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More Stuff... by Michael Dell, Editor-in-Chief
SAKIC AND FORSBERG TOGETHER AT LAST It's a move that I've been calling for since the playoffs last season when the Colorado offense all but disappeared against the Edmonton Oilers. It makes me proud to see my vision become a reality... sort of like that time the local grade school performed my original "ALF" script for its Spring Pageant. The kid that played Willy was excellent. If I listen closely I can still almost hear him force a beleaguered, "Lynn, Brian... get in the car." Hartley's decision to stack his top line was based on the fact that the Avalanche had dropped three of their previous four games and were about to square off with their arch-nemesis, the Detroit Red Wings. Sakic stayed at center, while Forsberg made the shift to left wing. Rookie phenom Milan Hejduk rounded out the line on the right side. The trio immediately clicked. They dominated the Wings all night, with Hejduk and Sakic recording goals in a 4-2 Colorado triumph. Although, to be honest, Sakic's goal came while he was double shifting on a different line, but don't let that take away from their performance. Forsberg set Sakic like a table all night. Joe finished with seven shots on goal and could have easily had a hat trick if not for a few spectacular saves from Norm Maracle. The threesome stayed together the next three games, all of which were won by the Avalanche. During the four games together, Forsberg has a two goals and three assists and Sakic has two goals and four assists. But more importantly the four-game winning streak raised Colorado's record to 12-11-2, marking the first time the club's been over .500 this season. I'll make this as simple as possible. If Sakic and Forsberg play together for 20+ minutes a game, Colorado will not lose. They could very well go 67-0-0 from here on out. No joke. They're just that good. Okay, maybe 66-0-1... but that's only if Forsberg gets the sniffles or something. And there's really no reason to break them up, either. Even with the two superstars on one line, the rest of the Avalanche lineup remains potent with rookie Chris Drury centering Claude Lemieux and Adam Deadmarsh, and Rene Corbet filling in for the injured Stephane Yelle between Valeri Kamensky and Shjon Podein.
SCOTT PARKER IS FRIGHTENING Sporting a goatee straight from hell, Parker arrived in time for the victory over Detroit. Proving once again that they're a bunch of homers, the Wings didn't even attempt to stir up any trouble. Try as he might, Parker just couldn't find a fight. First Joey Kocur turned yella. Then Martin Lapointe, who balked at throwing with Aaron Miller earlier in the game, turned mute once Parker stepped between the Detroit winger and Lemieux at the end of the second period. In Colorado's next game against the Blues, Parker called out heavyweight champ Tony Twist a mere 56 seconds into the contest. With Parker showing Twist respect and the Twister not knowing what to expect from the young thug, neither man threw a punch before the linesmen cautiously stepped in to break up their waltz. Round two was held at 6:19 of the first period. Parker acquitted himself quite well, giving Twist all he could handle and then some. Twist wasn't dressed for the following night's rematch, so Parker laid the smack down on Rudy Poeschek instead. Fans in Colorado can finally quit mourning the departure of Simon. Parker is the answer to their prayers. He just has a presence about him that inspires fear. Maybe it's his raw size, or the cold stare, or maybe it's the King Tut goatee? Whatever it is, Parker is something special.
HURRICANE RONNIE BLOWIN' After signing a four-year, $20-million contract over the summer with the Carolina Hurricanes, LCS hero Ronnie Francis has had a rough time producing offense. In his first 27 games as a Cane, Francis has a mere five goals and 12 points. He's also a team worst -6. Aw, I feel sick... At first I figured he must not be getting much ice time, what with Keith Primeau and Jeff O'Neill also on board. But according to the NHL, Francis is getting 20.96 minutes a game. That's the most of any Carolina forward. Hmm ha. Well, maybe it's who he's playing with? Paul Maurice has been using Francis in more of a defensive role, but Ronnie recently started skating with O'Neill and Gary Roberts. Of course, Roberts promptly left the lineup with a sprained wrist. Far be it from me to tell Maurice how to do his job, even though that whole Forsberg-Sakic thing seems to be working for Bob Hartley, but I'd put Francis between Roberts and Sami Kapanen, and use Primeau with Ray Sheppard and Martin Gelinas. Then I'd just sit and grin, and the points would roll right in. And O'Neill? Screw O'Neill in the ear. I can understand why Maurice would want to use O'Neill on one of the top two lines instead of Francis, since O'Neill pretty much has to serve an offensive role while Francis can excel at either end of the ice. But Ronnie didn't score over 1400 points in this league by accident. I'd go out of my way to make sure he's playing with two of my best scorers. And even though O'Neill has seen quality time, he still has just six goals and 12 points. Those numbers are hardly worth all the trouble. If the kid can't handle third-line duty then use him to try and get the offensive defenseman this club needs to be a contender. Don't try an accommodate the punk by taking away from one of the best to ever play the game.
AMONTE IS GREAT
DAFOE DA SHOW Thankfully, goaltender Byron Dafoe does his part to keep things interesting. He jumps around in net like a monkey on a high wire. And the acrobatics have paid off. Dafoe has been one of the season's biggest surprises, posting a 1.72 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage. Those numbers are like good and stuff. One of the reasons for the improvement is that Dafoe has corrected a flaw in his game, namely giving up weak five-hole goals. And even though he is spectacular at times, that doesn't mean that Dafoe relies solely on athletic ability to stop the puck. He's been dead on his angles this season, only venturing into the circus world when absolutely necessary. It's still a little too early to welcome Dafoe into the goaltending elite, but a few more months of this and Patrick Roy might have to start sewing another club jacket.
LAX ON LINDROS
This whole thing smacks of a double standard. Bobby Clarke threw a hissy fit following the game, complaining that Lindros shouldn't have even been ejected. For his part, Lindros argued that he was merely yanking his stick away from the grip of a defender, and I think we all know how painful that can be, when it accidently came within an inch of decapitating McKee. Whatever. The bottom line is that Lindros was extremely careless with his stick and could have caused a serious injury. That's the kind of thing that can't go unpunished. Would giving him a one-game suspension really bring the entire NHL to a screeching halt?
NOLAN'S GOT NOTHIN' In 22 games this season, Nolan has two goals and eight points. Granted, his first goal of the year was bad as hell, as he piped a snap shot from about 45 feet out in the slot, but this is one area in life where quality doesn't mean more than quantity. At this pace it won't be much longer before the Sharks offer Nolan a front office job.
NHL DOES GOOD The NHL Foundation and the NHLPA will each donate $50,000 to establish the Hockey Fights Cancer Fund. The participants hope to donate more than half a million dollars by the NHL All-Star Weekend, on January 23-24, 1999, with continued support planned for the remainder of the season and beyond. "Many current and former members of the NHLPA and their families have experienced the effects of this disease. Players such as Milos Holan, Doug Wickenheiser, Mario Lemieux, and John Cullen have all fought courageous battles against cancer," said Bob Goodenow, Executive Director of the NHLPA. "Our membership is fully committed to this cause and are proud to be able to work in concert with these other organizations to fight this terrible disease." The league and its member clubs will aid the effort in a variety of ways, including filming public service announcements, conducting in-arena fund-raising activities, donating a percentage of proceeds from local ticket sales, and enlisting sponsors to pledge money for team wins between now and the All-Star Game. "As a former NHL player and current referee I've seen a few good fights," said cancer survivor Paul Stewart. "With all of us teamed together, this is one battle we can win. I know too well the ravages of cancer and am thrilled to be a part of the team effort that can help save lives."
CULLEN HONORED "John has shown great courage and determination in winning his battle with this terrible illness and has taught us all a valuable lesson in life," stated IHL President and CEO Douglas Moss. "The dedication of this trophy in his name is a way of keeping his spirit and energy in the IHL." As any reader of LCS Hockey should know, Cullen recorded 44 goals and 157 points with the IHL's Flint Spirits in 1987-88, earning him League MVP and Rookie of the Year honors. His IHL career resumed recently when he skated with the Cleveland Lumberjacks before accepting an assistant coaching gig with the Lightning Bolts. "When Doug phoned me and mentioned it, it caught me off guard," said Cullen. "When I hung up the phone and started to think about it, I couldn't believe what an honor it was. It makes me see and realize just how far I've come back from the disease. That trophy is going to be around for a long time and it's a huge honor." In a related story, LCS Hockey has broken into the birth records at local Westmoreland Regional Hospital and renamed all the children born from March 5, 1991, to December 1, 1998, Johnny Cullen. "It was the least we could do to honor our hero and create mass confusion for our bureaucratic government oppressor," said Zippy the Wonder Chimp.
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