Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press

TAMPA -- Their friendship may not be waterproof.

When the first-round series between the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning begins Wednesday at Amalie Arena (7 p.m., FSD, CBC, NBCSN), it pits good friends as playoff rivals in head coaches Jeff Blashill and Jon Cooper.

"No mixed emotions," Detroit's Blashill said with a smile today. "I know for certain I want the bragging rights this summer.

"You know, it will be fun. I've faced friends at different times in my career, whether it be in pro hockey or college hockey or junior hockey. Coop and I have been in a couple different series where we've battled. It's enjoyable to be against somebody who is a good friend."

Cooper pointed to this series as being a "rubber match" because the two were 1-1 against each other while coaching juniors.

"I'm sure we won't talk as much," Cooper said. "I'm really happy for him, that he made the playoffs and is having success. I just wish we weren't playing each other till the final. And I know it's unrealistic, but playing in the first round kind of sucks, because one of us isn't going to advance. But I guess, on the bright side, one of us is going to the second round.

"We're competitors, there's no question. But we have a friendship, and that will never divide that. Unless he reaches around and squirts a water bottle at me."

Where this is Blashill's first foray into playoffs at the NHL level, Cooper gained experience from Tampa Bay being swept in 2014 and then being Stanley Cup runner-up in 2015.

Asked what advice he'd give Blashill, Cooper smiled. "I'd say, your first year, just lose the first round. And then next year, you might have a chance to go to the final."

Actually, Cooper does have some very sound advice that he wishes he'd known his first year.

"I learned my first year, the 82 games is a dress rehearsal for the playoffs," he said. "And just because it's the playoffs, you don't have to overthink and overcoach the game.

"There's no reason to reinvent the wheel. You've got to trust your players, you've got to trust what you've done for 82 games."

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Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.