Though practice was about 20 minutes away over the Walt Whitman bridge and across the state line into New Jersey, they went on the ice earlier than scheduled, meaning they also got off earlier. Nicely done.

Just back from another jog (man, it's hot out there), and the entire city of Philadelphia and half of New York is here for the Phillies-Mets game that starts at 3:55. The sidewalks are jammed, the parkings lots are full and the smell of hot dogs and hamburgers and sausage and peppers (my favorite) is everywhere.

Tailgaters are in every corner, even here at my hotel a mile away, and just about every car has the Flyers-Caps playoff game on the radio. Outside the steps of the Spectrum, where the circus is going on, a woman with a megaphone is talking about animal abuse while her two assistants hand out pamphlets. If only they were giving out cold water.

Every corner, and even the middle of some streets, had guys buying and selling tickets. After a shower, I may go out and see what they're asking. The game is sold out (Mets, TV, beautiful Saturday afternoon, etc.). Is it too late to get a press pass?

The Rats were focused but loose this morning. They were even heckled by a lone Phantoms fan carrying a handmade sign. I won't go into the details here, that's for Sunday's paper. But it was priceless.

One part that I didn't use was suspended defenseman Tim Conboy coming out on the ice late with the rest of the extra players, taking a look at the Sammy Hagar lookalike and saying, "Somebody better tell him that the game is tomorrow."

Kirk MacDonald will be in the lineup for Game 4 on Sunday, replacing Ryan Weston. The Rats will also exchange rookie defensemen, with Brett Bellemore going in for Josh Engel. No change in goal.

The game plan for Game 4 will be shoot, shoot, shoot and shoot some more. Albany's 18 shots in Game 3 was a franchise playoff record low. I have to think that even with the Game 3 loss, having Mike Leighton gives the Rats control of the series, even if they don't have home ice. We'll see.