NEW JERSEY VS. CAROLINA OTTAWA VS. TORONTO WASHINGTON VS. PITTSBURGH PHILADELPHIA VS. BUFFALO COLORADO VS. VANCOUVER DETROIT VS. LOS ANGELES DALLAS VS. EDMONTON ST. LOUIS VS. SAN JOSE

Saturday, April 21 Ference stands tall for Penguins By Brian A. Shactman ESPN.com WASHINGTON – Penguins defenseman Marc Bergevin has been in the NHL for 17 seasons and has played for seven teams. You'd think he's seen it all. But when he was asked to assess the play of his partner on defense, 22-year-old Andrew Ference, Bergevin shook his head. "He's the best young player I've played with," Bergevin said. "This kid is the real thing." In Pittsburgh's 2-1 win Saturday over the Capitals, which gave the Penguins a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 Eastern Conference quarterfinals, Ference had a goal and assisted on Mario Lemieux's game-winner. Ference was a plus-2 and second on the team with three shots on goal – not to mention making plays like his dive in front of Washington's Joe Sacco at full speed to preserve an icing call in the second period. He did just about everything for the Penguins except refill their water bottles between periods. Ference was pretty happy after getting the Penguins' first goal in Game 5. No surprise, then, the humble 5-foot-10 kid from Alberta was chosen the game's No. 1 star. Quite a feat considering Ference was sharing the ice with Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Alexei Kovalev and Peter Bondra. The eighth-round pick by the Penguins in 1997 also scored his first career playoff goal, but he wasn't willing to dwell on it for long. "It felt pretty cool at the time," Ference said. "But it was the last thing on my mind with one minute to go. Just to get the win overshadows everything personal. It's pretty cool to call home and have people say, 'Hey, congratulations,' but what a huge win – (it) overshadows everything." What cannot be overshadowed is that Ference had a hand in both Pittsburgh goals. The Penguins have plenty of big-name goal-scorers, but Ference knew that he could help matters by throwing the puck on net whenever he had the chance. And that's what he did. His first-period goal came off a rebound from a shot by Jagr in the slot. Ference blasted a one-timer over Olaf Kolzig's glove. Less than a minute later, Ference shot the puck on Kolzig again. This time, Jan Hrdina slid the rebound to Lemieux, who put the puck in an open net. "Exactly what we have to do as defensemen – get the puck to the net," Ference said. "Our job is not to make the pretty cross-ice passes to an open net. We have to get some greasy ones." Ference in NHL Year GP Stats '00-01 36 4-11-15, plus-6 '99-00 30 2-4-6, plus-3 It's interesting to note for a player so integral to Pittsburgh's playoff success, Ference didn't even start the season on the Penguins roster. Because he's on a two-way contract – which means he gets paid less if he plays in the minors – and Pittsburgh had a lot of veterans on defense, Ference started in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre. He was recalled in November and then again – this time for good – late in February. "I was mad," he said of not sticking with the Penguins, especially since he started 1999-00 with the Penguins but only played 30 games. "It's been my dream job – what I've wanted to do my whole life. When you can't achieve it right off the bat, it's a minor setback. But it's a matter of staying focused. I was able to keep my game very strong for the opportunity to come up here." Ference might have a two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but after his performance in the 2001 playoffs – one goal, three points and a plus-4 – Ference has a one-way ticket for a long-term stay in Pittsburgh. "This is my childhood team, and to see that sweater coming into the dressing room each day is a tremendous feeling," he said. “ He's been solid since he's been here, on defense as well as offense. He's a great skater, strong on his skates. He has all the tools. ” — Mario Lemieux discussing Andrew Ference Even though Ference speaks of his run with Pittsburgh in a romantic and humble twang, Bergevin says don't be fooled – Ference is wide-eyed in age and experience only. "He's got composure – very calm and always makes the easy play," Bergevin said. "Sometimes a young defenseman, especially a guy with some offensive skill, will try to make the long passes and try to do too much. He does a lot but never too much." Both last season and this year, Ference was caught in coaching crossfire as well as a cost crossfire. In 1999-00, Kevin Constantine liked Ference but was fired. Herb Brooks came in and favored veterans. And coach Ivan Hlinka entered this season never having seen Ference play. That, combined with Pittsburgh's tight financial situation, likely contributed to GM Craig Patrick's decision to have Ference begin the season in the AHL. "The last time I got called up, I played some really good hockey and happened to get sent down because the older guys came back," Ference said. "Younger guys have to pay their dues. Whether or not they're on a two-way contract or just trying to break into the league, everyone gets here a different way. Mine just happened to be with a two-way contract and having to wait for injuries." Now, there's nothing spotty about Ference's shifts. He is a regular and even plays on the Pittsburgh power-play and penalty killing units. "He's been solid since he's been here, on defense as well as offense," said owner Mario Lemieux, who appreciates a defenseman that can head-man the puck and jump into the play up front. "He's a great skater, strong on his skates. He has all the tools." Brian A. Shactman covers the NHL for ESPN.com. He can be reached at brian.shactman@espn.com. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories

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