Familiar face behind Penguins' bench

RICK TOCCHET'S glimpse of hockey's best rivalry over the past few years has been no different than that of just about anyone in the general public.

He offered commentary on the Flyers' games with the Penguins as an analyst for Comcast SportsNet, but was really stuck watching the blood baths from afar as an outsider.

On the inside now as Penguins assistant coach to Mike Johnston, Tocchet can appreciate the view.

"You could feel the hate just boarding the bus to come to the rink," Tocchet said. "Even when the Flyers aren't doing that well this year, there's still a special thing. There's no team better for the Flyers to kick someone's ass than Pittsburgh. There's no team that the Penguins want to kick ass against more than the Flyers.

"It isn't just any regular-season game."

Tocchet, 50, is finally back on the bench for the first time since being fired as Tampa Bay's head coach following the 2009-10 season. He is the brains behind Pittsburgh's power play and also handles the forwards.

After being passed over by Paul Holmgren to join close friend Craig Berube behind the Flyers' bench in 2013, Tocchet quietly lobbied to Penguins owner and friend Mario Lemieux for an opportunity when Dan Bylsma was canned last summer.

Tocchet is home in Pittsburgh. Yes, he is the Flyers' all-time leader in penalty minutes (1,817), but he won a Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 1992 and maintains a residence there. His only child, Trevor, is a standout lacrosse player for Mount Lebanon High School in the 'Burgh.

Over the years, he watched plenty of games with Lemieux and had a few strong ideas to help turn the Penguins back into a Stanley Cup champion.

"I wasn't coming in blind, let's put it that way," Tocchet said. "It's been good. It's been a lot of work, but it's quality work. I've learned a lot from Mike, he's a good coach. I'm learning a lot from him, but you actually learn from the players, too. When you're out of the game for a little bit sometimes, you have a different perspective. Then you come here and you get to express your perspective, but also learn, too."

The biggest difference between watching the Penguins and coaching the Penguins is exactly what one might imagine: eye-opening.

"The high level of talent in those practices is incredible," Tocchet said. "You've got [Sidney] Crosby and [Evgeni] Malkin leading the parade in practice, so you're not afraid to try different things. The biggest thing is you've got to make sure that it's a team game. Two guys can't win a Stanley Cup."

Before Tampa Bay, Tocchet was an assistant coach in Colorado under Tony Granato and spent one season with Wayne Gretzky in Phoenix. It was in Phoenix that Tocchet became embroiled in a gambling ring that saw a New Jersey State Trooper sentenced to 5 years in prison.

Tocchet cooperated and avoided jail time, but it took a couple of years to be officially welcomed back into the NHL. This time around, it took Tocchet an even longer time to earn another job. He had nibbles from KHL teams but no concrete offers.

"I'll be honest, it's not like people were banging down my door," Tocchet said. "I don't have a big ego. I felt like I was ready maybe 2 years ago. Let's face it, in this league, you might not get a lot of calls. But the Penguins called and it was a good job to get. They have to win, nothing short of that. They want to win. It's nice to be a part of that situation."

His juices still get flowing, especially when watching last night's melees, coaching against the Flyers in such a familiar environment. Last night, there was no glass separating his front-row seat from the action.

"Philadelphia is a big part of my life," Tocchet said "I had a great gig with CSN, I had a great time. The media part was kind of good, it was harder than people think. This is exciting, not so much because of the relationships, it's about being a part of the rivalry. I was a TV guy before, but I was pretty much a fan. Now, I'm in the fire, which is cool. It's nice to strategize and be on the inside."

Defenseman Brandon Manning joined the Flyers' lineup in place of the injured Nick Schultz. Oliver Lauridsen, also called up on Monday, ended up being a healthy scratch since Carlo Colaiacovo was able to play.

Manning, 24, was thrust onto the top penalty-killing unit - along with Andrew MacDonald, Sean Couturier and Matt Read. He'd already gotten a taste of the Flyers-Penguins rivalry on March 18, 2012, just a month before the Flyers knocked off Pittsburgh in a six-game first-round series.

"I think you look at the offensive power they have and the rivalry as well, so it's a pretty exciting game to play, especially in Philly," Manning said. "Knowing all the guys and being comfortable with the area and the rink goes a long way, for sure."

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