head coach: Scotty Bowman

roster: C - Sergei Fedorov*, Steve Yzerman, Igor Larionov, Kris Draper. LW - Brendan Shanahan, Vyacheslav Kozlov, Doug Brown, Tomas Holmstrom, Kirk Maltby, Brent Gilchrist. RW - Darren McCarty, Joey Kocur, Martin Lapointe. D - Nicklas Lidstrom, Bob Rouse, Slava Fetisov, Larry Murphy, Jamie Pushor, Aaron Ward, Anders Eriksson, Mathieu Dandenault. G - Chris Osgood, Kevin Hodson.
*-Unsigned free agent.

injuries: Kirk Maltby, lw (separated shoulder, 2-4 weeks).

transactions: Acquired Brent Gilchrist, lw-rw, as a free agent; released Tomas Sandstrom, lw-rw; traded Mike Vernon, g, to San Jose for draft picks; Sergei Fedorov, c, remains unsigned; lost Tim Taylor, lw, in the waiver draft to Boston.

standings:

GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA   HOME      ROAD
 2   2   0   0     4   11    3  0-0-0     2-0-0

game results:

10/1 at Calgary  W 3-1
10/3 at Edmonton W 8-2

team news:

by Dino Cacciola, Detroit Correspondent

SEASON OPENER

The defending Stanley Cup Champions began the season in Calgary with a very solid performance and a victory. Two power-play goals were enough to start the season on a good note. Wingers Doug Brown and Brendan Shanahan scored the power-play goals early in the first two periods, respectively. Marty Lapointe added an empty netter with less than a minute to play to seal the win. Defensemen Niklas Lidstrom added two assists. He was recently named the second-best all-around defensemen in the NHL by The Hockey News...but what do they know...

Chris Osgood made 28 saves as he begins he quest to regain the number one goalie for the Wings. It is his job to lose as Cup MVP Mike Vernon was dealt away last summer. The Wings managed just 20 shots on net in the victory.

TOYING WITH THE BOYS

The Edmonton Oilers are the talk of the league. They are young and full of promise and on any night could probably beat any team. That is, any team but the Red Wings. The Red Wings went into Edmonton for their second game looking to beat the Oilers for the fifth straight time. And that's what they did, pummeling them 8-2 at the Northlands.

Shanny, defensemen Larry Murphy, and Niklas Lidstrom each had a goal and two assists in the rout. The Professor, Igor Larionov, had three assists. Also tallying were "Grampa" Slava Fetisov, Marty Lapointe, Slava Kozlov, Dougie Brown and Kris Daper.

The Wings totally dominated the entire game scoring six goals within a 25-minute span beginning late in the first period. The tactics of the young Oilers was to get the Wings off of their game, but it proved to be of waste as the game was clearly over early.

On Deck: Dallas Stars -- as the Red Wings have their home opener and raise their championship banner high above Joe Louis Arena Wednesday night, October 8. It will hang next to their last banner of 1955.

In Other News:

The Red Wings are playing without Kirk Maltby of the Grind Line. Maltby has a separated shoulder and should return within a couple of weeks. Also not around is one-time league MVP Sergei Fedorov, who is seeking somewhere in the neighborhood of $6 million per year. Rumors also indicate that he wants stipulations in his contract to guarantee him being a more offensive key for the Wings. I say trade the guy if he doesn't want to play. I don't see Scotty Bowman catering to his needs over the needs of the team's as a whole.

Reports have indicated that the Red Wings owner Mike Illitch has placed an order to buy two karat diamond rings for the Red Wings organization at a cost of $20,000 each to commemorate winning the Stanley Cup. There are supposedly 175 rings ordered. WOW!

The entire Illitch family will have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup. This leaves many to wonder why, as most of the family does not work for the Red Wings organization. In a minor gaffe, dressing room attendant Wally Crossman, who has worked for the Red Wings for 58 years, had his name left off the Cup. But new GM Ken Holland has indicated that it will be on and it was just an oversight. Whew!

Injured defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov is in good condition while in rehabilitation at a Detroit area hospital from the auto accident that nearly cost him his life. He can stand and do some very simple tasks like eating and washing his hands. He still has trouble speaking though. He cannot be replaced. He was the Red Wings best defensemen and most valuable player. The Wings will have a tough time to make up for his loss. His hockey career is pretty much over. We can only hope for a full recovery.

Team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov is in good condition as well. Captain Steve Yzerman has started a fund from the players to pay for the education of Sergei's children. A great gesture from a great hockey person.

Richard Gnida, the limousine driver in the crash in which Konstantinov and Mnatsakanov suffered serious head injuries will face misdemeanor charges of driving without a license in Oakland County Court. If convicted, he could face a maximum of a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. A number of Red Wings have been outspoken over their displeasure of the degree in which Gnida may have to face. They believe it is nothing compared to what their teammates and families have to go through. A preliminary hearing for Gnida on the misdemeanor is set for October 20.

RECENT LINES

Offense
Brendan Shanahan/Igor Larionov/Martin Lapointe
Slava Kozlov/Steve Yzerman/Darren McCarty
Brent Gilchrist/Kris Draper/Mike Knuble
Tomas Holmstrom/Mathieu Dandenault/Doug Brown

Defense
Nicklas Lidstrom/Larry Murphy
Slava Fetisov/Bob Rouse
Aaron Ward/Jamie Pushor

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