work award, I guess. It's nice to get. Obviously, it's not going to make your season because you have a red helmet on, but it goes with my new mullet. Looks a little like a construction worker."

5 questions LW Todd Fedoruk

Why tattoo your last name across your back? The family is something I hold high in my life.

Why the angel? I grew up Catholic. I just feel they're looking out for me.

Where did your family come from? Ukraine.

How big is your extended family? We're 400 to 500 people from the two that came over.

Bet the reunions are something to see. We rent the fair grounds (in Mundare, Alberta); lots of food and beer and softball.

Quote to note

"We know they're a young, dangerous hockey club. They have some very skilled people in their lineup. They're a hockey club trying to make its mark."

— Randy Carlyle, Ducks coach, on the Lightning