The Associated Press

VOORHEES, N.J. - The Philadelphia Flyers won two Stanley Cups, made seven trips to the finals and reached the playoffs 30 times in their 37-year history. The Tampa Bay Lightning missed the playoffs in nine of their 12 seasons.

History suggests a lopsided series. But the Flyers are underdogs against the Lightning in the Eastern Conference finals, which begin Saturday in Tampa Bay.

"Just because of the name - 'the Tampa Bay Lightning' - you don't think they're that good, but they are that good," Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock said Thursday.

The Lightning swept the regular-season series against Philadelphia, winning four games by a total margin of 18-8. Tampa Bay dominated the New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs, going 8-1. The Flyers beat the defending Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils in five games, then eliminated the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games.

Western Conference finals

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Darryl Sutter changed the franchise from the bottom up, erasing a losing culture and instilling passion in his players. He gave hope, pride and victories to a city full of downtrodden hockey fans.

And just 17 months after the San Jose Sharks thanked him with a pink slip, Sutter has done it again with the Calgary Flames.

The sour-faced, soft-spoken coach's two greatest creations will meet Sunday in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. This bit of serendipity apparently means nothing to Sutter, who claims his presence adds absolutely no significance to the series.

But the Sharks still feel Sutter's influence.

"Darryl was the biggest part of this organization," said goalie Evgeni Nabokov. "To go against him right now is kind of exciting. He deserved the opportunity to do what he's doing in Calgary, and I'm happy he's doing so well."