Alexei Yashin and Thomas Banacek. The differences between the two men are obvious. One is Russian, the other has his roots in Poland. One calls Ottawa home, the other operates out of Boston. One makes money by scoring goals, the other has accumulated a vast fortune by scoring lost objects for insurance companies.

But these two distinctly different individuals have one thing in common. They both wear turtlenecks.

Banacek

In fact, it was Banacek who first popularized the turtleneck look during the mid-1970s as the star of his self-titled TV show. Portrayed by the legendary George Peppard, Banacek was a wealthy playboy who worked as a freelance insurance investigator. He specialized in the impossible. Whenever the perfect crime was committed, the insurance companies were forced to swallow their pride and come to Banacek for help. Help he would gladly give, for his ten percent of the insured value of the stolen object, that is. Oh, he was the sly one.

Hey, remember when he had to recover that whole truckload of priceless paintings? Or how about the time he figured out how someone made a computer the size of a room disappear? Aw, that was great, that was fun.

At the moment, it would appear that the NHL could be in use of Banacek's rather unique services. For it seems that someone has helped the Ottawa Senators steal first place in the Northeast Division. Except the culprit's identity isn't very mysterious. It wouldn't take Banacek long before he followed the trail right to the doorstep of his turtleneck clad comrade, Alexei Yashin.

The 26-year-old center has been a dominant performer this season for the Senators, leading his club to an astounding record of 32- 16-8. Since January 1, no team in the NHL has posted a better record than Ottawa's mark of 16-3-4.

The franchise leader in career games (395), goals (161), assists (211), and points (372), Yashin has been the whole f'n show in Ottawa. He currently leads the club in goals (27), assists (38), points (65), plus-minus (+21), power-play goals (10), and shots (209). His 65 points place him sixth overall in the league scoring race and have him on target to shatter his career best numbers of 35 goals and 79 points.

The success of the team and its star center has the city of Ottawa in a frenzy. After years of frustration, it's fun to be a Senator fan.

Alexei Yashin by Meredith Martini

"The atmosphere in Ottawa is great," says Yashin. "I think it started after we beat the New Jersey Devils in the playoffs last year. You could feel it, like the building was shaking during the last game, last minute when we got a 3-1 lead. This kind of atmosphere I hope will be the same all year long and we have the support of the fans very much."

Despite the playoff success a year ago, and having made the postseason two years running, Ottawa's current prosperity is catching many by surprise. The club's roster isn't exactly filled with superstars. Aside from Yashin, the only other marquee player is the brilliant Daniel Alfredsson, but he hasn't been much help, suffering through a disastrous, injury-plagued campaign. The Swedish sniper has only been able to account for seven goals and 19 points in 37 games.

Even with Alfredsson scuffling to find his stride, Ottawa has still managed to score 164 goals, the sixth highest total in the NHL. Shawn McEachern (26-20-46), Andreas Johansson (17-15-32), Andreas Dackell (11-20-31), Magnus Arvedson (12-16-28), Vaclav Prospal (5-19-24), and Radek Bonk (9-12-21) have all contributed to the cause. The offense has also gotten a spark from the play of rookie Marian Hossa, who has posted seven goals and 14 points in 34 games.

Reading those names, it's impossible to ignore the European influence among the Ottawa offense. Of the team's top nine forwards, four are Swedish, two Czech, one Russian, one Slovakian, and one American. Yet the cultural diversity has not been a hinderance.

"I don't really know why, but I think because it is not like Czech Republic hockey or Russian hockey or European hockey, anymore," explains Yashin. "It is all like NHL hockey and whenever the guy is good enough to play in the NHL and does a good job for the team, the team is very happy with them.

"I think that is the case in our team because a lot of guys are from different countries, but we are really getting along together very well and we support each other very well and it doesn't matter what kind of language you can speak, we all can find a very good connection and that is why we have been successful lately."

While the club's overall goal total is excellent, don't be fooled into thinking that the Senators are a run-and-gun squad. The majority of Ottawa's offense comes from its unwavering commitment to team defense. Only the Dallas Stars (107) have allowed fewer goals than the men from Canada's capital city (118).

The Sens are a counterpuncher. They trap, force turnovers at center, then use their speed and skill to make the opposition pay. When needed, they can also use that same speed to forecheck hard in the offensive zone. But the Senators are at their best when they're playing a patient, defensive game.

The forwards' involvement in the defensive system is vital since the Senators lack a Norris Trophy candidate along the blue line. Ottawa's got more no-names on defense than the 1972 Miami Dolphins. A group of Jason York, Wade Redden, Igor Kravchuk, Janne Laukkanen, Patrick Traverse, Chris Phillips, Sami Salo, and Lance Pitlick may not be spectacular, but it's solid. They all know their roles. They keep it simple. They keep it smart.

Goaltending has long been considered Ottawa's biggest weakness. The last line of defense is made up of Ron Tugnutt and Damian Rhodes, hardly a combination to challenge the likes of Dominik Hasek, Martin Brodeur, or Tom Barrasso. But the Senators' safety-first approach to hockey has insulated their goaltenders quite nicely. Tugnutt is having a season for the ages, leading the league with a sick 1.57 goals-against average and an equally unhealthy .935 save percentage.

"Ron Tugnutt and Damian Rhodes mean a lot to our team," says Yashin. "We have been playing very good defensively and great goaltending is always a very important part of a hockey game and very important part of winning success. I think they have been playing very good lately and that is probably why our team's been winning."

Both Tugnutt and Rhodes have appeared in 30 games this season, but Tugnutt is clearly emerging as the number one guy between the pipes. Yashin, for one, has plenty of confidence in the former Quebec Nordiques netminder.

"I can really say we have been playing very good defensively," cites Yashin. "But he is a great goalie and he enjoys his time in Ottawa and he is very happy and that's why he is probably playing so great and we all support him very much. So is Damian Rhodes. We are just very happy with how they have been playing lately. The goalie is the biggest part of our team, we all know that. And if he continues to play the same, we probably have a chance to win some hockey games."

If one can buy into the club's goaltending, Ottawa's remaining weakness of note would be toughness. The Senators aren't going to intimidate anyone. They try to use their superior skating to combat bigger, stronger teams like the Flyers and Devils. But if things get ugly, they could get real ugly. The Sens don't have a proven heavyweight to settle things down. Chris Murray will throw, but he's about the only one. It's an obvious concern. Or can the Senators survive without fighting?

"No, I think the fight has always been part of a game," says Yashin. "It is a big part and Chris Murray got hurt, but we all try to play very physical and we got some guys who can really play physical, but not the kind to get in a fight. I think every team needs somebody who can stand out on a professional level, you know what I mean, to really be prepared and have some fighting skills. It is the rules of the National Hockey League, and I am sure when Chris comes back, he will do the job for us."

Let's review. The Senators don't have a superstar defenseman, they don't have a superstar goaltender, and they don't have toughness. So why are they only one point out of first place in the Eastern Conference? Good question. It could come down to good old fashioned team chemistry.

"We are very happy with everybody who is in our dressing room and all our guys are excited and try to give their best effort they can give every night," explains Yashin. "Doesn't matter how high you have been drafted in the draft, or if you came from Europe, it doesn't make a difference. We just want to have a great atmosphere in the dressing room which gives us opportunities to play great games."

Chemistry, shmemistry. After considering all the possible factors behind the impressive play of Yashin and the Senators, I've come to the conclusion that one thing is responsible. The turtleneck. No doubt, the chin-hugging sweater of the swank is behind it all.

In hopes of substantiating my opinion, I paid a visit to "The Fashion Cookie," Greensburg's premier boutique for the social elite, conveniently located on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and East Otterman Street. Mr. Pierre, the shop's openly gay proprietor, shared my assessment of Yashin's wardrobe.

"It is, how you say? Bold, exciting!" proclaimed Mr. Pierre with a forced French accent, punctuating the remark with a theatrical wave of his right hand. "I love it so! I get tingly thinking about it!"

Mr. Pierre

Mr. Pierre playfully tipped his beret to one side and continued.

"Hockey is such a physical game. Very physical," said Mr. Pierre, wrinkling his brow and squinting his eyes for effect. "Yet by wearing the turtleneck, Alexei brings a sense of sophistication to his brutal, brutal world. He need not bloody his hands with the common player. He has the turtleneck!

"But there's more to it than that," ventured the passionate Mr. Pierre. "There's also a sense of mystery. I see a turtleneck and I think 'Ooh, what is he hiding?' He must be hiding something. It's very exciting! What are you hiding, Alexei? What are you hiding?"

One thing's for sure, Yashin isn't hiding on the ice. He's been a true captain and leader for the Sens. Like his turtleneck, Yashin wears his C with pride.

"Yeah, it is a lot of responsibility," admits Yashin. "Being captain on a Canadian team, where hockey is the No. 1 sport. I mean, it is great, but it is a lot of responsibility too. It is a lot of pressure. But I have great people around me and great guys. They support me very much and we probably, all together, try to push ourselves onto a different level and it has been working lately and I hope we will do the same in the future."

Ottawa fans are hoping that Yashin can continue to push the Senators deep into the playoffs. Hmm, I wonder how the Stanley Cup would look in a turtleneck?

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