Dressing Room Quotes Following Game 6 (vs Vancouver)

www.calgaryflames.com
24/04/2004

Ville Nieminen - Left Wing

• "Seems to be hockey is still a fair game; we didn't play the first two periods and we got back into this game being very lucky"
• "We just have to play Flames hockey that's it (next game); it's not hard at all; we lost that game,so it's behind us"
• "We showed character before, so we are going to go back to Vancouver and play boring road hockey again"
• "We didn't deserve to win the game because we were not prepared in the first period and a half".

Nieminen suspended for one game for hit on Joseph
www.calgaryflames.com
01/05/2004

With three seconds remaining, Nieminen skated straight into the Detroit goaltender, knocking him back into the net and was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for charging.

Nieminen, a 27 year-old aggravating winger who had scored earlier in the game, has three points in 11 playoff games for the Flames this year.

The Finnish forward said following the game that it was an accident. However, referees immediately stepped in and escorted him off the ice.

The Red Wings began calling for a suspension shortly after the end of the game.

The suspension is a blow to the Flames as Nieminen had been very effective on a line with Shean Donovan and Marcus Nilson in recent games. Nilson scored the game-winner in Game 1, Donovan scored in Games 3 and 4 and Nieminen scored a great goal in Game 4.

The Flames are likely to insert either Lynn Loyns or Martin Sonnenberg, two players with the team who have yet to see playoff action this spring.

'It's tough to watch'
Nieminen admits his hit 'stupid, unnecessary'

By RANDY SPORTAK, CALGARY SUN
03/05/2004


DETROIT -- Around these parts, he's now known as Villain Nieminen. And Vile Nieminen.

But those slings and arrows from the Detroit fans and media didn't bother Flames forward Ville Nieminen as much as having to sit out yesterday's critical playoff game against the Detroit Red Wings due to suspension.

"I've never been suspended before. It's tough to watch," he said prior to the matinee at the Joe Louis Arena.

"We are not happy but we have to live with it and get ready for Game 6."

Nieminen received a one-game banishment for a charging infraction after he hit Wings goaltender Curtis Joseph late in Thursday's fourth game at the Saddledome.

Dave Lowry drew back into the lineup for the first time since suffering a massive abdominal injury that required surgery in early January.

Nieminen will be able to return tomorrow night when the Flames have a chance to close out the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series.

Immediately after Game 4, he gave a couple of weak excuses but yesterday owned up.

"Things like that happen in the playoffs. Good thing nobody was hurt," he said. "But obviously it was stupid and unnecessary."

The pesky forward, who played his best game of the series prior to the brain cramp, said he didn't receive any harsh words from his teammates but admitted it was tough to deal with the fact he'd made a mistake that could have hindered them so much.

"We were not even talking about the suspension. There's so many other things going on in life and in hockey than being suspended," he said.

Nieminen planning to 'drive' with more caution in future

By DAN TOTH, CALGARY SUN
03/05/2004


Ville Nieminen was rolling out of the Saddledome parking lot after yesterday's practice, wheeling toward a group of eager Flames fans waiting for his autograph. "They don't want mine," he grinned, flashing that joker's smile. "They're afraid I'm going to run them over."

The light-hearted reference, of course, is to Game 4 Thursday night when the pesky Finn failed to brake before causing a nasty fender bender with Red Wings goalie Curtis Joseph in the dying seconds of a 4-2 loss.

With the NHL suspending his license for one game, Nieminen was left pacing the floor Saturday at Joe Louis Arena like an expectant father, with Dave Lowry assuming his wing position.

Nieminen's expected return to the Flames lineup tonight for Game 6 and the chance to send the Motor City crew home for the summer will have him still driving to the net but using his head instead of his heart.

"For myself, I killed a good moment," he admitted of the Game 4 crease crash.

"I had good legs going. I was on the horse and obviously I fell off the horse but now I have to get back on there again."

"I didn't watch the game," Nieminen admits of the eventual 1-0 win Saturday and a 3-2 series lead. "I was in my track suit, walking the hallway back and forth.

"I watched one minute out of the last two periods. I came to check the clock. I was walking in the hallway with my Flames jacket on, I even took my suit jacket off and I was walking the hallway.

"I was giving a couple of fist pumps after the game, I was so relieved."

Nieminen said his expected return tonight might leave him the target of extra attention from the Wings but he isn't expecting the veteran squad to take stupid penalties seeking retribution.

"Of course, that team, nah," said Nieminen, whose earned a goal and an assist through four games against Detroit.

"That team is so good, they won't do anything (to take penalties)."

As for the two-car pileup he caused in Game 4, Nieminen is sounding contrite but passes some of the blame to the emotional crescendo hockey hits in the playoffs.

"Everybody has things in life they wish they had not done, at the same time it's an embarrassing moment too," Nieminen shrugs. "No, but I don't know what that was ... I think the game is so passionate, so intense.

"I feel like these teams, these games right now are so important, so passionate and we are so intense. You play like it's a do-or-die situation every night."