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Stanley Cup Notebook

PHILADEPHIA (AP) -- Ron Hextall doesn't want to remember his last appearance in the Stanley Cup finals, even though he was named most valuable player.

``It didn't mean a lot to me because of the result of the finals in '87,'' says Hextall, whose Philadelphia Flyers lost in seven games to the Edmonton Oilers.

Where is the MVP trophy now, by the way?

``It's in a box there in the basement and I haven't seen it (for a while). I might have taken it out in the late '80s, but I haven't seen it since,'' the Flyers goaltender said Friday as he prepared to face the Detroit Red Wings in the finals.

``Maybe when I am done, I will appreciate it, but as of right now, the disappointment is still what lingers with me.''

TOUGH TICKET: How tough is it getting a ticket to this year's finals? Ask Detroit coach Scotty Bowman.

Bowman surprised the media Friday when he asked them for help to find tickets for himself and his players.

``Is there anybody here in the media that knows anybody in the league or anywhere that I can get tickets?'' Bowan asked at the conclusion of his news conference. ``I have been in the league now for 40 years and this is the most distressful time I have ever experienced.

``Our players get two tickets to buy. We used to get more to buy. We couldn't trade tickets with Philadelphia. They just don't have any. I am making a plea because it is pretty tough when your friends and family can't come to the Stanley Cup final, and that is a fact.''

The NHL, by the way, heeded Bowman's call for help and supplied each team with 30 extra tickets to give them a total of 100 apiece.

JUST A RED WING NOW: Igor Larionov is one of five Russians on the Detroit Red Wings, but doesn't like to be singled as such. He expressed some annoyance Friday when asked by a reporter about the Russian influence on the team.

``I don't like the (reference to the Russians). This is one team -- we all represent the Detroit Red Wings,'' Larionov said.

He showed, however, that he hadn't lost his sense of humor when a reporter followed up with a question about what he thought of Russian president Boris Yeltsin.

``Boris Yeltsin? Who does he play for?'' Larionov quipped.

FLYING HIGH: With all due respect to Rocky, William Penn is perhaps the most famous statue in Philadelphia. It stands atop city hall, a proud and revered symbol of the City of Brotherly Love.

It is also right in fashion with the times these days. In honor of Philadelphia's place in the Stanley Cup finals, William Penn is sporting a Flyers jersey.

HIS CUP RUNNETH OVER: Like anyone else, Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman loves having his name inscribed on the Stanley Cup. He's won seven of them.

But he also realizes it has a pragmatic side as well. Asked what it meant to him to win the Cup as a coach, he quipped:

``It gives (you) a lot more longevity in the job. As you know, there is not that much longevity (in coaching).''

THE THRILL IS GONE: Steve Yzerman isn't thrilled to be in the Stanley Cup Finals -- at least not as thrilled as he was the last time. And that's a good thing, he says.

The Red Wings captain says the last time he was in the finals, he was too emotional. This time, he hopes to keep things on an even keel.

``The previous time against the Devils, they were certainly flying and everything was going right for them,'' Yzerman said of the 1995 finals when his Red Wings were swept in four games by the Devils. ``It was a thrill just to get to the finals. But this time around, I realize the thrill isn't getting there, the real thrill is winning it.''

WHERE IT ALL STARTED FOR SCOTTY: When his Detroit Red Wings face the Philadelphia Flyers in the opener of the Stanley Cup finals on Saturday night, it will like old times for Detroit coach Scotty Bowman. Really old times.

It was in the 1968 finals that Bomwan brought his St. Louis Blues team into Philadelphia in his first game as a coach in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Coach of the Flyers was Keith Allen, and both later won Cups -- Bowman as a coach and Allen as a general manager.

Joe Kadlec, director of team services for the Flyers, was director of media relations then. What does he remember about that game?

``We only had 10,800 fans in a building that seated 14,646,'' Kadlec remembered. ``I was amazed we didn't sell out.''

And only about 150 media representatives. There were more than 1,000 registered for this year's finals, according to an NHL spokesman.