_ _ _ _ | | ____ __ | | ____ ___ | | ____ ___ | | ____ ___ | |/ _ / __| | |/ _ / __| | |/ _ / __| | |/ _ / __| | | (_ \__ \ | | (_ \__ \ | | (_ \__ \ | | (_ \__ \ |_|\____\___/ |_|\____\___/ |_|\____\___/ |_|\____\___/ GUIDE TO HOCKEY GUIDE TO HOCKEY GUIDE TO HOCKEY GUIDE TO HOCKEY ================================================================ Five Star - ELECTRONIC EDITION - * * * * * ================================================================ Issue 79 October 7-21, 1997 387,000 bytes ---------------------------------------------------------------- Visit us on the web at http://www.lcshockey.com/ for all your hockey needs. Our web site provides daily news stories, stats, and more. To subscribe/unsubscribe from the LCS Hockey mailing list contact zippy@psu.edu You may access LCS Guide to Hockey on America Online at keyword "LCS Hockey". Our AOL coverage includes exclusive daily content not available on our website. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Hey, the Season Started! ---------------------------------------------------------------- by Michael Dell Some of you, our valued readers, may have noticed that the web site was down for most of the past week. Well, what can we say? It was just another example of the man tryin' to keep us down. At least nothing much happened while the site was busted. I mean, it's not like the NHL season started or anything. Because that would have been terrible if, like, the NHL season got underway and the site wasn't working. That would have just been silly. Can you imagine how embarrassing that would be? Talk about lame. That's just... um, wait a minute... never mind. The 1997-98 NHL season is indeed underway. In the East, Washington has sprinted out to a 3-0-0 start under the guidance of new coach Ron Wilson. So far the Caps hardly resemble the offensively-impaired clubs that usually call Washington home. Under Wilson's watchful eye, the Caps have racked up 14 goals in their first three outings. One reason for the improved production is the presence of such talented youngsters as LCS favorites Richard Zednik and Jaroslav "Yogi" Svejkovsky. Zednik, who LCS first hyped way back at the World Cup when he and his Slovakian mates almost knocked off Team Canada, has three goals, bagging one each time out. Combine the youngsters with the likes of Adam Oates and Peter Bondra, and the Caps are a dangerous squad. Things should only get better now that skilled Russian blueliner Sergei Gonchar has been re-signed. Washington's been doing it all without the services of the great Billy Ranford. Olaf Kolzig has been the man in net, taking over after Ranford got blasted in the sunshine by a Per Gustafsson slap shot during the first period of the season opener in Toronto. And I think we all know painful that can be. The other powerhouse in the East is obviously the Philadelphia Flyers. The orange and black suffered a rather shocking 2-1 defeat to the Phoenix Coyotes at home to drop their record to 2- 1-0, but hey, that stuff's gonna happen over 82 games. Eric Lindros and crew are all the more fearsome now that Chris Gratton and Luke Richardson are on board. Dainius Zubrus has stepped up and filled in for the departed Mikael Renberg on the Legion of Doom line, while Gratton is skating on the second unit with rookie Vaclav Prospal and resident stiff Pat Falloon. This, of course, leaves Rod Brind'Amour on a third line. Not only is he missing out on even-strength ice time, but Brind'Amour is also sitting on the bench when the power-play units hop over the boards. He's not happy. Coach Wayne Cashman might need to rethink playing Falloon on that second line. Sure, he has two goals in three games, but that won't last. Having Brind'Amour unhappy isn't good for the team's long-term success. Speaking of long-term success, the Flyers won't have any unless Eric Desjardins is healthy. Desjardins is out for the foreseeable future with a somewhat mysterious pelvic injury. The club is hoping that rest will do the trick. The New York Rangers are the only team in the Atlantic Division without a win, but the Blueshirts have posted two ties in their first two games, both by scores of 2-2. That's odd. Each game required some late heroics from Big Apple newcomers. Patty LaFontaine did the honors in the season opener, deflecting his first goal as a Ranger past Tommy Salo in the third period to earn a draw with the Islanders. The next time out it was Kevin Stevens providing the drama, stuffing home a puck at the right post in the final seconds to deadlock the Kings. The goal by Stevens could be his first of many this season. Wayne Gretzky has told Stevens he'll buy him a Cadillac if the former Penguin sniper can reach the 40-goal plateau. But more importantly, I myself have some major scratch ridin' on Stevens to score at least 35 goals. I can't offer Stevens a Cadillac as incentive, but if the thought of me with two broken legs helps his quest at all, then so be it. The Northeast Division can't boast a club in the class of either Philadelphia or Washington. Hell, it can barely boast a club in the class of a high school gym team. Pittsburgh has played extremely hard in compiling a 1-1-1 record, but if they were any smaller they'd be living in mushrooms and getting chased through the forest by Gargamel and Azrael. Montreal is 1-0-1 thanks in large part to the success of the top line of Mark Recchi, Shayne Corson, and Saku Koivu. The trio tore up Boston for 10 points in a 4-1 win. But, then again, that's Boston. The Bruins were able to squeak out a season-opening win against the visiting Kings, but hopes for a successful season are still slim. The big surprise in the early going is the sad play of the Carolina Hurricanes, who are winless at 0-3-0. It's the Curse of the Whale. They should have never left Hartford. They also should have never given Trevor Kidd the start in the season opener. Kidd was abused by the Tampa Bay Lightning in a 4-2 loss. The club turned to Sean Burke for its second game, but the star veteran wasn't too happy about missing the opener for the first time in his career and was shaky in a 4-3 loss to the Penguins. Kidd was back in net for a 3-2 loss in Ottawa. Coach Paul Maurice is doing his club a disfavor by rotating his goaltenders. Burke should be the man. The other big story in Carolina is the return of Gary Roberts. The former Flame legend has yet to light the lamp and isn't quite back to the form that made him so dominant in Calgary. But the guy's only played 43 games the past three years. It's going to take some time before he's back to his old self. And I don't just mean one or two weeks. He may not find his stride until after the All-Star break. But that's okay. Because the wait will definitely be worth it. The good news is that his neck seems strong enough to compete. Darius Kasparaitis put Roberts to the test early, crushing him in the side of the head with a devastating check in the first period of Carolina's loss to Pittsburgh. It was brutal. If Roberts could survive that hit, he can survive anything. Turning our attentions to the West, how would you like to be the Calgary Flames? Brian Sutter's troops opened up the season at home against the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche. That's not good. As expected, the club dropped both games. At least the Flames fared a bit better than the Edmonton Oilers. After opening up with a 5-3 win over the Sharks, the Oilers were spanked at home by the Red Wings, 8-2, and whitewashed by Patrick Roy and the Avalanche, 3-0. Hey, life ain't no boat ride. The Wings have looked mighty impressive against the Flames and Oil, even without Sergei Fedorov, who remains unsigned, and Vladimir Konstantinov. But don't let the hot start fool you. The Wings will have their problems this season. It just won't happen until around January or February, when the loss of Konstantinov will really hit home. As for Colorado, the Avalanche have switched to a more defensive scheme this season. So far so good, as the club is 2-0-1 and has only allowed a total of three goals. The defensive gameplan is the perfect fit with Keith Jones and Mike Ricci being out of the lineup recovering from off-season surgeries and Sandis Ozolinsh having separated his shoulder in the season opener. Ozolinsh should be back to boost the offense in the next day or so, but the Avalanche attack could also use a lift from Joe Sakic. The captain has yet to score a goal and has just one assist in the first three contests. The Dallas Stars, predicted by LCS to be the beast of the Central Division, have stumbled early on without their captain Derian Hatcher. With the big blueliner sitting at home unsigned, the Stars managed a 2-2 tie in Colorado and then dropped a 2-1 decision to the Blues at home. They haven't played that poorly, but they'll never reach their full potential until Derian gets signed. The sooner the better. Chicago and Toronto are both pointless, each owning a record of 0-2-0. The Blackhawks got rocked 7-2 by Jeremy Roenick and the Coyotes in the season opener, with Roenick torching his old mates for a goal and two assists. The next time out they were bitten by the Sharks, 3-2, despite a goal and an assist by Tony Amonte. As for the Leafs, they lost the season opener at home to Washington, 4-1, and then got blanked, 3-0, by Salo and the Islanders. Maybe it's best if we just moved on... The only other starts of note took place in Japan, where the Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Mighty Ducks opened up the season with a two-game set in front of the Japanese faithful. The Canucks took the first game, 3-2, behind Mark Messier's first as a Canuck and a Pavel Bure slap shot. The Ducks, who remain without Paul Kariya, answered back in game two with a 3-2 win of their own, even though Bure recorded his second goal. Bure is back to wearing his good ol' number 10. That's a smart move. I don't care who you are, it's just tough to score goals with a 96 on your back. One of the best things about the young season has been the officiating. Referees are back to actually calling interference and obstruction. Well I'll be damned. In a related story, the temperature in Hell was measured at 29 degrees today. So to that kid that was on the AOL chat the other night that thinks Pat Falloon is gonna tear up the league this season, make sure you bundle up before you go there. Ya jagoff... Hey, that reminds me, LCS' AOL coverage is back in full swing. So be sure to sign up to America Online and visit our site for, like, five or six hours each and every day of your life. Its keyword is "LCS". We can't wait to see you online! Well, really I could... but I have to act like I'm excited and stuff or the people at AOL won't give back my dog. One final note, make sure you check out the baseball playoffs. We worked out a deal with Major League Baseball. They're gonna be mentioning us during all their telecasts of the American and National League championships. So watch the games and just count the number of times you hear "LCS"... it's really cool of them to help spread the good word of LCS. It is appreciated. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Hurricane Watch: New Team Blows into Town ---------------------------------------------------------------- by Gavin Rodkey The beginning of the 1997-98 NHL season brings another new face to hockey, although it seems strangely familiar. On Friday, October 3, the Carolina Hurricanes, the franchise formerly known as the Hartford Whalers, played their first regular season game at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, in front of an announced crowd of 18,000. The evening was a success for the Hurricanes, despite their 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Fans were vocal and enjoyed the game, and they eagerly bought up merchandise featuring the Hurricanes' distinctive red, white, black and silver logo, as well as lots of commemorative opening night program, pucks, pennants, and posters. By the end of the evening, two things were clear: North Carolina is officially NHL country, and the Hartford Whalers are a pleasant memory. While that might have been obvious to most, there seemed to be some lingering doubt before the game. Over 100 die-hard Whaler fans made the long trip down from Connecticut to see the game. They were there to give support to the players who had been Hartford's favorite sons only a few months ago. On the local Greensboro news, many of the Whaler fans simply said this was closure on a sad event, and a way to show that they still care about Whalers hockey. However, in listening to these fans speak, I could hear a sense of betrayal and anger that an area so loyal to hockey could have its team moved to North Carolina, where hockey is all but a stranger. Outside the Coliseum, groups of fans in Whalers jerseys yelled encouragement to each other and held signs that said "Save the Whale." Inside, scattered groups of Whalers jerseys could be seen in the crowd. Technically the largest building in the NHL this season (21,000 seats), the Greensboro Coliseum Complex is impressive. Still, without a giant video scoreboard and huge luxury boxes, the Greensboro Coliseum is almost quaint and seems strangely undersized for the NHL. Perhaps it's the smaller than regulation rink (the only one in the NHL this year), or the fact that a section in the upper tier serves as an impromptu press box and video review booth. Whatever the case, the Coliseum is no stranger to big events, and the introduction of the Hurricanes was memorable, even if it was a bit cliched. Before all of the fans had filed to their seats, the arena lights dimmed. After a few minutes of Europe's "The Final Countdown," the PA announcer spoke. "All right, fans," he said, "we've waited long enough. The NHL has finally come to North Carolina. It's Friday night. Are you ready for some hockey?" The crowd roared its approval. The Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up" blared over the loudspeakers. A laser show began at center ice. Excitement was building. "Ladies and Gentlemen...your 1997 Carolina Hurricanes!" The crowd rose to its feet and applauded and cheered every player as they were introduced. When the Penguins took the ice, they were booed lustily, as was Hurricane owner Peter Karmanos, the man who moved the Whalers to North Carolina. Whaler faithful had the chance to let him know one more time how they felt about him. (They also let him know during the singing of the national anthem, to the displeasure of local fans.) When the game finally began, it was an NHL hockey game like any other, and the crowd enjoyed it. They cheered when their Hurricanes delivered a check, and cheered louder when Penguin superstar Jaromir Jagr was sent to the penalty box. They loved the fights, and they booed when they felt the referee had missed a call for their team. They stood to watch breakaways and scoring chances, and they celebrated when Nelson Emerson finally scored the Hurricanes' first home goal. Two Carolina goals in the third period brought the score to 4-3 and kept the fans excited until the very end. There were a few opening night miscues. Twice, doors flew open after checks in the corner and in front of the penalty box, creating a dangerous situation for players. Also, the Zambonis had a difficult time getting the ice resurfaced on time because intermission entertainment ran past schedule. When it was all over, however, the Hurricanes had put on a show and left their new fans entertained. How the other 40 home games will be received is anyone's guess. As evidenced by the large number of fans in NHL merchandise, there are plenty of local hockey fans ecstatic at the prospect of having the NHL in their backyard for the next two seasons. Plus, this section of North Carolina known as the Triad is finally getting a major league franchise after watching southern sister Charlotte get the Hornets of the NBA and the Panthers of the NFL in recent years; the local pride is obvious. But there are some ominous signs for Hurricane supporters. Ticket prices are high, and season ticket sales are stuck around 3,000; fans in Raleigh may be waiting for the new arena in 1999. Outside the Coliseum before the game, Jeff Burton's number 99 NASCAR stock car was on display; inside, Jeff was made "official driver" of the Hurricanes and given a number 99 jersey. It was an ironic reminder that Wayne Gretzky and NHL hockey have merited little attention in these parts. One more sobering sign: the next day on the cover of the Greensboro News & Record, the Hurricanes inaugural game merited second place coverage to a local businessman signing a letter of intent to buy the Minnesota Twins baseball team and move them to the Triad in 2001. Will the Hurricanes have time to build a fan base to compete with a "more traditional" major league sport? Those questions weren't asked Friday night, though. The Canes let the world know that they are North Carolina's hockey team. Hurricane fans made it known that they are happy to have them. Whaler fans let everyone know that they loved their team. And for one night, at least, the Carolina Hurricanes were the only game in town. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Karmanos, I'm Callin' You Out ---------------------------------------------------------------- by Michael Dell It's been nearly six months, but it still hurts. Each day without the Hartford Whalers feels like an eternity in hell... an emotionless, senses-numbing hell, devoid of all hope. Sort of like a library. Watching the Carolina Hurricanes make their NHL debut on October 1 in Tampa Bay was extremely painful. It drove home the fact that no matter how much we will it to happen, the Whale will never return. Sadly, the mighty sea mammals are dead. Dead? Wait, a minute, the Whale aren't dead yet! LCS isn't going to sit idly by and allow a punk like Peter Karmanos to screw with the memory of the Whale. Just because Karmanos took the money and ran, that doesn't mean he's going to get away with it! LCS was there at the Draft in 1994 when Karmanos was introduced to the crowd in Hartford as the man who saved the Whale. We were there to watch him accept the adulation of the fans, all the while knowing he was going to split once his lease was up. We were there to witness him begin his rise to power in Hartford. We should be there when he crashes to Earth in Carolina. Our plan is simple. I, Michael Dell the editor-in-chief of LCS: Guide to Hockey, being of somewhat sound mind and body, am officially challenging Mr. Karmanos to a fight. Just a good ol' bare-knuckled street fight, sort of like the Clint Eastwood classic "Any Which Way But Loose". Except instead of an orangutan called Clyde, I hang out with a chimp named Zippy. If Karmanos wins, he will gain ownership of the vast LCS: Guide to Hockey empire, which includes such riches as a 1989 Pontiac Le Mans, a complete collection of "ALF" episodes taped on Beta cassettes, and two big barrels of grain alcohol. If I win, LCS will become the owners of the Carolina franchise. Upon taking control, we would immediately move the team back to the Mall in Hartford and the Whale would once again be swimming in NHL waters. As for the fans in Carolina, well... screw 'em. This mission's all about the Whale. Challenging Karmanos to a fight may sound kind of drastic, but such duels have been a part of American culture ever since Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam set the standard back in the day. And if not for a grueling knife fight, Bob Barker would not be the host of "The Price Is Right" today. So there you have it, folks. The gauntlet has been tossed. The only question now is whether Karmanos will be man enough to accept it. Stay tuned to the pages of LCS for updates. And to all you people in Hartford, keep the light on for us... we'll be bringin' the Whale home soon! ---------------------------------------------------------------- LCS'll Name That Pig ---------------------------------------------------------------- by Michael Dell Word on the street is that the Carolina Hurricanes have sold only 3,000 season tickets. Until we're able to liberate the franchise from the slimy grasp of Peter Karmanos and return it to its rightful place in Hartford, the least we can do is try and boost the attendance a bit. After all, LCS hero Gary Roberts deserves to be playing in front of a full house. Anything less is a disgrace to Gary, a disgrace to LCS, and a disgrace to the sport. With that in mind, we here at LCS did a little brainstorming and came up with some ideas to increase attendance in Carolina. Luckily for us, it doesn't take long to storm our brains. Maybe two, three minutes tops. I like to storm mine during commercials. That way I can watch "Columbo" all care free like, without the threat of distraction. Speaking of Columbo, it would take the frumpy, cigar-smoking sleuth to find out why the hell the Hurricanes decided to have a pig as their mascot. Yes, it's true, they have a pig as a mascot. Apparently the Carolina region is real big into the harvesting of pork. It's the other white meat, ya know. So they, like, raise the pigs, get 'em all fat, and then slaughter the hell out of 'em. Oh wait, now that I put it like that, it's easy to see why a pig was chosen. Sure, nothing morbid about the decision at all. Honest. Selecting a pig makes perfect sense... if you're insane! What were they thinking? What, will the pig walk around with a bloody knife in his back? Between periods are they gonna let fans come down out of the stands and cut his throat? If having a pig as their mascot doesn't create a whole mess of new vegetarians, nothing will. I can just hear the conversation now between a father and son at the games. Father: See that dancing pig down there, Timmy? Son: Yeah, Pop. Father: We get bacon from his ass. Tomorrow when you're eating breakfast, you can pretend you're eating his ass. Son: Wow, his ass is tasty, Pop. Father: It certainly is, son. It certainly is. See, that's just wrong. You can't have a mascot that's also a source of food... a source of really disgusting food. It just doesn't work. The mascot choice is even more disturbing considering there's a certain furry blue behemoth currently without a gig in the NHL. His name begins with a "B" and ends in an "adaboum". Is that familiar to anyone out there? Hello? Forgiving the rather unfortunate choice in mascot for a moment, the club is currently trying to find a name for its curly-tailed cretin. Perhaps with the right name, the pig will actually win us over. So we did our best to think of a name that would generate some fan excitement and bring people to the rink. In our search for the perfect moniker, we dispatched with the spiteful (Oprah), the obvious (Cholesterol), and the ironic (Abraham R. Swinestein). In the end, there is only one true name for a pig mascot: Tricky. Yes, Tricky the Pig. Tricky is short, easy to remember, and gives the impression of a mischievous rogue. Plus it's a nickname for Trichinosis. And you don't want to mess with a pig named Trichinosis. This way people won't even consider eating him. A name like Trichinosis sends the message "Hey, this pork's off limits, bucko!" Now that the mascot situation is under control, let's turn our attention to the club's rink, the Greensboro Coliseum. It seems obvious to us that the arena's nickname should be "The Storm Cellar". Not only is it catchy, it would look damn fine on T- shirts. Now that it has the catchy name, the building has to live up to the hype. You can't have a rink named "The Storm Cellar" and then have it be your average, run-of-the-mill barn. Oh, no. You gotta go that extra marketing mile. To start with, all windows and doors must be boarded up following the drop of the puck. Fire hazard, shmire hazard, bust out the hammer and nails. Concession stands should only sell canned goods and bottled water. Put the hot dogs down and pick up a can of yellow string beans. Hey, you could get some corn, your buddy could get some lima beans... BAM! Succotash, no waiting. Between intermissions, the Storm Cellar's corridors should be turned into wind tunnels. Not only will it add to the authenticity of the event, but the club could pick up some extra scratch by running aerodynamic tests on Japanese cars. And what about the arena sprinklers? Well, those boys should be spittin' 24-7-365. Dress accordingly. One final change to perk up the arena, replace all existing personnel (ticket-takers, ushers, etc.), with leggy supermodels. Employee efficiency may drop a bit, but who the hell cares? We've pitched this leggy-supermodel idea before and it always seems to fall on deaf ears. It's gold, Jerry! Gold! Well, that's about it. If wearing a rain coat to games and eating cold vegetables right from the can while watching a pig named Trichinosis dance doesn't create more fan interest, then maybe the people of Carolina just don't deserve a damn hockey team. ---------------------------------------------------------------- World Domination Report, V.III, No.I ---------------------------------------------------------------- by Zippy the Wonder Chimp World Domination ain't easy, it takes time. You know, it took Dom Giagnocavo, our crazy Canadian pal, twenty years to learn the names of all the members of Menudo. So, how can we complain about the mediocrity we've achieved in three years. Here is a recap of the latest from the offices of LCS Guide to Hockey... LCS Hockey on America Online...Update LCS Hockey is returning to America Online for a second season. To access our AOL area, use keyword "LCS Hockey" or "LCS". If you access our site on AOL, you will find many exclusive features not available on our web site. We provide daily recaps of NHL contests and news and weekly columns in our NHL Daily area. Our AOL coverage is the perfect compliment to our web-based content. In addition to the new content, we also offer message boards and a chat room on AOL. On our message boards, you can post your thoughts on various topics including current NHL events, the ex-Hartford Whalers, John Cullen and waffles. Also be sure to take part in our chat room. Each week night, members of the LCS Guide to Hockey staff will host chats on various topics. These topics are only suggestions, we prefer to run our chat room as an open discussion where thoughts flow without hinderance. So, talk about whatever you want. Here is the current chat schedule: AOL Chat Schedule Monday - Pez Addiction 11:00 PM to Midnight EST Tuesday - Tribute to Donuts 11:00 PM to Midnight EST Wednesday - Breakfast Cereals Midnight to 1:00 AM EST Thursday - Beer: Bottled Joy 1:00 AM to 2:00 AM EST Friday - Don Knotts Midnight to 1:00 AM EST If hockey comes up during our discussion, so be it. We hope to see you online. Classic Television Spokesman Unveiled! If there's one thing LCS: Guide to Hockey loves, it's the classic TV. It's always been a dream of ours to have a spokesperson who appeared on television. After years of searching for the perfect classic TV spokesperson to represent LCS: Guide to Hockey, we've finally found our man. Read the offical announcement. LCS: Questions o' the Month The Questions o' the Month have been a formidable challenge to all who have dared solve their riddles. So difficult are these questions that not a single soul was able to correctly answer any of the trivia questions for last season. We're disappointed with you, our apparently unknowledgable, valued readers. This month we're going with another classic television program you all should know, Taxi. If you answer all 10 questions right, you will win a bitchin' prize. LCS Hockey Pool The FREE 1997-98 LCS Hockey Pool is taking entries until October 12. Register today. Coming Soon! An Olympic preview, the opening of the LCS Hall of Fame, and much, much more... _____________________________________________________ CREDITS Michael Dell........................Editor-in-Chief Zippy the Wonder Chimp.................Computer Boy Jim Iovino.............................Ace Reporter Matthew Secosky.............................Chimp B Dan Hurwitz.............Force for Cultural Hegemony John Kreiser.....................Featured Columnist David A. Feete......................Featured Writer Viktor Malakoff...............Anaheim Correspondent Matt Brown.....................Boston Correspondent Valerie Hammerl...............Buffalo Correspondent Tony Wong.....................Calgary Correspondent Dan Glovier...................Chicago Correspondent Matt Gitchell................Colorado Correspondent Jim Panenka....................Dallas Correspondent Dino Cacciola.................Detroit Correspondent Simon D. Lewis...............Edmonton Correspondent Eric A. Seiden................Florida Correspondent Steve Gallichio..............Hartford Correspondent Matt Moore................Los Angeles Correspondent Jacques Robert...............Montreal Correspondent David Ibrahim..............New Jersey Correspondent David Strauss...............Islanders Correspondent Alex Frias....................Rangers Correspondent The Nosebleeders..............Ottawa Correspondents Eric Meyer...............Philadelphia Correspondent Jeff Brown....................Phoenix Correspondent Joe Ashkar..................St. Louis Correspondent Mark Spiegel.................San Jose Correspondent Troy Ely....................Tampa Bay Correspondent Jonah Sigel...................Toronto Correspondent Carol Schram................Vancouver Correspondent Jason Sheehan..............Washington Correspondent Tricia McMillan...................AHL Correspondent _____________________________________________________ LCS Guide to Hockey, Issue 80, Oct. 21 - Nov. 2, 1997. Email address: sportif@oak.westol.com Good ol' postal address: 632 Hempfield Street, Greensburg, PA 15601. Web Site: http://www.lcshockey.com/ open 24 hours a day. AOL Keyword: "LCS" or "LCS Hockey", exclusive coverage. _____________________________________________________ ---------------------------------------------------------------- The NHL in Japan.it blows ---------------------------------------------------------------- By Jim Iovino Yee-haw. The NHL was a success in Japan. Isn't that wonderful news? On second thought, does anyone in North America really care? I'd rather see the league take an interest in the teams already in the league, especially those that are struggling to make ends meet, than give a couple little charity games to another country. The Japanese are pleased with watching two NHL games.that's great. But what about the true hockey fans across North America, like those in Quebec City, Winnipeg, Hartford and Minneapolis who had teams taken away from them? All they're getting out of this is more bad feelings toward the league. What did Japan do to deserve NHL games? More importantly, what did the people of Winnipeg and Quebec City do to deserve the loss of their beloved franchises? The NHL has got to stop looking too far ahead in its quest for world domination and take a hard look at the trail of wrecked franchises and broken hearts they are leaving in their wake. Cities with no ice, let alone no hockey histories, are getting franchises, while those people who truly love the game are being left out in the cold. The NHL would rather have to explain every rule of the game from icing to cross-checking to a novice audience than cater to those who have supported the game for over 75 years. That isn't the way to say thanks. I think it's more of a slap in the face. "Hey, we already got your money, step aside so we can get someone else's." The average hockey fan is being pushed aside for the corporate giants who spend thousands upon thousands of dollars for seats, yet wind up never going to any of the games. Or if they do go to the game, they get to the arena halfway through the first period and leave with five minutes left in the third. With the game still tied. Oh, by the way, how far will the NHL go before they realize fans won't care enough anymore to shell out 50 or 60 bucks see the Ed Wards and Igor Korolevs of the league stumble over each other for 60 minutes? Don't get me wrong, I love the game of hockey. But the game of hockey I'm used to watching is falling by the wayside. More and more people are getting a bitter feeling toward the NHL. From the relocation of franchises, to the addition of more and more franchises, to the watering down of talent, to the incredible cost of tickets, the NHL is getting a bad name. I know I'm getting sick of some of the stunts the league has pulled lately. The expansion to 30 teams by the year 2000 is a crock. There's no way league official can tell me the talent level won't be dismal by that time. I'm sure a lot of other people think the same way, but yet their voices aren't being heard due to the corporate weasels who are filling the league's coffers with tons of cash just to get their products recognized as "official sponsors" of the NHL. As long as the league's making money, it must be a success, right? Think again, Mr. Bettman. The NHL, as is, sucks. And it's only going to get worse with expansion. The league can't by talent. Maybe the NHL has the right idea about playing games in foreign lands like Japan. If enough people in North America get pissed off at the league, they better start looking for a new home. Perhaps they already are. ---------------------------------------------------------------- I Heard Things ---------------------------------------------------------------- by Jim Iovino Patches reminder of fallen teammates Several teams will wear patches this season in honor of teammates who have fallen upon hard times. In Tampa Bay, the Lightning will wear a cloverleaf patch with the number 12 in the middle for LCS Hockey idol, and hero for all ages 8 to 80, Johnny Cullen. Cullen, who has cancer, is currently preparing for a bone marrow transplant. Just weeks ago Cullen had hoped to return to the Lightning lineup, but it turned out the radiation treatments he received did not get rid of all the cancer. The Lightning are keeping hope that Cully will still be able to one day return to the lineup. They are keeping his locker open in the dressing room, awaiting his return. The Detroit Red Wings will also wear a patch to recognize the loss from the team of defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov and team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov. The two were seriously injured in a limo accident after a golf outing that was to celebrate the team's Stanley Cup. The patch has not yet been finalized, but will definitely feature an inspirational word, such as "Hope" or "Believe". The patch will more than likely also feature Konstantinov's No. 16 and Mnatsakanov's initials.

Courtnall close to finding a home?

The Arizona Republic is reporting that unrestricted free agent Russ Courtnall is interested in playing for either the Phoenix Coyotes or Vancouver Canucks this season. Courtnall told "friends" that there is a good chance he could sign with one of the teams this week. However, Coyotes GM Bobby Smith said that although he has talked with Courtnall's agent, he doesn't think the speedy winger fits in well with his current team. Courtnall, 32, played for the New York Rangers last season.

Holding out for a hero.

>From the "Who Cares" Department, Bill Guerin, Vitali Yachmenev and Jeff Friesen are still no-shows.

Cleary coming along nicely

First, Chicago Blackhawk 1997 first-round pick Dan Cleary said he would beat the odds and make the final roster. Then he did it. Now, Cleary, 18, has impressed the Hawks so much that they're considering putting him at left wing on the top line with Alexei Zhamnov and Tony Amonte more often. The trio started together during the season opener in Phoenix, but Cleary was scratched for the next game against San Jose. But considering the lack of success the team has had early in the year, head coach Craig Hartsburg is thinking of moving him up to the first line more often. Cleary scored 32 goals and 80 points in 64 games last season in Belleville of the Ontario Hockey League.

Quote of the week

Pat Burns Boston Bruins head coach 'The team has no identity right now. That's the problem. We're lacking in that part, we have to find ourselves an identity. We don't have one. This is Game 2, let's not go commit suicide somewhere. We'll wait until Game 4 for that.''

Blackhawks to retire Savard's number

The Chicago Blackhawks recently announced at a benefit luncheon that Denis Savard, who hung up the skates after last season, will have his number 18 retired by the organization on March 19 against the Montreal Canadiens. The timing of the ceremony is fitting, since Savard spent three of his 17 years in the league in his hometown of Montreal. Savard began his career in Chicago in 1980 and ended it in the Windy City last season. "The Great Gazoo", as he's lovingly referred to around the offices of LCS Hockey, retired from the game as the holder of 16 Blackhawk records. Savard spent 12 and a half seasons with the Blackhawks in his career. He also saw action as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning. "Wow. I think this is unbelievable," Savard said. "To have my number up there with a Bobby Hull, a Stan Mikita, Glenn Hall and Tony Esposito is something I never thought I would see in my lifetime. It's definitely a highlight." ---------------------------------------------------------------- The Year of the Young Guns ---------------------------------------------------------------- By Jim Iovino Any time a team bases its marketing campaign on a crop of rookies, such as the Calgary Flames "Year of the Young Guns", there is a certain risk involved. Like if those young guns shoot nothing but blanks. There’s a very good possibility that the squad of rookies in the offensively impaired Flames lineup will do just that. But Calgary decided to rebuild last year, and in order to eventually get better, the Flames are going to have to endure some growing pains. Last season the Flames worked as many as 14 rookies into the lineup -- including offensive prospects Jarome Iginla and Jonas Hoglund and five first-year defensemen. The result: a 32-41-9 record and out of the playoffs. This season the Flames are hoping to integrate another crop of freshmen into mix, but with a better result. Calgary had four rookies in the lineup during an opening night loss to the Detroit Red Wings. But these were not well known names like Joe Thornton or Chris Phillips. These rookies, playing for a small market organization, were lucky people knew who they were, let alone what their contracts were worth. The four rookies were Marty Murray, Chris Dingman, Derek Morris and Steve Bégin. Who? Wha? Break out the media guides, folks, because these aren’t your household names. Murray, 22, has actually experienced a little NHL action during the past two years, but has failed to produce much and is still considered a rookie. In 17 games, Murray scored six points. That a far cry from his junior years in Brandon, however, where he was "the bomb", scoring 392 points in 264 games. Yes, I said he was "the bomb"... Murray’s height, 5-foot-9, puts him at a disadvantage, so he’s probably not going to be seeing much playing time. Dingman is another prospect whose name might ring a bell, but not much more than that. Dingman was highly touted by the Flames a few years ago. A first-round draft pick by Calgary in the infamous Hartford draft of 1994, Dingman cruised through the WHL like Murray. But, also like Murray, he hit a roadblock once outside of Brandon. Last season Dingman missed his chance of making the Flames roster and was sent to Saint John (AHL), where he only registered five goals and 11 points in 71 games. The one advantage Dingman, 21, has over Murray is size. He’s a powerful 6-foot-4, 225-pound winger that likes to play a physical game. He’s already showed signs that he can score. In the Flames’ 4-1 loss to Colorado, Dingman fooled Patrick Roy with an odd shot that found the back of the net just 14 seconds into the second period. The next two rookies are both 19 years old. They have no NHL experience, except for what they picked up in training camp. And most of the league has no clue as to what they’re about. Morris was the Flames’ first-round draft pick in 1996, but has had a meteoric rise through the organization. Considered nothing more than a long shot to make the team this year, Morris surprised many with his impressive play in training camp. Our own Calgary correspondent, Tony Wong, had this to say about Morris’s preseason.
"Morris played pretty well in camp and was probably Calgary's best defenseman overall in the preseason. While he didn't show off the "Paul Coffey"-type wheels that he's supposed to have, he was solid defensively and showed a nice shot." Like the two rookies above, Morris played extremely well in juniors. Last season with Regina (WHL), Morris scored 18 goals and 75 points from the blue line in 67 games. He also tallied 180 penalty minutes and was a +10. However, the NHL is a far cry from the Western Hockey League. Morris found this out in the first game of the season against the defending Cup champs, the Detroit Red Wings. The freshman defenseman coughed the puck up twice in the third period, leading to two Detroit breakaways. He also failed to keep the puck in the Wings zone in the final minute of play, costing his team an empty-net goal. Of course, one has to wonder what a 19-year-old rookie defenseman is doing out on the ice with your team down by a goal and your goalie pulled in the last minute of the first game of the season against the defending Cup champs... But I’m not the coach, so I really don’t have a say in the matter, do I? Bégin was even more of a mystery than Morris at the beginning of camp, but if he keeps playing the way he did in training camp and in the first two games, his name will become commonplace before too long. The Flames’ second pick in the ’96 draft, Bégin spent the past two seasons in the QMJHL, scoring 82 points. But it’s not his point total that led to his sudden NHL career. He’s known for his aggressiveness and his willingness to annoy any and all opponents, no matter how big they are. You see, Bégin isn’t a gigantic player (6-foot, 175 pounds in the books, 5-10, 180 in the papers), but he’ll stick his nose in places he really shouldn’t. Along with those 82 points in 122 games with Val-d’Or, Bégin racked up 425 penalty minutes. Head coach Brian Sutter has placed Bégin on a "Crash Line" in Calgary with Mike Peluso on his left side and Sandy McCarthy on his right. Together, the line creates havoc for opponents by going all out every shift and destroying everything in their path. Bégin is already starting to build a legend in Calgary. Another rookie who should make the lineup after recovering from an injury, defenseman Denis Gauthier, spins a tale about Bégin when he was still in juniors. Apparently, Bégin took on a 6-foot-7, 250-pound opponent in a playoff game. The result of the altercation, Gauthier eloquently said, was that Bégin "kicked the crap out of him". It’s too early to tell if any of these rookies will make an impact for the Flames this season like the crop that came up from the farm last year. But in any case, the youth movement continues in Calgary. The average age on the team is just 24.8. The payroll is tied for lowest in the league (with Edmonton) at $18 million US. It might not be the most exciting of times for the Calgary Flames, but fans know that if the small market franchise is to survive in the NHL, the youth movement has to occur. The Young Guns have arrived, and they’re hoping to stick around for a long time. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Hey, Hey, Hey... NEWS! ---------------------------------------------------------------- by Zippy the Wonder Chimp SABRES SIGN ZHITNIK; SHARKS INK FRIESEN As our deadline approached, reports out of Buffalo indicate that the Sabres have reached an agreement with defenseman Alexei Zhitnik. It is reported to be a one-year, $1.5 million deal. Zhitnik is expected to play Thursday night. Other contract news came out of San Jose, where it was reported that the team has come to terms with center Jeff Friesen. 1998 NHL WAIVER DRAFT RESULTS October 27, 1997. The results speak for themselves. Not all that exciting. PLAYER (POSITION) CLAIMED BY CLAIMED FROM COMPENSATION Tim Taylor (C) Boston Detroit Cash Tom Chorske (LW) NY Islanders Ottawa Cash Mike Peluso (LW) Calgary NY Rangers Cash Robert Lang (C) Boston Pittsburgh Cash Mick Vukota (RW) Tampa Bay NY Islanders Cash Pascal Rheaume (C) St. Louis New Jersey Cash Jimmy Waite (G) Phoenix Chicago Cash Brent Severyn (LW) Anaheim Colorado Cash Scott Daniels (LW) New Jersey Philadelphia Cash KINGS' JOHNSON SUSPENDED FOUR GAMES The NHL suspended Los Angeles Kings forward Matt Johnson four games without pay and fined him $1,000 Monday for a two-handed slash against San Jose forward Todd Ewen in a preseason game at Boise, Idaho, on Wednesday. Johnson was given a major penalty and a game misconduct for the infraction, which occurred at 3:32 of the first period. Johnson has missed the Kings' last two exhibition games and the suspension will carry over into the first two games of the regular season at Pittsburgh on Oct. 1 and at Boston on Oct. 2. GORDIE HOWE: WHO CARES? Gordie Howe, better known as "Mr. Hockey", returned to the ice last night at the age of 69 for one shift with the Detroit Vipers in their IHL season opener against the Kansas City Blades. Howe, wearing his familiar No. 9, started on right wing and played the first 47 seconds on a line with center Peter Ciavaglia and left wing Steve Walker. Howe never touched the puck during the shift and remained on the bench for the remainder of the game. However, by playing in this game Howe became the first professional hockey player to play in six decades. Surely, a now meaningless record to be proud of. MAVERICKS, STARS AGREE TO DOWNTOWN ARENA IN DALLAS Dallas city officials Friday announced plans to build a new downtown arena for the Mavericks of the NBA and the Stars of the NHL. Some details of the agreement were disclosed Friday at a City Hall news conference attended by Mavericks majority owner Ross Perot Jr., Stars owner Tom Hicks and Dallas mayor Ron Kirk. The deal calls for the city and the two sports teams to share in the financing of the facility, although the exact site of the arena, which would be completed by 2000, has not been determined. The city is expected to contribute over $110 million toward the facility and the infrastructure. The deal, however, will ultimately be subject to voter approval. Kirk has called a special City Council meeting for Monday to discuss the arena deal and a vote is scheduled for next Wednesday. A special referendum on a financing plan would then be slated for January. Both teams currently play in a downtown facility, Reunion Arena, but were looking for an arena that has more luxury boxes. As part of the deal, the Mavericks and Stars have committed to staying in the BLACKHAWKS TO RETIRE DENIS SAVARD'S NO. 18 The Chicago Blackhawks announced Monday that they would retire Denis Savard's jersey No. 18 in a special ceremony prior to their game against the Montreal Canadiens on March 19. Savard, who popularized the "spin-o-rama", had 473 goals and 865 assists for 1,338 points in 1,196 career games over his 17-year NHL career. As a member of the Blackhawks, Savard had 377 goals and 719 assists for 1,096 points in 881 games. He ranks second in assists on the Blackhawks, third in goals and fourth in points. He also holds single-season club records for points (131 in 1987-88) and assists (87 in 1981-82 and 1987-88) and also has the most 100-point seasons (five) in team history. Savard joins Glenn Hall (1), Bobby Hull (9), Stan Mikita (21) and Tony Esposito (35) as the only Blackhawks to have their numbers retired. RECENT TRANSACTIONS October 6, 1997 Chicago Blackhawks: Recalled goaltender Kirk Daubenspeck from Indianapolis of the International Hockey League. Washington Capitals: Agreed to terms with restricted free agent defenseman Sergei Gonchar. October 3, 1997 New Jersey Devils: Re-signed left wing Brian Rolston to a multi-year contract. St. Louis Blues: Agreed to terms with forwards Lubos Bartecko, Michal Handzus and Tyler Willis. Tampa Bay Lightning: Assigned winger Brent Peterson to Milwaukee of the International Hockey League. Washington Capitals: Recalled goaltender Martin Brochu from Portland of the American Hockey League; assigned left wing Todd Krygier to Portland. October 2, 1997 Dallas Stars: Signed free agent defenseman Craig Muni to a one-year contract with an option for 1998-99; reassigned defenseman Brad Lukowich to Michigan of the International Hockey League. Edmonton Oilers: Agreed to terms on a multi-year contract with free agent defenseman Dan McGillis. New York Rangers: Signed center Wayne Gretzky to a multi-year contract extension. Tampa Bay Lightning Signed forward Troy Mallette and assigned forward Louie DeBrusk to San Antonio of the International Hockey League. October 1, 1997 Carolina Hurricanes: Extended the contract of right wing Kevin Dineen through the 1998-99 season; signed forward Kevin Brown to a one-year contract. Edmonton Oilers: Signed center Ray Whitney. Pittsburgh Penguins: Signed right wing Rob Brown; claimed center Peter Ferraro and right wing Chris Ferraro off waivers from the New York Rangers. Washington Capitals: Signed right wing Jan Benda to a one-year contract. September 30, 1997 Buffalo Sabres: Re-signed left wing Miroslav Satan to a one-year contract. Carolina Hurricanes: Assigned forwards Bates Battaglia and Jeff Daniels, defenseman Nolan Pratt and goaltender Mike Fountain to New Haven of the American Hockey League; goaltender Pat Jablonski to Cleveland of the International Hockey League and center Steve Martins to Chicago of the IHL. Chicago Blackhawks: Assigned right wing Kevin Miller to Indianapolis of the International Hockey League. Dallas Stars: Placed defenseman Shawn Chambers on injured reserve with a fractured bone in his left hand. Los Angeles Kings: Re-signed goaltender Jamie Storr and placed him on injured reserve with a right groin strain. Montreal Canadiens: Assigned forward Eric Houde to Fredericton of the American Hockey League. Phoenix Coyotes: Announced left wing Keith Tkachuk, who was suspended for refusing to play in a preseason game on Friday, has returned to the team; assigned center Chad Kilger to Springfield of the American Hockey League. San Jose Sharks: Re-signed defenseman Mike Rathje; assigned defenseman Richard Brennan to Kentucky of the American Hockey League. St. Louis Blues: Acquired right wing Kelly Chase from the Toronto Maple Leafs for future considerations; assigned defenseman Ricard Persson to Worcester of the American Hockey League. Washington Capitals: Signed center Jan Bulis to a multi-year contract; assigned forwards Andrew Brunette and Kavin Kaminski to Portland of the American Hockey League. September 29, 1997 National Hockey League: Suspended Los Angeles Kings forward Matt Johnson four games for a slashing incident in a preseason game on Wednesday. Chicago Blackhawks: Signed forward Daniel Cleary, their first-round draft pick, to a three-year contract; assigned left wing Ulf Dahlen to Indianapolis of the International Hockey League. Edmonton Oilers: Assigned defenseman Bryan Muir to Hamilton of the American Hockey League. Montreal Canadiens: Assigned defenseman Miroslav Guren to Fredericton of the American Hockey League. New York Rangers: Acquired center Pat LaFontaine from the Buffalo Sabres for a 1998 second-round draft pick and future considerations. Pittsburgh Penguins Assigned centers Domenic Pittis and Ryan Savoia, left wing Dave Roche and defenseman Sven Butenschon to Syracuse of the American Hockey League. St. Louis Blues: Assigned right wing Jamal Mayers and defenseman Libor Zabransky to Worcester of the American Hockey League. Vancouver Canucks: Re-signed right wing Lonny Bohonos; signed center Josh Holden, their first-round draft pick. September 28, 1997 Anaheim Mighty Ducks: Claimed left winger Brett Severyn from the Colorado Avalanche in the waiver draft. Sent right wing Peter LeBoutilier; left wings Mike Leclerc and Barry Nieckar; and defenseman Pavel Trnka to Cincinnati of the American Hockey League. Boston Bruins: Claimed center Tim Taylor from the Detroit Red Wings and center Robert Lang from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the waiver draft. Calgary Flames: Claimed left wing Mike Peluso from the New York Rangers in the waiver draft. Colorado Avalanche: Acquired defenseman Francois Leroux from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 1998 third-round draft pick. Dallas Stars: Sent defenseman Petr Buzek, goaltender Manny Fernandez, right wings Peter Douris and Chris Tancill, center Tony Hrkac and left wing Kevin Sawyer to Michigan of the International Hockey League. Returned center Jon Sim to his junior team. Los Angeles Kings: Sent left wing Dan Bylsma and defenseman Steven Finn to Long Beach of the International Hockey League and left wing Steve McKenna to Fredericton of the American Hockey League. New Jersey Devils: Claimed left wing Scott Daniels from the Philadelphia Flyers in the waiver draft. Sent defenseman Ken Sutton, right wing Sasha Lakovic and center Peter Zezel to Albany of the American Hockey League. New York Islanders: Claimed left wing Tom Chorske from the Ottawa Senators in the waiver draft. Agreed to terms with center Travis Green. Returned left wing Jean-Pierre Dumont to his junior team. Ottawa Senators: Loaned defensemen Frank Musil and Radim Bicanek and right wing Phil Crowe to Detroit of the International Hockey League. Phoenix Coyotes: Claimed goaltender Jimmy Waite from the Chicago Blackhawks in the waiver draft. St. Louis Blues: Claimed center Pascal Rheaume from the New Jersey Devils in the waiver draft. Tampa Bay Lightning: Claimed right wing Mick Vukota from the New York Islanders in the waiver draft. September 27, 1997 Buffalo Sabres: Sent defensemen Sergei Klimentiev, Shayne Wright, Rumun Ndur; centers Patrice Tardif and Scott Nichol; and right wing Vaclav Varada to Rochester of the American Hockey League. Returned defenseman Cory Sarich to his junior team. Edmonton Oilers: Signed goaltender Bob Essensa to a one-year contract. Los Angeles Kings: Sent center Eric Belanger and right wing Pavel Rosa to Fredericton of the American Hockey League. Sent center Chris Schmidt to Mississippi of the East Coast Hockey League. New Jersey Devils: Sent goaltender Judd Lambert; defensemen Geordie Kinnear, Bryan Helmer and Colin White; left wings Eric Bertrand and Zdenek Skorepa; centers John Madden, Steve Brule, Pascal Rheaume and Brendan Morrison; and right wing Vadim Sharifijanov to Albany of the American Hockey League. New York Islanders: Sent forward Sean Haggerty and defenseman Zdeno Chara to Kentucky of the American Hockey League. Ottawa Senators: Sent right wing Mike Prokopec to Worcester of the American Hockey League. Loaned goaltender Jani Hurme; centers Derek Armstrong and Clayton Beddoes; and left wing Jason Zent to Detroit of the International Hockey League. Toronto Maple Leafs: Sent defensemen Yannick Tremblay and Jeff Ware; right wing Jason Podollan; center Brandon Convery and goaltender Marcel Cousineau to St. John's of the American Hockey League. September 26, 1997 Colorado Avalanche: Sent goaltender Marc Denis and forward Christian Matte to Hersey of the American Hockey League. Dallas Stars: Re-signed free agent center Mike Modano to a one-year contract. New Jersey Devils: Sent goaltender Judd Lambert; defensemen Geordie Kinnear and Bryan Helmer; centers Steve Brule and Pascal Rheaume; and left wing Zdenek Skorepa to Albany of the American Hockey League. New York Islanders: Sent left wing Sean Haggerty and defenseman Zdeno Chara to Kentucky of the American Hockey League. Phoenix Coyotes: Suspended left wing Keith Tkachuk indefinitely; assigned defensemen Jason Doig and Richard Lintner and center Rob Murray to Springfield of the American Hockey League; returned goaltender Robert Esche to his junior team; signed defenseman Radoslav Suchy to a three-year contract and assigned him to Las Vegas of the International Hockey League. Tampa Bay Lightning: Assigned forwards Mathieu Raby, Paul Brosseau, Corey Spring and Allan Egeland and goaltender Zac Bierk to Adirondack of the American Hockey League and defenseman Vadim Epanchintsev to Cleveland of the International Hockey League; returned Paul Mara and Mario Larocque to their junior teams. September 25, 1997 Chicago Blackhawks: Signed free agent defenseman Trent Yawney. Detroit Red Wings: Sent centers Per Eklund, Maxim Kuznetsov and B.J. Young; defenseman Brandon Smith; and goaltender Norm Maracle to Adirondack of the American Hockey League. New York Rangers: Assigned forwards Peter Ferraro, Chris Ferraro, Tim Sweeney, defenseman Ronnie Sundin and goaltender Dan Cloutier to Hartford of the American Hockey League. Pittsbugh Penguins: Signed goaltender Peter Skudra. St. Louis Blues: Loaned left wing Konstantin Shafranov to Fort Wayne of the International Hockey League. Washington Capitals: Named Douglas Hicks director of public relations. September 24, 1997 Buffalo Sabres: Acquired defenseman Jason Woolley from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 1998 fifth-round draft pick. Chicago Blackhawks: Acquired goaltender Kirk Daubenspeck from the Ottawa Senators for a 1998 sixth-round draft pick and future considerations; assigned Daubenspeck, defenseman Ryan Risidore and forwards Ryan Huska and Steve McLaren to Indianapolis of the International Hockey League. Pittsbugh Penguins: Signed right wing Alexei Morozov; traded defenseman Jason Woolley to the Buffalo Sabres for a 1998 fifth-round draft pick. San Jose Sharks: Assigned left wing Niklas Andersson to Kentucky of the American Hockey League; returned defenseman Scott Hannan to his junior team. September 23, 1997 Calgary Flames: Assigned right wingers Valeri Karpov, Chris O'Sullivan, Jesper Mattsson, John Tripp, Greg Pankewicz, defensemen Eric Charron, Sami Helenlus, Rocky Thompson; center Jim Dowd and goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere to Saint John of the American Hockey League; returned Daniel Tkaczuk to the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League. Montreal Canadiens: Assigned goaltender Jose Theodore, forward Matt Higgins and defenseman Brad Brown to Fredericton of the American Hockey League. Phoenix Coyotes: Assigned centers Trevor Lewtoski, Mike Pomichter and Brad Tiley and defenseman Dan Focht and Ted Crowley to Springfield of the American Hockey League; assigned right wing Darin Kimble to Kansas City of the International Hockey League. St. Louis Blues: Sent defenseman Rory Fitzpatrick, right wing Chris Kenady and Terry Virtue and center Robert Petrovicky to Worcester of the American Hockey League. Washington Capitals: Reassigned left wing Dwayne Hay and defenseman Rick Mrozik to Portland of the American Hockey League. September 22, 1997 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim: Assigned centers Antti Aalto and J.F. Jomphe, defensemen Mike Crowley, Marc Moro and Nikolai Tsulygin and right wings Jeff Nielsen and Igor Nikulin to Cincinnati of the American Hockey League. Edmonton Oilers: Assigned goalie Jean- Francis Labbe, forwards Jason Bonsignore, Geoff Bumstead, Dan LaCouture and Georges Laraque and defensemen Matthieu Descoteaux and Craig Millar to the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League; sent defenseman Sergei Yerkovich to the Las Vegas Thunder of the International Hockey League; returned defenseman Chris Hajt to the Ontario Hockey League. Los Angeles Kings: Returned left wing Sean O'Brien and defenseman Jaroslav Modry to Utah of the International Hockey League, goaltender Brad Guzda to Long Beach of the IHL and left wing Jeff Shevalier and center Jason Morgan to Springfield of the American Hockey League. Montreal Canadiens: Returned right wings Arron Asham and Olivier Morin, left wing Jonathan Desroches, centers Gregor Baumgartner and Etienne Drapeau, defensemen Daniel Archambault, Petr Kubos, Gennady Razin and Daniel Tetrault and goaltender Mathieu Garon to their respective junior teams; assigned left wings Steve Cheredaryk, Earl Cronan, Gerry Fleming, Martin Hohenberger, Jean-Francois Houle and Alexei Lojkin, right wings Jonathan Delisle and David Ling, centers Russell Guzior, Scott King and Boyd Olson, defensemen Dion Darling, Jimmy Drolet and Stephane Robidas and goaltenders Martin Villeneuve and Tomas Vokoun to Fredericton of the American Hockey League; reassigned goaltender Trent Cavicchi to Macon of the Central Hockey League and center Eric Perrin to Cleveland of the International Hockey League. New Jersey Devils: Assigned goaltenders Frederic Henry and Peter Sidorkiewicz, defensemen Pual Traynor and Sergei Vyshedkevich and forwards Jiri Bicek, David Cunniff, Bobby House, Wes Mason, Richard Rochefort, Rob Skrlac and Jeff Williams to Albany of the American Hockey League. Returned defensemen Lucas Nehrling and Lance Ward and forwards Pierre Dagenais, Bryan Duce, Stanislav Gron and Scott Perkfer to their respective junior leagues. Tampa Bay Lightning: Assigned centers Xavier Delisle, Colin Cloutier and Eduard Pershin, left wings Ryan Brown and Joe Cardarelli, defensemen Pavel Kubina and Victor Ignatjev and goalie Martin Bradette; invited Troy Mallete for a try out. September 21, 1997 Dallas Stars: Assigned right winger Jeff Mitchell and left winger Jamie Wright to Michigan of the International Hockey League; returned center Greg Leeb to Spokane of the Western Hockey League. Florida Panthers: Assigned forwards Craig Ferguson and Chad Cabana to New Haven of the American Hockey League. Ottawa Senators: Assigned goaltender Frederic Cassivi, defensemen Justin Hocking and Erich Goldman to Worcester of the American Hockey League; designated goaltender Kirk Daubenspeck for assignment. San Jose Sharks: Named Barry Long professional scout. Vancouver Canucks: Sent left wings Larry Courville, Paul Ferone, and Peter Schaefer; centers Robb Gordon and Lubomir Vaic; goalie Tim Keyes; defensemen Bert Robertsson and Brent Sopel to Syracuse of the American Hockey League. Returned defensemen Brad Ference and Zenith Komarniski to their junior teams. September 20, 1997 Phoenix Coyotes: Assigned center Tavis Hansen, left wing Jeff Christian and right wings Martin Simard and Rhett Gordon to Springfield of the American Hockey League. Pittsburgh Penguins: Sent defensemen Stefan Bergkvist and Alexei Krivchenkov to Cleveland of the International Hockey League; centers Brian Bonin and Serge Aubin; right wing Jan Hrdina and goaltender Jean Sebastian Aubin to Syracuse of the American Hockey League. St. Louis Blues: Assigned Brent Johnson, Lubos Bartecko and Michal Handzus to Worcester of the American Hockey League; assigned center Daniel Corso to Victoriaville of the Quebec Midget Junior Hockey League. Toronto Maple Leafs: Assigned center Marc Deyell and defensemen D.J. Smith and Daniil Markov to St. John's of the American Hockey League. Washington Capitals: Sent left wings Alex Kharlamov and Matt Lahey; centers Jeff Nelson, Miika Elomo, Norm Batherson and Benoit Gratton; right wings Martin Gendron, Kent Hulst, Joel Theriault, Andrew Van Bruggen and Rob Bonneau; defensemen Steve Poapst, Pat Boileau, David Harlock, Jason Mansoff and Kayle Short; and goaltender Sebastien Charpentier to Portland of the American Hockey League. September 19, 1997 Los Angeles Kings: Agreed to terms on a one-year contract with left wing Jeff Shevalier and a three-year contract with center Eric Belanger. Montreal Canadiens: Signed general manager Rejean Houle to a contract extension through the 2000-2001 season. New York Islanders: Released center Jimmy Carson and right wing Yuri Khmylev. Sent goaltenders Wade Flaherty and Mark McArthur, right wing Mark Lawrence and centers Kip Miller and Fred Knipscheer to Utah of the International Hockey League and defenseman Jason Holland and right wing Tony Tuzzolino to Kentucky of the AHL. Designated right wing Dane Jackson for assignment. San Jose Sharks: Signed defenseman Didier Pietropaulo and returned him to Rouyn Noranda of the Quebec Junior League; assigned left wing Stephen Guolla, goaltender Jamie Ram and center Jarrod Skalde to Kentucky of the American Hockey League; assigned left wing Barry Potomski to Las Vegas of the International Hockey League. Tampa Bay Lightning: Signed goaltender Martin Bradette; named Curtis Bell medical trainer. Vancouver Canucks: Assigned left wings Darren Sinclair and Tyson Nash to Syracuse of the American Hockey League and right wing Matt Cooke to Windsor of the Ontario Hockey League; released goaltender Nolan McDonald and right wing Jamie Linden. September 18, 1997 Calgary Flames: Loaned right wing Ravil Gusmanov and center Jeff Bes to Chicago of the International Hockey League. Carolina Hurricanes: Sent centers Ian MacNeill, Byron Ritchie, Tom Buckley and Brian Secord; left wings Trevor Wasyluk, Andrew Taylor, Mike Rucinski, Mike Morrone and Kevin Boyd; right wings Shane Willis and Ethan Philpott; defensemen Ashlin Halfnight, Sergei Fedotov and Hugh Hamilton and goaltender Tripp Tracy to New Haven of the American Hockey League. Chicago Blackhawks: Reassigned 12 players to Indianapolis of the International Hockey League: forwards Steve Tardif, Eric Manlow, Brian Felsner, Petri Varis, Nathan Perrott, Ryan Huska, Steve McLaren and Eric Lecompte; defensemen Marc Hussey, Ryan Risidore and Marty Wilford; and goaltender Marc Lamothe. Detroit Red Wings: Agreed to terms on a three-year contract with left wing Vyacheslav Kozlov. New Jersey Devils: Returned goaltender Jean- Francois Damphousse and forwards Mathieu Benoit, Glenn Crawford and Carl Prud'homme to their respective junior teams, and defensemen Henrik Rehnberg and Jan Srdinko to their European teams. New York Rangers: Returned Jeff Brown, Shawn Degagne, Benjamin Carpentier, Stefan Cherneski, Burke Henry, Wes Jarvis, Jason McLean, Andrew Proskurniciki and Nathan Read to their junior teams. Ottawa Senators: Returned defensemen Francois Hardy and Jeff Sullivan and right wings Robin Bacul and Ivan Ciernik to their junior teams; assigned defenseman David Van Drunen and left wing Mike Maneluk to Worcester of the American Hockey League; assigned left wing Marc Labelle to Cincinnati of the International Hockey League; released goaltender Blair Allison, left wings Steve Zoryk and Darren Banks, right wings Martin St. Louis, Marty Clapton and Eric Normandin and center Eric Veilleux. September 17, 1997 Buffalo Sabres: Assigned defensemen Jean- Luc Grand-Pierre and Mike Martone, goaltenders Michael Bates and Martin Biron, left wings Daniel Bienvenue and Mark Dutiaume and right wings Matt Davidson and Kurt Walsh to Rochester of the American Hockey League; announced that centers Darren Mortier, Jeff Martin and Francois Methot, right wings Jeremy Adduono, Maxim Afinogenov and Ryan Davis, left wing Darren Van Oene, goaltender Scott Buhler and defensemen Alexei Tezikov and Brian Campbell would be returned to their respective junior/amateur teams. Calgary Flames: Assigned left wings Paxton Schulte, Travis Brigley, Jeff Cowan, Todd Norman and Daniel Payette, right wings Ladislav Kohn, and Burke Murphy, centers Clarke Wilm, Bob Brown and Eric Landry, and defensemen Keith McCambridge, Ryan Bast, Matt O'Dette and Jan Snopek to Saint John of the American Hockey League; assigned left wing Jeff Bes and right wing Ravil Gusmanov to Chicago of the American Hockey League; assigned left wing Jan Labraaten to Raleigh of the East Coast Hockey League. Colorado Avalanche: Traded winger Scott Young to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim for a third-round pick in the 1998 draft. Los Angeles Kings: Reached an affilitation agreement with the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the International Hockey League. Mighty Ducks of Anaheim: Assigned left wing Bob Wren, right wing Craig Reichert, center Marc Chouinard, defensemen Byron Briske and Lloyd Shaw and goaltenders Chris Mason and Blaine Russell to Cincinnati of the International Hockey League; returned left wings Jay Legault and Tony Mohagen, defenseman Kevin Kellett and goaltender Luc Vaillancourt to their respective junior/amateur teams. September 16, 1997 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim: Re-signed center Sean Pronger. Edmonton Oilers: Assigned defenseman Terran Sandwith and left wing Jason Carriere to Hamilton of the American Hockey League. Los Angeles Kings: Reached one-year affiliation agreements with the Utah Grizzlies of the International Hockey League and the Fredericton Canadiens of the American Hockey League; Assigned defensemen Mark Visheau and Jan Nemecek and right wing Nathan LaFayette to Fredericton; center Chris Taylor to Utah and defenseman Ruslan Batyrshin and Andrew Dale to Springfield of the American Hockey League; returned defensemen Peter Hogan and Sean Blanchard and centers Scott Barney and Matt Zultek to their respective junior teams San Jose Sharks: Assigned defensemen Peter Allen, Alexandre Boikov and Frederik Oduya and goaltender John Nabokov to Kentucky of American Hockey League; released left wing Cam Stewart. September 15, 1997 Dallas Stars: Assigned defenseman Frederic Bouchard, right wing Marty Flichel, defenseman Joel Kwiatkowski and defenseman Mark Pivetz to the Michigan K-Wings of the International Hockey League; returned left wing Nick Bootland, left wing Ryan Christie, right wing Mike Hurley, defenseman Richard Jackman, goalie Eoin McInerney and defenseman Evgeny Tsybuk to their junior hockey teams. Florida Panthers: Sent right wing Ashley Buckberger, defenseman Wes Swinson and goaltender David Lemanowicz to New Haven of the American Hockey League; defenseman Chris Armstrong to Fort Wayne of the International Hockey League; and defenseman Gaetan Poirier to the Canadian National Team. Returned left wing Mike Brown, centers Keith Delaney and Nick Smith, right wings Ivan Novaseltsev and Andrew Long and defensemen Vratislav Cech, Chris Allen, Mike Lankshear and Joey Tetarenko to their junior clubs. Los Angeles Kings: Returned defensemen Jeff Katcher, Richard Seeley, Konrad Brand and right wingers Marian Cisar and Greg Phillips to the Western Hockey League; returned defenseman Jesse Black to the Ontario Hockey League. Montreal Canadiens: Returned left wing Michel Tremblay, right wing Francois Page and defensemen Derrick Walser and Jarl- Espen Ygranes to their junior hockey league teams. Toronto Maple Leafs: Assigned Greg Smyth, Nathan Dempsey, Shawn Carter, Rob Butz, Greg Bullock, Mike Burkett, Scott Pearson, Ryan Pepperall, Kelly Fairchild, Warren Norris, Aaron Brand, Joseph Craigen, Zdenek Nedved, Mark Kolesar and Shawn Thornton to the St. John's Maple Leafs camps; returned Lucio DeMartinis, Eric Gooldy, Adam Mair, Dimitriy Yakushin, Hugo Marchand, Brandon Sugden, Konstantin Kalmikov, Steeve Vandal, Peter Cava, Frantisek Mrazek, Marek Posmyk and Gerry Lanigan to their junior hockey teams. Washington Capitals: Reassigned forwards Shawn McNeil, Justin Davis, Chad Cavanagh, defensemen Nick Boynton, Jean- Francois Fortin and Aaron Fransen and goaltenders Pierre- Luc Therrien and Curtis Cruickshank; signed defenseman Rick Mrozik. September 14, 1997 Carolina Hurricanes: Returned defensemen Greg Kuznik, Mark McMahon, Kyle DaFoe, Francis Lessard and Nikos Tselios, left wing Randy Fitzgerald, right wing Kent McDonell and goaltender Aaron Baker to their respective junior teams. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Hockey Pool Help ---------------------------------------------------------------- by Matthew Secosky It's a little early to get a good read on players performance since most teams have only played 2-3 games, but i'll see what insight I can muster forth from my alcohol-induced hallucinations. Them things sure seem real. Alright, first off, a public service announcement for you, our highly valued readers, who's safety we make priority one. Do not, under any circumstances, inhale shampoo through your nose while showering. The burning sensations to the upper nasal passages and cranial cavity are a gruesome hell-spawn of the devil himself. Believe me you, I know it all to well. So please, I beg of you. Read the instructions on your shampoo bottle before use. Is that too much to ask? Wet hair. Lather. Rinse thoroughly. Repeat. That is all. Do not inhale. The time has come to end the suffering. Thank You. With that said, back to the task at hand. Although the season is just under way, there have been some important happenings that could effect you and your team. Injury Update Injuries are always a main concern, especially when big name players go down for an extended period of time.
  • Pierre Turgeon, STL - Turgeon is expected to miss six weeks after fracturing his right forearm in a weekend game against Dallas. He had surgery Sunday to repair some damage.
  • Rob Niedermayer, FLO - Niedermayer will be out up to a month due to the effects of a concussion he suffered as a result of an Eric Lindros hit. A CAT scan showed there was no permanent physical damage, but Niedermayer has experienced memory loss, headaches and dizzy spells. A tape of the Lindros hit, or cheap shot as many call it, has been sent to the league. No action has been taken yet.
  • Jeff Brown, CAR - Brown missed most of last year because of back surgery, and it seems the back problems have returned. He has already missed two games with back spasms, and is out indefinitely. 
  • Ray Ferraro, LOS -  Center Ray Ferraro will be out of the line-up after suffering a sprained knee Sunday night. No time table has been set for his return.
  • Dainius Zubrus, PHI - New Legion of Doomer, Dainius Zubrus, is experiencing severe swelling of his right hand after being slashed Sunday night during the Phoenix game. Test on the hand were run early this week and haven't come back, but he isn't expected to be out long. Zubrus had a goal and two assist in three contest this season.
  • Bill Ranford, WAS - Ranford injured his groin last Wednesday and will be out for a few more days. However, Olaf Kolzig has played well in his absence and may not give up the starting gig so easily.
  • Derek King, TOR - Will be out for about a week with a sprained right ankle.
  • Sandis Ozolinsh, COL - Has missed two games with a separated shoulder but is due to return any day now.
Contract Updates
  • Sergei Gonchar, WAS - Washington is already off to a great start, and will get even better as Sergei Gonchar has signed a one year, $1.15 million deal. Gonchar had 13 goals and 30 points in 58 games last year.
  • Alexei Zhitnik, BUF - Agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million and should be in action thursday night. Had seven goals and 28 assists last year with Buffalo.
  • Jeff Friesen, SAN - Re-signed with the Sharks tuesday and will play in Ottawa thursday. Friesen was second on the team with 28 goals and second in assists with 32 last season.
  • Derian Hatcher, DAL - Contract talks between Hatcher and Dallas have fallen apart. Dallas just withdrew their latest $4.8 million/2 year deal and no new talks are scheduled.
  • Daniel Alfredsson, OTT - Alfredsson may meet with Ottawa management this weekend in Los Angeles to discuss getting a contract hammered out.
  • Peter Nedved, PIT - Rumor has it Nedved will decide within the next two weeks to accept or decline the Penguins offer of about $15 million over 5 years. I expect Nedved will take the money and be back on the ice soon.
Situations
  • Andrei Kovalenko, EDM - Un-inspired play and a failure to grasp the whole "team" concept of hockey has resulted in his demotion to 5th line action. It doesn't get much lower than that.
  • Jocelyn Thibault, MON - Andy Moog has been the main man in Montreal so far this season. Thibault will get starts, but how many?
  • Sergei Berezin, TOR - Is unhappy about being moved to left wing, and has played poorly as a result. An injury to RW Derek King will have him back at his natural position, but if he keeps sulking he may not see much ice time.
Off to a Good Start
  • Cunneyworth-Daigle-Bonk, OTT - Ottawa's 2nd line has been playing well. Daigle and Bonk each have two goals and the line has amassed 10 points in three games.
  • Corson-Koivu-Reechi, MON - The hottest line in hockey at the moment. Koivu has four assists and Recchi has netted three goals and a helper in two games. Overall, the line has clicked for 11 points in those two contest. Other Top Performers
  • Brendan Shanahan, DET - 2GP 2G-3A-5PTS +2
  • Nelson Emerson, CAR - 3GP 3G-2A-5PTS +0
  • Steve Duchesne, STL - 3GP 1G-4A-5PTS +1
  • Peter Bondra, WAS - 2GP 2G-2A-4PTS +2
  • Dino Ciccarelli, TBL - 3GP 2G-3A-5PTS +0
  • Nicklas Lidstrom, DET - 2GP 1G-4A-5PTS +2
  • Patrick Roy, COL - Record 2-0-1, save percentage 0.966, goals-against average 0.97, 1 shutout
  • Olaf Kolzig, WAS - Record 2-0-0, save percentage 0.955, goals-against average 1.13, 0 shutouts ---------------------------------------------------------------- AHL Primer ---------------------------------------------------------------- by Tricia McMillan, AHL Correspondent Weeellll...the shuffling of teams and schedules is going to make it difficult and expensive for me to find out what's going on and continue this column. Two of the three teams where I went to see the league in action have gone kaputski, including the one in my local calling area. Oh, joy. Accordingly, AHL info is going to be limited, but I will be able to get you started with a summary of off-season action in the league. Beyond this, we'll just have to see. New Faces, New Places: Several teams moved around either in location or in divisional placement and nearly everyone got a new coach. Hamilton was rewarded for its surprising playoff performance with a divisional change - rather than continue in a division with the Maritime teams, creating a travel expense hell, the Bulldogs were switched into a division with the New York State teams, much more to Hamilton's liking. The AHL also opted to avoid the odd situation of last season wherein the Calder finalists, Hershey and Hamilton, hadn't seen each other prior to the playoffs. Hamilton will kick off Hershey's season schedule on October 4 and stop by again later in the year. Hershey will reciprocate with a weekend in Ontario in March. The Capitals were soundly raided by the Nashville expansion team, who swiped longtime AHL coaching tandem Barry Trotz and Paul Gardner from Portland to become Nashville's coaches when play begins next season. Stepping into Trotz and Gardner's very large shoes (figuratively speaking) are Hall of Famer Bryan Trottier, tackling his first head coaching position after three years as an assistant in Pittsburgh; and 18-year NHL veteran Jay Wells, who accepts his first coaching position after his retirement this summer. Portland also changes divisions, leaving their fellow New Englanders for a grouping with the Maritime teams. Meanwhile, replacing John Tortorella in Rochester won't be much easier than replacing Trotz & Gardner, but the Sabres tapped Brian McCutcheon for the job after the Sabres' firing of GM John Muckler. As Tortorella is Muckler's son-in-law, the Sabres didn't like the idea of him continuing in the organization in Muckler's absence. The Rangers pulled up stakes from Binghamton (who promptly replaced the Rangers with a United Hockey League team) and moved their farm club to recently vacated Hartford, where they showed a pack mentality and became the Hartford Wolfpack, named for a common submarine attack formation as submarines are built in the Hartford area. E.J. Maguire will be in charge of the baby Rangers, although Binghamton assistant coach Mike Busniuk will return in the same capacity. The Boston Bruins wanted someone new in Providence, so they picked someone old - or at least with a heck of a lot of experience - in frequent former NHL coach Tom McVie. In a fit of irony, McVie left the head coach position with the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers to take the job and one of his first acts was to dismiss Providence assistant coach/player Peter LaViolette. LaViolette landed on his feet - as the head coach of the Wheeling Nailers. Go figure. The Carolina Monarchs ceased to exist in Greensboro, but reemerged in a 'beastly' fashion in New Haven, now as a dual affiliate of Florida and the Carolina Hurricanes. The Whalers/Hurricanes were of course affiliated with Springfield last season, and Falcons head coach Kevin McCarthy was under contract to the Whale, so McCarthy now heads up New Haven. (Replacing McCarthy in Springfield will be longtime Ranger/Jet Dave Farrish). New Haven got the team in exchange for two years to prove the city was a viable site for a permanent team, especially as their building may or may not be up to standard. For those whose curiosity is piqued by the team's name (the Beast of New Haven), the city of New Haven has an unusual number of gargoyles and similar structures and decided to honor that particular civic quirk. Pittsburgh's search for a landing pad for its dormant AHL franchise continued as the Penguins failed to strike a deal to place the team with either Binghamton or Hartford, but were able to swing a deal and purchase the forthcoming Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania franchise. Look for some legal wrangling to take place as the purchase of Wilkes-Barre gives the Penguins ownership of two different AHL franchises - a league no-no. An additional catch is no building to play in, so the deal will go into effect in 1999 and in the meantime the Penguins struck an agreement with Vancouver to share space in Syracuse. Do not expect to see defense from this team. Another defensively-challenged team will be the Fredericton Canadiens. Los Angeles expected to have its own affiliate in Lowell this season, but construction problems (read: building isn't ready) have made it impossible for the team to function in Lowell this year and accordingly the Kings will send some of their prospects to Fredericton this season. The Kings will also send former Capitals assistant coach John Perpich to the Canadiens to keep an eye on the LA prospects. And while it's not as formal an arrangement, the Kings are also sending a few players to the Springfield Falcons. By the way, only the Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars do not have at least a partial affiliate in the AHL this season. Charting a Path: To make it all a little simpler, the new lineup of divisions, affiliations and head coaches. NORTHERN CONFERENCE CANADIAN DIVISION NEW ENGLAND DIVISION Fredericton Canadiens (Mon/LA); M. Therrien Hartford Wolfpack (NYR);EJ Maguire Portland Pirates (Was); Bryan Trottier New Haven Beast (Car/Flo); Kevin McCarthy Saint John Flames (Cal); Bill Stewart Providence Bruins (Bos); Tom McVie St. John's Maple Leafs (Tor); Al MacAdam Springfield Falcons (Pho); Dave Farrish Worcester Icecats (StL/Ott); Greg Gilbert SOUTHERN CONFERENCE MID-ATLANTIC DIVISION CENTRAL DIVISION Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (Ana); Moe Mantha Adirondack Red Wings (Det/TB);G. Merkosky Hershey Bears (Col); Bob Hartley Albany River Rats (NJ); John Cunniff Kentucky Thoroughblades (SJ/NYI); Jim Wiley Hamilton Bulldogs (Edm); Lorne Molleken Philadelphia Phantoms (Phi); Bill Barber Rochester Americans (Buf); B. McCutcheon Syracuse Crunch (Van/Pit); J. McIlhargey How to Dismantle a Championship Team: No, I'm not kidding. The Hershey Bears, aided and abetted by the Colorado Avalanche, celebrated their Calder Cup victory by completely dismantling the team. The only regulars who were expected to return to Hershey are center Rob Shearer, winger Cory Banika, defensemen Dan Smith and Steve Lingren, and prodigal goaltender Petr Franek. Fortunately for the Bears team captain Mike McHugh decided against retiring and Eric Veilleux opted to return after an unsuccessful tryout with the Ottawa Senators. The rest of the team went something like this: League MVP, etc, JF Labbe: left as free agent, signed with Edmonton, now with Hamilton (!). Doug Friedman: Ditto. Richard Brennan: left as free agent and signed with San Jose. Leading scorer Blair Atcheynum: left as free agent and signed with St. Louis. Roger Maxwell: left as free agent and signed with Grand Rapids of the IHL. Kurt Miller: left as free agent, signed with San Antonio of the IHL. Nic Beaudoin: loaned to Canadian National Team. Kevin MacDonald: free agent, signed with Baton Rouge of ECHL. Mark Pivetz: Left as free agent, signed with Dallas, assigned to Michigan (IHL). Sinuhe Wallenheimo: Signed with ECHL's Mississippi Sea Wolves. Paul Jerrard: Retired, will become a college coach. Team Captain Mike Hartman: Retired. Steffon Walby: Released, signed with Fort Wayne of the IHL. Blair Scott: Asked for release, unsigned to date. Josef Marha: Expected to be in Colorado. Eric Messier: Ditto. Wade Belak: Ditto. Pascal Trepanier: Ditto. While head coach Bob Hartley will return, he's only coming back because the Bears won the Calder Cup...and winning the Cup wasn't even the actual reason. The Montreal Canadiens wanted to hire Hartley as their new head coach, but to avoid team distractions (not to mention tampering charges) Hartley declined to talk with the Habs until Hershey's season came to an end. Of course, Hershey's season was much like the Energizer Bunny - it kept going...and going...and going until Montreal decided not to wait any longer to talk to Hartley and went searching elsewhere for their hiree. The Bears do acquire some new faces and some slightly new faces - blue-chip prospect and playoff participant Marc Denis will take over between the pipes this season. After much contract maneuvering, the Avalanche finally landed Brad Larson and assigned him to the Bears. Although Larson had been traded to Colorado from the Maple Leafs, Larson couldn't come to terms with the 'Lanche, went back into the draft and was drafted by Colorado again. This time he signed. Also coming to town are former Team USA member Luke Curtin and touted prospect (and former Army cadet) Dan Hinote. Filling out the roster is an assortment of AHL veterans, including Peter Ambroziak (Cornwall/Rochester), Patrick Traverse (PEI/Worcester), Brian Mueller (Springfield) and Brian Corcoran (Baltimore). Some Things Don't Change: While the Bears' roster may have turned over, their relationship with former tenants the Philadelphia Phantoms hasn't. In a pre-season game between the two teams, a total of 17 fighting majors were handed out. Also handed out were four suspensions: Philadelphia's Travis Von Tighem and Hershey's Trevor Converse will each sit three games for leaving the bench to fight, Hershey's Ville Niemenen picks up two games for antics in the same brawl, and Philadelphia's Andre Payette gets three games for abusing an official in the same game. Different cast of characters, same result. By the way, Hershey's only other preseason game, against the Syracuse Crunch, was also good for double digit fights (including a full scale brawl and an abbreviated tilt between the goaltenders) and Syracuse's Garrett Burnett left the penalty box to have at it with Hershey's Corcoran. Yeesh. Burnett's actions earned him a three-game suspension. Team Turmoil Strikes Again: What with all the other problems surrounding the Buffalo Sabres lately, you'd think the last thing they'd want to do is pick a fight with their farm club. Apparently not, because that's precisely what they did. When Dane Jackson signed with the Sabres two years ago, he expected to eventually get a shot in Buffalo. Since he never got that opportunity, Jackson left the Rochester Americans and his captaincy behind to sign with the New York Islanders, but the Islanders opted to return Jackson to the minors, the only question being where. The Amerks remain quite fond of Jackson, so they asked the Islanders to loan him back to Rochester, an arrangement which was acceptable to everybody - they thought. The contract between the Sabres and the Americans calls for the Amerks to provide half the players for the team in whatever manner the Amerks can find them, including a second NHL affiliation. Consequently the Amerks and Islanders saw no problems with Jackson coming back. But the Sabres have objected strenuously to the point of threatening to end the relationship with Rochester, claiming they never granted permission for the Amerks to receive players from another team. The problem appears related to the fact Buffalo GM Darcy Regier is an ex-Islander employee. For the time being, Jackson remains an Amerk. Gone But Not Forgotten: The AHL said goodbye to three of its more prominent personalities over the summer. Portland Pirates' owner Tom Ebright died in Hershey in July while waiting for a heart transplant. He was 53 and had recently developed a serious heart condition secondary to another disease. Ebright originally owned the Baltimore Skipjacks, but after financial problems and a dispute with the City of Baltimore he moved the team to Portland, where they won a Calder Cup in their first season. Ebright had also been a member of the AHL Board of Governors for twelve years, with an active role in the league's scheduling. His wife, Joyce, takes over his position as team owner. The Hershey Bears lost a longtime player, as Yanick Dupre lost a battle with leukemia on August 16 at age 24. Dupre had played most of three seasons with the Bears from '93-'96, occasionally appearing in Philadelphia with the Flyers, prior to his diagnosis in March of 1996. Despite spending 16 days in a coma due to a lung infection, Dupre dodged a bone marrow transplant in 1996, and by spring of 1997 was close to playing condition and had visited both the Flyers and Phantoms with the intention of being in training camp this season. But the disease returned in May, necessitating a transplant in June, and Dupre was struck by a series of infections which caused his death shortly after a charity golf tournament he had organized to benefit leukemia research. Dupre played in 35 games for the Flyers in addition to his three seasons in Hershey and had been expected to be a beneficiary of expansion. Lastly, AHL senior vice-president Macgregor Kilpatrick passed away in early September at the age of 90. Kilpatrick had been an active and influential member of the AHL's board of directors for 27 years and also served as the League's primary legal counsel. Kilpatrick originally became part of the AHL as the owner of a New Haven franchise and won the Hendy Memorial Award as the AHL's top executive in 1976. He was honored over the summer at the League's summer meetings with the addition of the Kilpatrick Award, to be given the the AHL team with the highest point total in each season. WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Last season I had the opportunity to talk with quite a few of the league's top players. Most of those players have landed their gear for the season, so let's see what happened to these guys. Wade Belak: Made the Colorado Avalanche out of training camp as an enforcer after pounding former 'Lanche Chris Simon. Jason Bonsignore: Declared a major disappointment by the Oilers and returned to Hamilton on the last chance program. Dennis Bonvie: Made the Edmonton Oilers. Curtis Bowen: Was loaned to the Canadian National Team - again. Sean Brown: Suspended three games in the exhibition season, sent back to Hamilton for more work. Andrew Brunette: Second in NHL in preseason scoring, sent back to Portland anyway. Dan Cloutier: Sent to the Hartford Wolfpack for more seasoning. Chris Ferraro: Rangers assigned him to the Wolfpack, but had to pass him through waivers first and he was claimed by the Pittsburgh Penguins Peter Ferraro: Ditto. Both twins remain with the Penguins. Greg Gilbert: Returns to the IceCats. Daniel Goneau: Injured in training camp, assigned to Hartford. Ralph Intranuovo: Became a free agent and signed with the IHL's Manitoba Moose. Ladislav Kohn: Returned to Saint John by the Calgary Flames. Bob LaChance: Returned to the Worcester IceCats. Daniel Laperriere: Possibly playing in Europe but unconfirmed. Marty Murray: Made the Calgary Flames. Anders Myrvold: Returned to the Providence Bruins. Zdenek Nedved: Returned to the St. John's Maple Leafs. David Nemirovsky: Won gold for Canada over the summer in the Maccabi Games in Israel; made the Florida Panthers. Brent Peterson: Left camp with the Lightning but then loaned to Milwaukee (IHL). Jamie Ram: The obvious was made official: Ram signed with the Sharks and was sent back to Kentucky. Jamie Rivers: Made the St. Louis Blues out of camp. Reggie Savage: No word on his whereabouts. Robb Stauber: Signed with the Rangers, will back up Cloutier in Hartford. Jaroslav Svejkovsky: Four goals against Buffalo in final game last season earned him a spot on the Capitals' roster. Brian Wiseman: Let go by the Maple Leafs, signed with the IHL's Houston Aeros. ================================================================= TEAM REPORTS ================================================================= EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION ----------------------------------------------------------------- FLORIDA PANTHERS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Doug MacLean Roster: C - Kirk Muller, Rob Niedermayer, Dave Gagner, Steve Washburn, Chris Wells. LW - Johan Garpenlov, Dave Lowry, Bill Lindsay, Radek Dvorak, David Nemirovsky. RW - Scott Mellanby, Ray Sheppard, Jody Hull, Tom Fitzgerald. D - Robert Svehla, Gord Murphy, Ed Jovanovski, Paul Laus, Terry Carkner, Rhett Warrener, Dallas Eakins. G - John Vanbiesbrouck, Mark Fitzpatrick. Injuries: Rob Neidermayer, c (concussion, 1 to 2 weeks); Dallas Eakins, d (MCL, 4 to 6 weeks); Terry Carkner, d (sprained ankle, day-to-day). Transactions: None. Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 2 1 1 0 2 6 6 0-0-0 1-1-0 Game Results: 10/01 Philadelphia L 3-1 10/04 Penguins W 5-3 TEAM NEWS by Eric Seiden, Florida Correspondent The hockey announcer was silent at Miami Arena because the Panthers opened their season away and were not due back until the 13th. With much fanfare, the regular season began in Philadelphia. The Panthers began their season much like they ended their last one. The Panthers came out like champs in the first period, and doing a typical Miami Team Play, did not come back for the rest of the game. They ended up going down for the count with a final tally of 3-1. Goaltending was superb with John Vanbiesbrouck stopping a penalty shot by Trent Klatt. A penalty shot was certainly an ominous way to begin the season. This was the inaugural game with Scott Mellanby as team captain, and only the second in team history. Rob Niedermayer joins Gord Murphy in wearing the "A" on his jersey. This away game set a bad tone with fans at home. Many fans attributed the loss to the fact Johan Garpenlov's name was spelled wrong on his jersey. The Panthers opening the season away and not coming home until 13 days later was grinding down the fans' nerves. However, the fans' despair would be reversed the following night. Not being the ones to start the season off without a big crunch, the Panthers announced that Dallas Eakins had torn his MCL in the final exhibition game putting him out for four to eight weeks. The Panthers will be off for a whole week after their Saturday game against Pittsburgh before they play again, in one of the many oddities of this year's schedule. The game against Pittsburgh was a great game for the Panthers. While once again the fans saw the misspelled jersey, that was about the only thing that went wrong for the Panthers. Dave Gagner, a new Panther, scored a hat trick. It was the first time that a new Panther has gotten his first point and his first hat trick for the team in the same night. The Bud Ice Penguins fell to a newly rejuvinated Panthers team. Bill Lindsay scored his 100th point as a Panther, and he did so while scoring the game winner to top it all off. In the last four shots on goal, the Panthers scored three times, one of which was an empty-netter. Another recent Panther addition, Kirk Muller, also got on the board in the first period, silencing some critics last season who said he didn't play well. It was a short first week with the Panthers only playing two games in seven days. However, the off-season was busy for the Panthers. There were many moves, some of which both surprised and shocked fans and players alike. On July 1st, Mike Hough became a New York Islander, after first telling the Panthers he would retire, and then saying he would only re-sign under a multi-year contract. Hough was an unrestricted free agent. The 34-year-old Hough has played 11 seasons in the NHL, including the last four with the Florida Panthers as a member of their inaugural team. Last year as a Panther in 69 games, he recorded eight goals and six assists with 48 penalty minutes. On July 4th, Florida Panther players Martin Straka and Geoff Smith were given their Independence Day and had their contracts bought out. Straka had a disappointing year for the Panthers after being acquired from the New York Islanders for the princely sum of one US dollar. Geoff Smith, one of this reporter's favorite defensemen, had spent most of last season in the minors. Once he was called up, he lasted one game before being placed on "injured reserve" with a supposedly dislocated shoulder so he would be eligible to play in the Cup should we need him. Again, Smith was another inaugural Panther and his departure makes the total much smaller. Due to his age, he is not expected to be picked up by an NHL team. Straka returned to the Penguins. On July 5th, the Panthers signed unrestricted free agent center Dave Gagner from the Calgary Flames to a three-year contract. Terms were undisclosed but expected to be around $2 million per year. Gagner is expected to be a 30-goal scorer. On this same date, free-agent Terry Carkner was re-signed to a three-year contract. It was also announced Kirk Muller, a late season acquisition last year, would move to left wing to make up for a glut of centers. On July 6th, the second most popular Panther and team captain since day-one, Brian Skrudland became a New York Ranger with a three-year, $5 million deal. The Panthers final offer to Skrudland was $2.7 for two years. Skrudland was voted as team captain by players on the inaugural team, and was the strongest moral support in the team's locker room. His strong and determined leadership were unchallenged. His departure was the second blow to the team's and fans' psyches by GM Bryan Murray who last season was lambasted universally for the departure of fan favorite and prodigal son Stu Barnes (in a misguided trade for Chris Wells.) The loss will be critical. From the April 15th edition of the Miami Herald, sportswriter Clark Spencer said, "Skrudland is the soul of the Panthers. He's not the oldest. He's not the fastest. He's not the biggest. He has scored just 32 goals in an entire four-year career with the Panthers, never more than fifteen in any of his twelve NHL seasons. But he is their leader -- in the locker room and on the ice." Moving back to July 6th, the team had many comments in the local media after his loss, "He's a leader for us, no doubt about that" Coach Doug MacLean said. "It's a loss not to have him." Said Gord Murphy, "Skrewy has always been a very valuable part of our whole system, both on and off the ice. In the dressing room, he always seems to have a knack for knowing what needs to be said, whether it's a kick in the behind or a calming word. We see how hard he works out there and we all try to emulate him a little more." "We miss everything he does," Vanbiesbrouck said. "He has that much of an impact on us. Our biggest loss tonight is Brian Skrudland. There's not much more I can say about that." "Take a look at Brian," Panthers left wing Dave Lowry said. "You're not going to replace a guy like that." In a prescient advanced warning, in the April 27th edition of the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, staff writer Karen Crouse said, "The Panthers, one of the final two teams playing last year, were the first team eliminated from Stanley Cup contention this season because they were a couple of bodies and body parts short. By the end they were missing pieces of their heart (Bill Lindsay, sprained left ankle), their soul (Brian Skrudland, torn right knee ligaments) and their brain (Garpenlov, broken rib.)" On July 7th, the Panthers signed restricted free agent Dallas Eakins, a defenseman from the New York Rangers. Eakins is a local boy and also a former Panther. He was born in Dade City, Florida and remains the only native-born Floridian to ever play for the Panthers. Eakins was drafted 10th round, 208th overall in 1985. Eakins played 17 games for Florida in the 1994-1995 season, and one game in the 1993-1994 season. He is noted for his ability to step on to the ice and pass the puck on the way to the penalty box for roughing. On July 21st, the Panthers lost one of their best assistant coaches when Lindy Ruff returned to the Buffalo Sabres where he played for over ten years. He will be a fine head coach, but his absence will be sorely felt both in the locker room and on the ice. On July 29th, Joe Cirella was signed as the Panthers' Assistant Coach. This caused heated discussion among many people. He was never a great player and many even called his leadership abilities into question. While it was nice to have a Panther back, his qualifications were questioned by many a fan. The fan favorite choice was former, retired ex-Panther and ex-Blackhawk, Keith Brown. On September 5th, the Panthers signed free-agent LW Esa Tikkanen to a one-year contract with renewable options that could extend the deal to three years. "Esa is an experienced player who has had great success as proven by his five Stanley Cup rings," said Murray. "He brings a winning and competitive attitude to the team. Esa is a Panthers' type of competitor and is the kind of player we have always pursued since day one of the franchise." Tik will have to prove he can play in the regular season to silence his many critics. On this same date, the Panthers re-signed Goaltender Mark Fitzpatrick. RANDOM NOTES: All Panthers games EXCEPT ONE will televised this year. The lone exception is the February 7th, 1998 game at Toronto. So unless you get CBC you're out of luck. Fox is not planning to exercise its option on this game and SportsChannel Florida isn't allowed to have it. Start writing letters RIGHT NOW if you want to see this one locally in Florida. The Cats are on ESPN twice and FOX seven times, with 72 games on SCFL. ----------------------------------------------------------------- NEW JERSEY DEVILS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Jacques Lemaire Roster: C - Doug Gilmour, Bob Carpenter, Bobby Holik, Denis Pederson, Petr Sykora. LW - Dave Andreychuk, Steve Thomas, Valeri Zelepukin, Jay Pandolfo, Reid Simpson, Scott Daniels. RW - Patrik Elias, John MacLean, Randy McKay. D - Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, Ken Daneyko, Lyle Odelein, Kevin Dean, Vlastimil Kroupa, Brad Bombardir. G - Martin Brodeur, Mike Dunham. Injuries: None. Transactions: 10/3 - Re-signed free agent holdout LW Brian Rolston. Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 2 1 1 0 2 5 7 0-0-0 1-1-0 Game Results: 10/3 at Tampa Bay W 4-3 10/4 at Washington L 4-1 TEAM NEWS by Philip Aromando, New Jersey Correspondent The Devils live and die by their system. Call it the trap, the Lemaire Lock, boring; but anyway you look at it, it takes a huge amount of individual dedication and a willingness to play by the team concept. During Jacques Lemaire’s first season as coach five years ago, there were few players who didn’t buy into it. The team started out strong and quick and didn’t stop for two years. The heartbreaking loss to the Rangers in ‘94 confirmed they were headed in the right direction. The Cup win the following season delivered the ultimate. They looked so strong that new rules were even being considered to limit the trap and the oncoming juggernaut of Devil dominance. The future looked bright. The Devils had arrived. But something strange happened the following season. They failed to make the playoffs. Perhaps it could be attributed to the fact that key individuals within the system left or were dealt away. Claude Lemieux and Bruce Driver were integral parts. Poised as contenders, the Devils drifted all season. The addition of Doug Gilmour late last year seemed to be the answer. They finally had acquired a scoring center. Someone to bolster the offense and allow the team to play with a lead of more than one goal for stretches longer than ten minutes. He would complement the suffocating defense and lead the way to glory. Unfortunately, the overachieving Rangers, with axes to grind of their own, effectively short circuited them. The Devils imploded. Whether it was players in the crease or general whining about the officiating and everything else, the team that new rules were going to be made for looked and played sloppy. No longer contenders, they didn’t even look poised. Will this year’s team live up to its potential? Will this be another season of expectation followed by the dull thump of an early playoff exit? Will they even make the playoffs? Not even Barry Melrose picked them as Eastern Conference favorites this year. There is a sense that the system has run its course; that it now bores the players. There is also a sense of disarray in the lineup. Two players that are integral to the team’s success have not even seen the training camp dressing room. Brian Rolston finally ended his holdout and signed last Friday and should join the team for the home opener against the Flyers on the 8th of October, but Bill Guerin has formally asked to be traded. Rolston simply wanted to get back and play, but Guerin wants market value for his talents and it doesn’t sound like he or the Devils will budge. We all know what happens to players that upset the system: they are let go, traded or allowed to sit out a year (remember Sean Burke?). The fifth season of the Jacques Lemaire era began with a win immediately followed by a loss. Both games had strange qualities and in many ways highlighted issues that will surround the team as the season unfolds. Against Tampa the Devils controlled play and looked sharp for much of the game but still couldn’t take a lead greater than one goal deep into a game. Let me clarify: they did have a two-goal lead with five minutes left to play and had limited Tampa to only two shots in the period up to that point in the third, but they gave it away in a sixteen-second span. Jason Wiemer scored twice to bring the Bolts within one with less than two minutes to play and the Devils had to scramble to contain a game that normally would have been theirs. If it weren’t for Brodeur and two saves he made in the final minute, the game would have slipped away. The loss of Shawn Chambers and Dave Ellett to free agency may not be felt at all this season, but watching something like this unfold, you can’t help but wonder whether or not the defensive supremacy the Devils are known for has taken a hit. Vlastimil Kroupa and Kevin Dean may fill the void, but the tradeoff in experience is something that may have an impact. Kroupa played wildly and erratically. As he said after the game, "I have to learn to stay back." As Scott Stevens said: "It was an adventure." Brodeur could do nothing about the first goal Tampa scored (Patrik Elias unwittingly tipped it into his own net after upending Rob Zamuner in the slot), but he made a beautiful glove save on a Tampa three-on-one midway through the second to keep the game at 2-1. Randy McKay scored the first Devil goal of the season eight minutes into the first and played with his usual fervor. He will benefit most from Bill Guerin’s absence, seeing time on Gilmour’s line. Petr Sykora seemed healthy, scoring once and assisting on a power-play goal. John MacLean scored the game-winner, assisted by Denis Pederson and Valeri Zelepukin. Dave Andreychuk played and skated well: it looks like the ankle he broke last season is completely healed. The win, Lemaire’s 200th NHL coaching victory, extended Jersey’s unbeaten opening day streak to nine consecutive games (7-0-2). During the preseason, Jacques Lemaire complained about the logistics of this season’s schedule. There are more back-to-back games than usual to accommodate for the two-week league shut down in February while NHL stars go off to play for their respective countries in the Olympics. He suggested that there would be more injuries and more juggling of ice time for older players (which the Devils have in abundance) than normal. Not that he was making an excuse, but after the loss to Washington he said that the emotion of playing the season opener and then travelling to Washington and arriving at two a.m. may have had something to do with how flat the Devils played. Maybe. But there would have been no stopping the Caps even if the Devils played like they had in Tampa the night before. Washington is playing a lot like the Devils did at the start of 93-94 (Lemaire’s first season). Ron Wilson seems to have gotten the core of this Caps team to believe in itself. They always play the Devils tough defensively and Bill Ranford is a goalie they always have trouble beating. But this night they took it to the Devils with their offense and without Bill Ranford in goal. Washington scored on their first shot of the game and led 4-0 by the midway point of the second period. To make matters worse, the Caps scored goals three and four in a span of 36 seconds, eerily mirroring the game in Tampa the night before. Yes, Brodeur was in goal (although he was sitting on the bench at the beginning of the third). It was not entirely his fault. Scott Niedermayer and Lyle Odelein were on the ice for three of the Caps' goals. One goal was the result of a Dale Hunter takeaway from Nieder that then hit Odelein’s shin pad and deflected into the net. All in all a rough night for the defense. Brad Bombardir made his NHL debut, subbing for Kroupa. Lemaire said he had planned to start Bombardir in place of Kroupa even before the Tampa game. Considering Kroupa’s play the night before, it was a valid and prescient move. The Caps defense shut down everyone but Randy McKay. He scored midway through the second off a feed from Holik (the Thomas-Holik-McKay line was the most effective all evening). But by that point the game was firmly out of reach. So another season begins and the Devils look forward to their home opener against the Flyers on Wednesday night. The Flyers are the class of the East this year. The measuring stick that the Devils once were. It will be the first real test of the lineup as it is presently comprised. Hopefully, the defense will settle down and realize that these games count and the offense will pick up and generate some quality scoring opportunities. There are 80 more games to play, but a victory against a team like the Flyers can go a long way to reassuring fans that their team is still capable of competing at the level they have grown accustomed to. After all, this season may be their best last chance: after this season, Brodeur, Stevens, Niedermayer, and Gilmour will all be free agents of one type or another. ----------------------------------------------------------------- NEW YORK ISLANDERS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Rick Bowness Roster: C - Robert Reichel, Travis Green, Bryan Smolinski, Claude Lapointe, Sergei Nemchinov. LW - Mike Hough, Paul Kruse, Ken Belanger, Jim Storm. RW - Zigmund Palffy, Mariusz Czerkawski, Dan Plante, Steve Webb, Todd Bertuzzi, Mick Vukota. D - Scott Lachance, Bryan Berard, Dennis Vaske, Richard Pilon, Bryan McCabe, Kenny Jonsson, John Namestnikov. G - Eric Fichaud, Wade Flaherty, Tommy Salo. Injuries: None. Transactions: None. Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 2 1 0 1 3 5 2 1-0-0 0-0-1 Game Results: 10/03 at NY Rangers T 2-2 10/04 Toronto W 3-0 TEAM NEWS by David Strauss, NY Islanders Correspondent As the Islanders opened the 1997-98 season, it seemed that the same questions hung over the team as last year, but finally, it seems, those questions have some answers. For instance, it has been rumored in this column that, at the end of the game, the team with the most goals wins. The Islanders seem to have trouble with this concept at times, assuming that that pesky offensive side of the ice isn't really that important. They struggled to score goals often last season. While You Can't Stop Zigmund Palffy, You Can Only Hope to Contain Him (TM), last year Ziggy was often on his own. Even considering this, he still scored 48 goals, and GM Mike Milbury challenged him in preseason to up that total to 60 this season. Palffy was the Isles' only true offensive threat up front, noted by the fact they went 19-11- 5 when Palffy scored and 10-30-7 when he didn't. With Ziggy taking it easy in the preseason, the Islanders were a horrid 0-6 and scored a league-low nine goals. So, if one were to note that after two early season games, not only Palffy but also his linemates Robert Reichel and Bryan Smolinski were without goals, one would assume the Isles were off to another scary start. But you know what they say about assuming. The Islanders have done just fine without him. They've started the season 1-0-1, despite the lack of a contribution from Ziggy, who was fifth in the league in goals last season. In two games, Palffy has seven shots, one assist and is plus-2. He's certainly had his chances, but hasn't buried the puck yet. "Ziggy and those guys are not going to carry the load every night," said coach Rick Bowness. "They need help. That goes back to balance. But, as I said, we have better balance on our hockey club now, better depth. Other guys are going to chip in." The other guys have chipped in. The Islanders have a 2-2 tie with the Rangers and a 3-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, getting goals from four players and assists from eight others. Claude LaPointe, of all people, leads the team in scoring so far. "I think we have more depth up front," Bowness said. "That helps. Because now you're not relying on Ziggy to play 25, 28 minutes every night - and so the minutes he's going to play will be more productive." In the season opener with the Rangers on Friday, the Islanders played confident, solid hockey, outplaying the Blueshirts through large stretches, outworking them, and in a reverse from last season's early struggles, stayed poised after the Rangers tied the game midway through the third. They outshot their rival 11-9 in the third period and 2-0 in overtime. "We know the things that happened to us last year," defenseman Bryan Berard said. "But the confidence level on this team is much higher already than it was all of last year." While a two-game unbeaten streak is modest, it's just the second time in the last decade the Isles have managed to get this far without a loss. Foremost in the solid team effort so far would have to be the solid goaltending of Tommy Salo, who Bowness seems to have appointed the number one keeper. Salo has stopped 57 of 59 shots, and has looked like the quality goaltender the Isles have been waiting for him to become for several years. But don't worry about Ziggy. He didn't get his first goal last season until game three, and there was still plenty of time for 47 more. NOTES... * So, was Isles GM Mike Milbury interested in acquiring former Isle star Pat LaFontaine when the Buffalo center became available? Milbury said the other day he had a "passing interest" -- one that passed very quickly. "We have a history here [of concussions], we have an issue with Brett Lindros," Milbury said. "We had one discussion about Pat and we weren't willing to take the risk". The Islanders have sued a Lloyds of London underwriter for $4.3 million after the insurance company refused to pay 80% of the remainder of Lindros' salary. The defendant in the suit, Boston Mutual, claims Lindros had a preexisting condition before the Islanders took out the insurance policy in 1994. * The sellout in the home opener continues the trend of Islander fans returning to the Coliseum on a regular basis. Despite some local columnists who called it a "rare sellout," the capacity crowd of 16,297 was the team's 12th sellout in the last 21 games. Loudest cheers in the pre-game ceremonies went to Ziggy Palffy, Bryan Berard, and Ken "Sandman" Belanger. The only player booed in the intros was center Travis Green. "I can feel the love," Green said. Fans are angered that for the second straight season, Green was a preseason holdout. The 26-year-old center missed three weeks of camp, then signed a three-year deal worth $4.65 million. "I don't like it," Green said of the booing. "Who would? But anyone who booed either didn't follow the negotiations that closely - or just doesn't care. Because if they followed the negotiations, they wouldn't be booing me." Green neglected to note that fans also should have followed his admission last season that his 1996 holdout contributed to his slow start, and were shocked he'd be that stupid again. ----------------------------------------------------------------- NEW YORK RANGERS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Colin Campbell Roster: C - Wayne Gretzky, Pat LaFontaine, Brian Skrudland, Mike Eastwood, Marc Savard. LW - Adam Graves, Kevin Stevens, Bill Berg, Darren Langdon. RW - Niklas Sundstrom, Alexei Kovalev, Mike Keane, Johan Lindbom, Ryan VandenBussche. D - Brian Leetch, Ulf Samuelsson, Jeff Beukeboom, Bruce Driver, Doug Lidster, Alexander Karpovstev, Eric Cairns, Jeff Finley. G - Mike Richter, Jason Muzzatti. Injuries: None. Transactions: 10/3/97 - Signed Wayne Gretzky, c, to lifetime contract extension. 9/29/97 - Acquired Pat LaFontaine, c, from Buffalo Sabres for a 1998 second-round draft pick and future picks. Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 2 0 0 2 2 4 4 0-0-2 0-0-0 Game Results: 10/03 Islanders T 2-2 10/05 Los Angeles T 2-2 TEAM NEWS by Alex Frias, NY Rangers Team Correspondent La-La-La-La-La-La-Laaaaa-Fontaineeeeeeeee: The LONG-awaited trade for one of the league's most prolific centers was finally completed, and somehow GM Neil Smith did it without giving up a player from his roster or his future roster. Smith simply bamboozled LaFontaine from the Sabres for a 1998 second-round pick and future picks, including one as high as the second round, depending on LaFontaine's performance. LaFontaine is looking to make a successful comeback from post-concussion syndrome after getting drilled last season by the shoulder of 6-6 defensemen Francois Leroux. He played a few games after the injury, but was forced to leave the lineup after experiencing dizziness, nausea and severe headaches that lasted for several months and threatened the end his career. "My research in doing this was that if I had the opportunity to resume and play the game I love, and I was at minimal risk, I would love to still do that," LaFontaine said. "I didn't want to have regrets either way. At the same instance, if the doctors had told me, 'You're above minimal risk,' I wasn't going to take that risk. It's too important to me, my family and my wife. I had to have tremendous peace of mind to come back and resume my career, I have that." LaFontaine has been cleared to play for more than a month by two of his own doctors, but Buffalo's team physicians disagreed. He received clearance from the Rangers' medical staff early last weak. "My concern was if I got hit again would I have permanent damage," LaFontaine said. "But the doctors told me that I am at no more risk than anyone who has had one concussion. There are a lot of players in that category." LaFontaine is expected to fill the void at center that Mark Messier left. He gives the Rangers a talented offensive center to play behind Wayne Gretzky and help take some of the opposition's checking efforts away from the Great One. "One player can't replace Mark Messier. His career speaks for itself," LaFontaine said. "The only shoes I want to fill are my own." What size are you again, because your shoes are pretty big themselves. LaFontaine has 445 goals and 506 assists in 13-plus NHL seasons with the New York Islanders and Sabres. "I think I'm the only player who's been traded twice and not had to change his license plate," LaFontaine said. Provided he remains healthy, LaFontaine will give the Rangers the speed and playmaking ability they so sorely lacked. And while there might be some concern over the Rangers size up the middle with Gretzky and LaFontaine as their top two centers, they back that up with Brian Skrudland and Mike Eastwood, and then with Mike Keane, Bill Berg, and Darren Langdon on the wings, not to mention Adam Graves and Kevin Stevens on the first two lines to 'protect' LaFontaine and Gretzky, respectively. What is else is there to say? This is a crap shoot. And given the club's deep pockets, a crap shoot the Rangers can afford. Beginning of a New Era: With the now-infamous departure of Messier to Vancouver, it left a void at center and leadership. While Pat LaFontaine fills the hole at center, the team had to select a new leader. Someone to lead them into those late night battles against the Flyers and Devils. Someone to lead them into those skilled encounters against the Penguins and Avalanche. And someone to lead them into those street alley brawls on the Island. That someone turned out to be Brian Leetch. Taking a page out of the Messier history book, the Rangers had Leetch wear a different jersey in the warm-up than he would in the game - one without the "C" on his left breast. Then, introduced last among the 20 Rangers who dressed to play against the Isles, Leetch emerged out of the fog and hit the Garden ice as the captain of the New York Rangers. "I had kind of forgotten about it," Leetch said. "On the way to the ice, I was looking at some of the pictures on the wall and I saw the reflection. I gave a little chuckle." The team is going to start looking at you for a reflection Brian. Newest Rangers Check In: Neil Smith's summer shopping spree brought over the aforementioned LaFontaine, Kevin Stevens, Mike Keane, Brian Skrudland, and Marc Savard among others. Stevens, who was been in a rut ever since leaving Pittsburgh and his setup man, Mario Lemieux, is a man on a mission... a mission to once again become a force in the NHL. And if the first two games are any indication, he's well on his way. Skating on the left wing of the Gretzky-Sundstrom line, he has been causing havoc all over the ice. Stevens emerged from the first game with cuts and bruises all over his face, a testimony to how physical a game he's playing. And that hard work and determination resulted in his first goal as a Ranger in the 2-2 tie against Los Angeles. Look for him to have a great season playing alongside Gretzky. The revamped checking line featuring both Skrudland and Keane alongside Bill Berg did its damage from the get-go. Playing against the opposition's top lines, running through people, and drawing penalties. Keane, in particular has shown speed and skills that Colin Campbell never could have gotten from Flatley. Skrudland has struggled a little on faceoffs, but that shouldn't be the case for too long. Savard has continued to show that his preseason was no fluke. Seeing lots of power-play time and spotted at even-strength, the rookie center has looked quite comfortable and hardly looked awed when lining up with the likes of Gretzky and Leetch. Ranger For Life: When Wayne Gretzky retires from this game, his playing career will include stops in Edmonton, Los Angeles, St. Louis, and last but not least New York. And MSG made sure that New York will be the last stop on his Hall of Fame resume when they signed him to an open-ended contract that will make Gretzky a Ranger for life and at the same time sends a message out to Mark Messier. The deal calls for three years (including a club option) for $17.5 million. Gretzky will start of at $7 million this season, another guaranteed $5.5 million next season, and $5 million in 1999-2000 if the club exercises its option. Team and individual performance bonuses may bring in another $3 million a year if the Rangers win a Stanley Cup in any one of them. The deal can then be extended for as long as Gretzky feels the desire to go out and play at $5 million per each additional year. Mark Messier rejected the Rangers' one-year $4.6 million off and took a three-year, $18-20 million deal in Vancouver. You can argue it was a classic case of show me the money. However, the Rangers showed Gretzky that same money and then some as when salary figures are published later this season, Gretzky's name will be above Messier's in the not-so elusive millionaires club. A coincidence? Yeah, and Gretzky's a physical force to be reckoned with. But why Gretzky instead of the 'Messiah'? Gretzky won major points with Garden brass when he accepted less money to come to New York and GM Neil Smith and MSG President Dave Checketts believed he had more miles left in his tank than Messier did, who plays a much more physically demanding power game. Don't forget, Gretzky had 20 points in the playoffs, including a hat trick against the Panthers. Messier had 12. "Wayne showed unquestionably in the playoffs that his game is not slipping," Smith said. "There was no dispute. That's why it was easy to get done." When Gretzky decides it is time to hang it up, MSG has ensured No. 99 will be lifted to its rafters first, before Edmonton, before Los Angeles, and even before No. 11. Classy, very classy... Waiver Losses: Mike Peluso was claimed by the Calgary Flames in the waiver draft, ending his extremely brief stint with the Rangers after gaining notoriety on the "Crash Line" with the 1995 Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils. The Rangers opted to protect left-handed enforcer Ryan VandenBussche instead as they believed Peluso's request for more ice time would not be met. Peluso became a Ranger over the summer as compensation for allowing assistant GM Larry Pleau to take the GM's job in St. Louis. And on a bit of a sadder note, the Rangers lost Peter and Chris Ferraro on waivers to the Penguins for $120,000 a few days later. Peter Ferraro Sr. Said he was disappointed to see his sons leave New York. "It's fair for New York to release them and not put them into the minors," the senior Ferraro said. Both never really got a chance to stick with the big club and hopefully they'll find a home in Pittsburgh. Neither was much bigger than me, but you couldn't accuse them of not trying. The best to both of you guys. Game Recaps Oct. 3, tied with Islanders 2-2: The night was supposed to belong to Brian Leetch. And at the start, it did. But after the Garden gave its new captain a thunderous ovation worthy of the game's finest defensemen, the night was seized by a newcomer and his personal triumph. Pat LaFontaine simply stole the spotlight and his new fans' hearts when he scored the equalizing goal midway through the third period to give the Rangers a 2-2 tie with the Islanders on opening night. It was LaFontaine's first action in the last six months and his leg muscles let him know about it. So he had an excuse. The rest of his teammates had no such alibi to blame for their sloppy play. However, they did show flashes of promise, but at the same time struggled, particularly on the power play. The upstart Islanders twice grabbed one-goal leads in what they hope is a playoff bound season. It took LaFontaine's heroics to keep this opening night from being remembered as all style and no substance. Oct. 5, tied with Los Angeles 2-2: Already having an apparent game-tying goal in the final minute nullified by video review, the Rangers sat on their bench with 8.1 seconds left in regulation hoping that someone would give Kevin Stevens' goal a thumbs up. Somebody must have been listening. But the bigger question is: What are the Rangers doing counting on a painstaking video review in the final seconds just to be able to crawl out with a tie with a rebuilding Kings team on the third leg of a five-game road trip? The unfamiliarity caused by the presence of six new skaters in the lineup definitely has something to do with the scoring problems, even though we're only two games into the season. However, they were outplayed by the Kings as they seemed to get flat-footed. Hopefully it's something time will fix. ----------------------------------------------------------------- PHILADELPHIA FLYERS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Wayne Cashman Roster: C - Eric Lindros, Chris Gratton, Dan LaCroix, Joel Otto, Vaclav Prospal. LW - Rod Brind'Amour, Dan Kordic, John LeClair, Shjon Podein. RW - John Druce, Pat Falloon, Trent Klatt, Dainius Zubrus. D - Paul Coffey, Eric Desjardins, Chris Joseph, Janne Niinimaa, Luke Richardson, Kjell Samuelsson, Petr Svoboda, Chris Therien. G - Ron Hextall, Garth Snow. Injuries: None. Transactions: Eric Desjardins, d (abdominal muscle/pelvic bone, injured reserve until late October); Petr Svoboda, d (broken finger, injured reserve until late October); Daniel LaCroix, c (knee surgery, sidelined until late November). Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 3 2 1 0 4 9 6 2-1-0 0-0-0 Game Results: 10/01 New Jersey W 3-1 10/03 Ottawa W 5-3 10/05 Phoenix L 2-1 TEAM NEWS by Eric Meyer, Philadelphia Correspondent New Faces and New Places So another season is upon us. I assume we've all had time to lick our wounds from last season's debacle in the Cup finals against the Red Wings. Let's wipe the slate clean and start fresh. So what have we got to work with? Let's see, we've got a Lindros, a LeClair, a Hextall, some Snow, a bunch of solid defensemen, a healthy Vinnie Prospal, a strong Rod Brind'Amour, and oh yeah, some new faces in new places. Let's start with the big guy. No, not Lindros, I'll get to him later. I'm talkin' 'bout that Chris Gratton. The 6'4", 218-pound dynamo via Tampa Bay gave GM Bobby Clarke and his team the one sniper/physical force that this club was lacking last season. Quickly, for all of you hockey fans who spent that off-season in hibernation, I'll recap the Gratton saga. August 13, 1997 - Flyers file a complaint with the league to block a proposed trade between Tampa Bay and Chicago, claiming that they had already signed the 22-year-old Gratton to a free agent offer sheet. August 14, 1997 - Tampa Bay and Philadelphia go to arbitration. The Flyers signed Gratton to an offer sheet on Tuesday (8/12/97) that is reportedly worth $16.5 over five seasons and includes a $9 million signing bonus, then sent a faxed copy of the offer sheet to Tampa. NHL rules say an offer sheet sent to a team must be legible, and Lightning general manager Phil Esposito says the year-by-year breakdown on the fax sent Tuesday night was unreadable. Esposito claims that as a result, he was within his right to trade Gratton, sending him to Chicago that same night in exchange for unnamed players. August 15, 1997 - Arbitrator John Sands rules in favor of Philadelphia, meaning that the Lightning have seven days to match the five-year, $16.5 million offer the Flyers tendered to Gratton. August 20, 1997 - Philadelphia Flyers trade Mikael Renberg and Karl Dykhuis to Tampa Bay for the rights to Chris Gratton. The Flyers then ink Chris Gratton. Well, that was a mouthful. So anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, Gratton's impact. Well, a goal and an assist in his first game, playing on the second line centering Prospal and Pat Falloon, against the Panthers ain't too shabby. And if John Vanbiesbrouck doesn't stone Falloon on the left post, then Gratton has a three-point night in his first game as a Flyer. More new faces. What about Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuke? No I wasn't booing, I said Luke, as in Luke Richardson. Richardson, signed as a free agent in July, gives the Flyers an incredibly physical presence on the back line. His impact won't be felt in the scoresheets, but it will be felt by opposing players in the form of bumps and bruises. In his first few games as a Flyer, Richardson hasn't disappointed showing a solid mix of physical play and strong defense. More new faces? Sure, the Flyers also went out and signed defenseman Chris Joseph, the prototypical NHL journeyman, to a contract to add some depth to an already solid defensive core. Even more new faces? Yeah, let's not forget to mention the new general, head coach Wayne Cashman. He's a mean ex-Bruin player, and a savvy ex-Shark assistant coach. He's also Bobby Clarke's type of guy. Don't look for too many differences between this year's coaching philosophy and that of last year's coach Terry Murray. Both coaches preach a defensive style of hockey. Why else would Cashman go out and add Luke Richardson and Chris Joseph to an already rich defensive crop? It's a little early in the season and we have about eighty more games to go, but so far-so good. Let's Set Our Starting Lineups OFFENSE LeClair-Lindros-Zubrus Prospal-Gratton-Falloon Podein-Brind'Amour-Klatt Kordic-Otto-LaCroix DEFENSE Richardson-Niinimaa Coffey-Joseph Therien-Samuelsson GOALTENDERS Hextall Snow New Faces but no New Goalie? Nope! They brought in Richardson, Gratton and even Joseph (Chris that is), but in the goalie department, the Flyers made no major moves in the off-season. We heard rumors about Ed Belfour, but he's down in Dallas. We heard about Felix "The Cat" Potvin, but he's still languishing in Toronto. Finally we heard a fair amount of talk about Curtis Joseph (to Flyers fans he is now just the other Joseph). But rumor had it that Oilers GM Glen Sather was too interested in either Dainius Zubrus or Janne Niinimaa, and around here, it's understood that for now, those two are off limits. The consensus here in Philadelphia (myself included) is that the Flyers will never be able to win the Cup with Ron Hextall and Garth Snow. Let's just say that maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon... no, maybe not even soon, but at one point or another the Flyers are going to make a move for a proven goaltender such as Curtis Joseph. Legion Go Bye-Bye That's right, the Legion of Doom line of Eric Lindros, John LeClair and Mikael Renberg is no more (so who wants to buy a slightly used L.O.D. T-shirt?). With Renberg down south in the blue and black of the Tampa Bay Lightning, new coach Wayne Cashman has opted to go not with Chris Gratton on the top line, but with 19-year-old Dainius Zubrus. The youngster had just nine goals all of last season, but showed flashes of offensive brilliance on the ice, as well as a nasty, physical side to boot. Zubrus also came to life in the playoffs scoring five goals while adding four assists. That was good for second among NHL rookies in the playoffs last season. This year, in the first game of the season against Florida at the CoreStates Center, Zubrus notched the game-winning goal on the power play to help the Flyers to an easy 3-1 victory over the Panthers. In his second game this season, at home against Ottawa, young Dainius posted two assists. What about the other ex-Legionnaires? Well, John LeClair, the same John LeClair who griped about renegotiating the final three years on his five-year contract with the Flyers during the off-season, came out of the gate in the regular season like an orange flash. In just his second game of the season, LeClair registered a goal and two assists, to help the Flyers cruise to a 5-3 home win against the Senators. Finally we have Eric Lindros. In his final game as a Penguin in the playoffs last season, Super Mario told Lindros during the team handshakes that it was "his turn". Lindros, the same Eric Lindros who is in the last year of his contract, took those words to heart in his second game of the season against Ottawa. It appeared that the success of his linemates was contagious. Two goals and an assist helped get his team jump started against the Senators. Contract Negotiations Could it be that this might be the last year of Eric Lindros hockey in Philadelphia? Well, probably not, and it probably will be the case that Lindros will play the majority of his remaining seasons, if not finish his career with the Flyers. So why hasn't he been signed yet? Well that's an interesting question. It wasn't long ago, during the summer that his father, Carl Lindros, as well as another representative were said to be near wrapping up negotiations on a contract extension. But Flyers president Ed Snider denied those allegations and the process wore on. As far as I can tell, Lindros and his representation have turned down offers of approximately $40 million over eight years, and $27 million over three years. Expect negotiations to take a hiatus for a short while as the team begins the regular season. They Just Love Being Two Men Down Not once, but twice in the first period alone, the Phoenix Coyotes found themselves defending five-on-three Philly power-play opportunities. The first opportunity saw many Philly flurries, but no goals to show for it. The second two-man advantage actually set the stage for a Phoenix breakaway which goaltender Garth Snow denied with time expiring in the first period. Meyer's Flyers Notes The Flyers' meeting with Phoenix on Sunday was Eric Lindros' 300th career NHL game. For all you Sony Playstation buffs out there, you'll notice on Electronic Arts' NHL '98 that Luke Richardson is indeed a member of the Flyers. However, you still will need to make the necessary trade with Tampa to acquire Chris Gratton, and you will need to add Chris Joseph, as well. In case you didn't hear, Dale Hawerchuk retired. We're still awaiting that first Flyers fight of the season. I'll put my money on Mr. Kordic. Get this... the Flyers have started charging for food in the press box? Yeah, I might pay $5 for a "Jumbo Hot Dog". Mmmmmm, hot dog. ----------------------------------------------------------------- TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Terry Crisp Roster: C - Jeff Toms, Paul Ysebaert, Daymond Langkow, Brian Bradley. RW - Mikael Renberg, Mick Vukota, Dino Ciccarelli, Alexander Selivanov, Mikael Anderson. LW - Rob Zamuner, Troy Mallette, Jason Wiemer, Patrick Poulin, Vladimir Vujtek. D - Cory Cross, Jeff Norton, Jamie Huscroft, Karl Dykhuis, David Shaw, Yves Racine, Roman Hamrlik, Igor Ulanov. G - Daren Puppa, Corey Schwab. Injuries: None. Transactions: Signed Troy Mallette, lw, as free agent; assigned Louie Debrusk, lw, to Millwaukee (IHL); Claimed Mick Vukota, rw, on waivers from Islanders; assigned Brent Peterson, rw, to Millwaukee (IHL). Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 3 1 1 1 3 8 7 1-1-1 0-0-0 Game Results: 10/01 Carolina W 4-2 10/03 New Jersey L 4-3 TEAM NEWS by Seth Lerman, Tampa Bay Correspondent Usually a 4-2 victory on opening night in front of a capacity crowd would be the top sports story of the day. Not so for the Tampa Bay Lightning whose victory over the Carolina Hurricanes was overshadowed by the appearance of forward John Cullen, who is about to undergo the next phase of his battle against Cancer. Cullen, who was originally hoping to play this season, was there to drop the ceremonial opening puck and was greeted to a standing ovation from the 17,808 fans in attendance. "One day, I hope to get back on the ice. I am not going to let go of that goal," said Cullen after the game. Cullen was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma back in March after complaining of chest pains following a game. He then underwent six weeks of chemotherapy within a five-month period to remove the baseball size tumor. Unfortunately, the procedure did not work completely and Cullen now finds himself in a fight for his life. "The bottom-line is that I went through six chemotherapy treatments and, I guess what I'm trying to say is, it did a pretty good job, but it didn't do the whole thing - not like they thought it would." The next plan of action calls for bone marrow to be harvested from Cullen's body and frozen. He will head to Boston where he will undergo three-to-five days of intense chemotherapy. In November, he will be a patient at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute undergoing a bone marrow transplant. The transplant serves as a preventive measure against the return of the disease which attacks the lymph nodes and is capable of spreading throughout the body. If the procedure goes as planned, Cullen's white blood cell count will return to normal. "We don't want to take any chances," said Dr. Lee Nadler, of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, "because if the disease comes back after the radiation it's tough." Cullen's chance for survival is 50-75 per cent. When the Cancer was originally diagnosed, it was listed at 92 per cent. "You try not to think about it too much," said Cullen. As expected, the support that Cullen and his family have received from fans has been tremendous. Thousand of letters and cards have arrived from around the world. "It has been amazing, because my wife and I do need help. We need the support. We try to support each other, but you also need support from your family." Cullen, whose father Barry and Uncle's Ron and Brian also spent time in the NHL, is in his third season with the Lightning. At the time of the diagnosis last Mmarch, he had 18 goals and 37 assists. Originally drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1986 supplemental draft, Cullen signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins and scored more than 90 points in two-of-three seasons in the steel city. He was traded to the Hartford Whalers as part of a package for Ron Francis and Ulf Samuelsson. He has also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs. ----------------------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON CAPITALS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Doug Wilson Roster: C - Adam Oates, Michael Pivonka, Andrei Nikolishin, Dale Hunter, Jan Bulis, Mike Eagles. LW- Steve Konowalchuk, Joe Juneau, Yogi Svejkovsky, Jan Benda, Kevin Kaminski, Chris Simon, Richard Zednik. RW - Peter Bondra, Richard Zednik, Kelly Miller, Craig Berube, Pat Peake. D - Mark Tinordi, Phil Housley, Calle Johansson, Sergei Gonchar, Sylvain Cote, Joe Reekie, Brendan Witt, Ken Klee. G - Olaf Kolzig, Martin Brochu. Injuries: Bill Ranford, g (groin, one week0; Andrei Nikolishin, lw (knee, indefinite). Transactions: Kevin Kaminski, c; Andrew Brunette, lw; and Todd Krygier, rw; assigned to Portland (AHL). Announced Peter Bondra, rw, has returned to the team. Signed Sergei Gonchar, d, to an undisclosed contract. Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 3 3 0 0 6 14 4 2-0-0 1-0-0 Game Results: 10/01 at Toronto W 4-1 10/03 Buffalo W 6-2 10/04 New Jersey W 4-1 TEAM NEWS by Jason Sheehan, Washington Correspondent New Ownership Plus Youth Equals Success If the first two games of the season are any indication, the Washington Capitals are in for a type of year the franchise has never experienced in its 24-year history. Oh how times have changed. Washington has shot out of the gates like a rocket with an endless supply of fuel, winning its first three games and demolishing two of the league's finest goaltenders, Buffalo's Dominik Hasek and New Jersey's Martin Brodeur. Hasek was hammered in the Capitals' home opener Oct. 3, 4-1, and Brodeur was scratching his head the next night as the scoreboard read 6-2 in the Capitals' favor. The Capitals' 3-0 start is the club's second best start in team history. They began the 1991-92 campaign winning their first four games. The Capitals main problem throughout club history is that they have never had a team that can score goals in bunches. Instead, they had previously relied on defense to win games, thus most games were usually low scoring. This philosophy led the Capitals to the playoffs for 14 consecutive seasons, but never took them all the way to a Stanley Cup championship. And last season, the Capitals didn't even make it to the playoffs. They finished ninth in the division, which resulted from the 361 man-games they lost to injury. But times have changed, and team owner Abe Pollin has awaken from his slumber. Gone are general manager David Poile and Jim Schoenfeld. Poile, who guided the Capitals for 15 seasons, is now the general manager in Nashville, an expansion team that begins play next year. Schoenfeld, meanwhile, was hired by the Phoenix Coyotes one week after the Capitals decided he wasn't in their future plans. In are a couple of upstart youngsters: general manager George McPhee, who previously worked in Vancouver and is the youngest general manager in the NHL, and head coach Ron Wilson, who was the main man behind the bench in Anaheim since its inception and coached Team USA to a win in the World Cup of Hockey last season. It was America's first tournament win since the "Miracle on Ice" team surprised the world, winning the gold metal in the 1980 Olympics. Now, Wilson has the Capitals on a mission to do something they have never done before. That mission is to defeat other teams not solely with a strong defense, but to create an offensive system worthy of being respected by the entire league. And through three games, the Capitals have proven that their offense is indeed potent by scoring 14 goals. They are even starting to gain respect from their opponents. "Their skill level has gone up," said Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff about the Capitals. "(Richard) Zednik and (Yogi) Svejkovsky made a real difference." Young Guns Shoot While Veterans Sit The Capitals young stars are indeed making a difference. Wilson has not been afraid to bench the veteran players that used to play regularly in favor of the young guns. Under previous management, Washington's youth explosion underachieved, because they saw limited action on the fourth line. Now, they all are getting a chance to shine as front-line players. Sitting in Wilson's doghouse are left wing Kelly Miller (who has been a healthy scratch in the Capitals first two games), centers Mike Eagles and Pat Peake (both of whom have yet to see action) and Ken Klee (who is still looking for a place to play on a defense filled with talent). Enforcer Kevin Kaminski and speedy right wing Todd Krygier also have been pushed out of the lineup and have been assigned to Portland, the Capitals minor league affiliate. Of note, Krygier was traded from Anaheim to Washington a couple years ago. Wilson wasn't satisfied with his play then, and he apparently isn't thrilled with his play now. And McPhee lacks the roster space needed to include Krygier and Kaminski on the team. "We would love to have both Andrew and Kevin on our squad," stated McPhee. "The mandated 24-man roster limit precludes that from happening at this time." A tidal wave of youth is responsible for putting the above-mentioned veterans in Wilson's doghouse. And they have not disappointment their new coach. Right wing Richard Zednik has been the brightest young star in Washington's lineup by scoring a goal in each of the Capitals' first three games. Center Jan Bulis, who spent last season in Portland, is the Capitals second leading rookie scorer with three points (three assists), while Svejkovsky has two points (one goal, one assist). Left wing Jan Benda, a longshot that made the regular season roster with his spectacular play in the pre-season by scoring four goals, has notched two points in the regular season (two assists). All of this production from the Capitals' young guns has put a smile on Wilson's face and a new meaning to the term, "Capital Domination!" "Jan Bulis is a bright spot among the fine crop of young talent we have here in Washington," said McPhee, who signed Bulis to a new contract Sept. 30. "We are looking forward to seeing Jan develop his game and play in Washington for many years to come." Benda, who was born in Belgium, played in Germany and considers himself to be a Czech (yes, it sounds weird), signed a one-year contract before the puck dropped for the official start of the 1997-98 season. Last season, Benda played for Sparta Praha of the Czech Republic Professional League and recorded seven goals and 21 assists in 49 games. Benda spent time playing with Capitals goaltender Olaf Kolzig the past two years with the German National Team. Benda, who has come a long way in a short amount of time, split the 1994-95 season between Binghamton (the AHL Rangers minor league affiliate) and Richmond (East Coast Hockey League). "Jan Benda played well in training camp and earned the opportunity to start in the National Hockey League," commented McPhee. "If he continues to develop, he will be a fine addition to our hockey club." To McPhee's pleasure, Benda is continuing to develop, skating alongside team captain Dale Hunter and right wing Craig Berube. Bondra and Gonchar End Holdouts Isn't it amazing how winning can make a couple players rethink their contract demands? Such is the case with all-star right wing Peter Bondra and defenseman Sergei Gonchar. Bondra, who has led the Capitals in goals the past two seasons, wanted to renegotiate his contract. He currently is making just under $2 million a year, although incentives could push him past the $2 million mark. But for a player that has scored more than 40-goals each of the past two seasons, his market price has risen. Bondra and his agent Ron Winter are asking the Capitals to fork over more than $4 million in annual salary. However, to his dismay, McPhee has taken a stand to Bondra's contractual demands. McPhee refuses to negotiate with any player that is under contract, and subsequently suspended Bondra from the Capitals when he walked out of training camp. Now, Bondra realizes McPhee means business and has returned to the club without a new deal. And he hasn't missed a beat. Bondra has played two games, one less than most of his teammates, and leads the Capitals in scoring with four points (two goals, two assists). In his first game back, Bondra scored twice in a 45-second span Oct. 3 against Hasek. Now, all he has left is to score a new contract from McPhee. "The parties have agreed that neither the club nor the player will comment on contract issues," said McPhee on Oct. 2. "Peter's focus will be hockey, starting with practice on Friday." Gonchar, meanwhile, came close to signing a contract in Russia. If he played overseas once the NHL season began, Gonchar, who was a restricted free agent, would not have been permitted by league rules to sign a contract with any NHL club this season. But Gonchar's agent advised his client against playing in Russia once contract negotiations heated up in Washington. Gonchar signed a one-year deal Oct. 6 that reportedly will pay him $1.15 million, with incentives that could raise his salary $1.4 million. Gonchar led the Capital blueliners last season with 13 goals and was second to Phil Housley in assists with 17 and points with 30. Now, with a crowded corp of defensemen, Gonchar's biggest challenge will be to earn a spot in Wilson's clubhouse as he tries to avoid his grungy and dirty doghouse. "Sergei's skills certainly rank him among the league's top young defenseman," said McPhee. "We welcome his addition to the team as he continues his development as a player." Ranford Injured Against the Leafs The Capitals, riddled by injuries last season, lost goaltender Bill Ranford when a slap shot by Per Gustafsson struck him in the groin. Ranford will be sidelined for the next week, as he recovers from the "painful" shot. Kolzig has filled in admirably for the Capitals. He is 2-0 with a minuscule goals-against average of 1.13 and an outstanding save percentage of .955. Upcoming Milestones If all goes according to plan, the Capitals will have three players this season climb over the 1,000-point plateau. Adam Oates needs one point to reach 1,000 in his career. Housley needs eight points to reach 1,000 in his career. Hunter needs 15 points to reach 1,000 in his career. Important Dates 10/3/97 - Opening night at US Airways Arena. 10/22/97 - First game for Chris Simon in Denver. 11/6/97 - Adam Oates and Bill Ranford return to Boston. 12/5/97 - Capitals vs. Florida in first game at MCI Center. 12/12/97 - Ron Wilson returns to Anaheim. 1/25/98 - Boston's Jim Carey, Anson Carter and Jason Allison return to Washington. 3/28/98 - General Manager George McPhee returns to Vancouver. ================================================================ ================================================================= TEAM REPORTS ================================================================= EASTERN CONFERENCE NORTHEASTERN DIVISION ----------------------------------------------------------------- BOSTON BRUINS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Pat Burns Roster: C - Anson Carter, Dimitri Khristich, Joe Thornton, Ted Donato. LW - Ken Baumgartner, Rob Dimaio, Sergei Samsonov, Jason Allison. RW - Steve Heinze, Jeff Odgers, Landon Wilson, Jean-Yves Roy. D - Ray Bourque, Don Sweeney, Dave Ellet, Kyle McLaren, Jon Rolhoff, Dean Chynoweth, Mattias Timander. G - Jim Carey, Rob Tallas. Injuries: Joe Thornton, c (fractured forearm, 2 weeks) Transactions: XX/XX - None. Standings; GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 2 1 1 0 2 7 9 1-1-0 0-0-0 Game Results: 10/02 Los Angeles W 6-5 10/04 Montreal L 4-1 TEAM NEWS by Matt Brown, Boston Correspondent Once you get past the black and gold uniforms, the 1997-98 Boston Bruins don't bear much resemblence to the team that finished dead last in the NHL the previous season. Gone is the unlucky and unpopular Steve Kasper and his coaching cohorts. Kasper never had the horses to make his team a winner, and never had the personality or experience to win with the horses he had. Back are veterans like Ray Bourque, Don Sweeney, Rob Dimaio, Ted Donato, and thankfully Steve Heinze. But not a lot else from last year's training camp. The team has been totally revamped via trades and the draft, though whether it has been rebuilt yet is a question only the season's play can answer. Ray Bourque certainly looked like a new man, sporting a longer hairstyle that made him look less like an NHL elder statesman and more like a twenty-something ready to pose with an anemic teenager in a Calvin Klein ad. The guy will still be a hunk at 70. Ray took a decent amount of good natured grief from his teammates, who accused him of trying to look like one of the rookies. In reality, it was nothing radical, no Dennis Rodman-doo, but for Ray Bourque it was positively debonaire. Maybe Ray is trying to look more like his new coach than his old coach. Pat Burns, who never has a bad hair day, is now the man behind the bench, and once Bruins fans got over the initial shock of seeing the ex-Montreal policeman and former coach of the hated Habs with that Boston Bruins logo behind him at the press conference, people began to say "you know, he always was a Boston kinda guy." Burns immediately reinforced that image by putting a Boston Bruins license plate on his truck, and talking about how great it was to be back in coaching with an original six team. Some questioned Burns' ability to coach a young team like the Bruins, but that ignores the fact that Pat made his name coaching in junior, not playing, and earned his shot at the Montreal job way back when based exactly on his handling and nurturing of young talent. Burns was the first to admit that the team was very young, saying that he had ties and underwear older than some of his players. But it was also clear that the new coach connected with both his veterans and his rookies. Time and again players have said that Pat Burns was straight with them about his expectations, and he won the respect and attention of a number of players because he told them straight up when they were not meeting his expectation. Two of the guys he talked to, Jason Allison and Landon Wilson, stepped up their play and made the team in no small part because of Burns' no-nonsense attitude. Although the team is very young, they don't exactly summon up images of the Hanson brothers playing with slot cars in their hotel room. Then again, put some thick glasses on Joe Thornton, Hal Gill, and Shawn Bates and you never know. Joe Thornton, of course, is the Bruin's number one draft pick who comes in highly tauted as a goal scorer and playmaker. However, in training camp, he looked like just another big kid out of junior hockey rather than a savior. That isn't bad, really. Better that fans and team expectations are realistic, rather than to expect that one player will instantly turn around the franchise. Look at the disappointment pinned on players like Alexandre Daigle, Alexei Yashin, Radek Bonk, Roman Hamrlik, and others. Heck, it took several years and a couple of quality linemates for Eric Lindros before the Legion of Doom became a dominant line. There was even some loose talk among the media that Joe would get sent back to junior. We will never know, because of the slash he took in the exhibition season that left him on the injury list. Granted, the Bruins could still play him in ten games and send him back to the Soo, but don't bet any Bruins season tickets on it. Hal Gill is a long tall defenseman out of Providence College (great school) who has shown remarkable poise and play throughout camp. Gill, scraping the locker room ceiling at six feet seven inches, gives the Bruins a massive bookend to go along with Kyle McLaren, and as a contrast to several compact defensemen like Don Sweeney, who are built tough, but are a little lacking in the reach department. Gill, by contrast, can drape himself around an opposing forward with arm length to spare. Shawn Bates is this year's local boy who made good. Bates starred at Boston University, and while he suffered a setback in training camp, he came on at the end to earn a spot on the club. Bates kept the Cinderella story alive by scoring a goal in his first game, a 6-5 win over the LA Kings. Gotta love it. The biggest surprise in camp, once you got past Ray Bourque's new hairstyle, was P. J. Axelsson. Now, PJ is a common nickname around Boston, but it isn't usually short for Per-Johan. Axelsson came to Boston from the Swedish team Frolunda (whatever that means) via the draft, and immediately impressed everyone with his speed, savvy, and toughness. Axelsson is playing with Ken Baumgartner and Rob Dimaio, and though he has not earned an assist yet, his hustle in breaking up plays is one of the reasons Dimaio has scored in each game so far. Nowhere near as surprising, but certainly more breathtaking, is Russian rookie Sergei Samsonov. You haven't seen quick until you've seen this guy. Samsonov may be small, but he is built like several past Bruin sparkplugs, like Randy Burridge (nicknamed "Stump") and Stan Jonathan. But Samsonov is several gears faster, and his stickhandling is magical. He also has that unexplainable knack for being in the right place at the right time with a very quick wrist shot. There is some question of whether he can weasel his way through NHL style traffic, but his experience last year in the IHL with the Detroit Vipers puts him several steps ahead of other rookies. He could be rookie of the year material if he can stay healthy. But overall, probably the best sight for Bruins fans was the return, apparently healthy and ready to rock, of Steve Heinze. Steve was the Bruins leading scorer, and fifth in the league in goals when he was felled by a vicious hip check from nefarious Darius (Kasparaitis) last season. Steve seems to be back fully, though he had a scare in the pre-season intrasquad scrimmage when he did an involuntary split in front of the net. Steve put the exclamation point on his return by scoring the Bruins first goal of the regular season against the Kings, much to the joy of the fans at the Fleet. The Bruins eked out a 6-5 win over the Kings, due in part to goaltender Bryon Dafoe's last minute mask save of a shot dead on in front with less than a minute left. Dafoe looked a little shakey playing against his old mates, as partner Jim Carey looked against the Montreal Canadiens two nights later. The Bruins were handed a 4-1 whupping at the hands of the Habs, and you have to wonder how much of that 4.50 GAA is goaltending and how much is defensive inexperience (which, of course, is better than last year's just plain bad team defense, but probably not improved enough for Pat Burns). And of course, leave it to Bruins management to raise ticket prices just enough to make the Bruins the second most expensive average ticket in the NHL, ensuring that the opening game set a Fleetcenter record - for fewest fans at a first home game. What will they think of next - charging us to say the name "Boston Bruins?" ("I'm sorry, your call will cost another 50 cents for the next three mentions of the Bruins") It brings back memories from a few years ago and the dispute for "air rights" over the Fleetcenter between Bruin's owners Delaware North and the Boston politicians. You might have thought they were fighting to see who could charge Bruins fans to breathe. ----------------------------------------------------------------- BUFFALO SABRES ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Lindy Ruff Roster: C - Michael Peca, Derek Plante, Brian Holzinger, Pat Lafontaine, Wayne Primeau. LW - Randy Burridge, Miroslav Satan, Michal Grosek, Brad May. RW - Donald Audette, Jason Dawe, Matthew Barnaby, Dixon Ward, Rob Ray. D - Alexei Zhitnik, Darryl Shannon, Jay McKee, Mike Wilson, Bob Boughner, Richard Smehlik. G - Dominik Hasek, Steve Shields, Andrei Trefilov. Injuries: None. Transactions: Re-signed Alexei Zhitnik, d, to a one-year contract. Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 3 1 1 1 3 6 8 0-0-0 1-1-1 Game Results: 10/01 at St. Louis W 3-1 10/03 at Washington L 6-2 10/05 at Tampa Bay T 1-1 10/07 Dallas L 4-2 TEAM NEWS by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief The Sabres started out the season with a three-game road trip. That's usually trouble for any team, but it's even worse for a club with as many personal problems as Buffalo. The Sabres should have their own magazine rack, because they've got a lot of issues. Despite all the internal strife, the Sabres managed to start the season on a positive note by beating the Blues on opening night in St. Louis, 3-1. As per usual, Dominik Hasek led the way by making 33 saves, including stopping Brett Hull on a breakaway. Jason Dawe, Miroslav Satan, and Dixon Ward provided the goals. >From St. Louis, the Sabres next traveled to Washington to take on Ron Wilson and the new-look Capitals. This time Hasek alone wasn't enough to insure a win. The Sabres were really the victims of bad timing, as Peter Bondra ended his holdout shortly before the club arrived in town. Bondra scored twice in less than a minute to spark a four-goal third period and lifted the Caps to a 6-2 win. Hasek went the distance in net and yielded all six goals on 34 shots. The Sabres closed out their tour of duty with a 1-1 tie in Tampa Bay. Jason Dawe and Alexander "Knuckles" Selivanov scored for their respective clubs, while Hasek and Daren Puppa waged quite the goaltending duel. Hasek stopped 30 shots on the night, Puppa 36. The club returned home on Tuesday, October 7, to make its 1997-98 season debut on Marine Midland Arena ice against the Dallas Stars. Last season's Northeast Division Championship banner was raised to the rafters before the game, much to the delight of the fans in attendance. While the Sabre faithful loved watching the banner get raised, they weren't quite so happy to see the guy that practically carried the team on his back to the title. Hasek was booed during the pregame ceremony and throughout the night. The Buffalonians still blame Hasek for the firing of head coach Ted Nolan and it doesn't appear as if they're gonna forget anytime soon. As if dealing with the rough reception wasn't enough, Hasek also had to try and cover up several defensive mistakes made by his teammates. He stopped 26 shots on the night, but it wasn't enough to prevent a 4-2 Dallas victory. Fans who came to the game for the sole purpose of booing the Vezina winner got a perfect opportunity when Jere Lehtinen freaked Hasek on a penalty shot with a nifty backhand move. Aw, he made him look silly. It'll be interesting to see how Hasek gets greeted by the fans the rest of the way. Things will probably get a whole lot worse before they get any better. * The Sabres re-signed Alexei Zhitnik to a one-year contract on Tuesday. Zhitnik will earn $1.5 million this season. Let's see, that's about a dollar for every giveaway he'll make... Meanwhile, Mike Peca remains a holdout. * Um, that's about it for now. Our normal Buffalo reporter, Patrick Law, is AWOL at the moment, that's why this report was so lame. I just hope Pat hasn't been kidnapped by Bil Keane, the creator of the "Family Circus" cartoon strip. Lord knows we've had our run-ins with the diabolical drawer in the past. If he even comes near another one of our correspondents, there's gonna be problems. Ya hear me, Mr. Keane? Problems. ----------------------------------------------------------------- CAROLINA HURRICANES ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Paul Maurice Roster: C - Keith Primeau, Jeff O'Neill, Sami Kapanen, Kent Manderville. LW - Gary Roberts, Geoff Sanderson, Kevin Brown, Stu Grimson. RW - Kevin Dineen, Steve Rice, Chris Murray, Nelson Emerson, Steve Leach. D - Glen Wesley, Steve Chiasson, Steve Halko, Adam Burt, Curtis Leschyshyn, Kevin Haller, Jeff Brown, Enrico Ciccone. G - Sean Burke, Trevor Kidd. Injuries: Curtis Leschyshyn, d (groin, day-to-day); Jeff Brown, d (back spasms, indefinite). Transactions: Curtis Leschyshyn, d (groin, day-to-day); Jeff Brown, d (back spasms, indefinite). Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 3 0 3 0 0 7 11 0-1-0 0-2-0 Game Results: 10/01 at Tampa Bay L 4-2 10/03 Pittsburgh L 4-3 10/04 at Ottawa L 3-2 TEAM NEWS by Brad Kane, Carolina Correspondent New city, new state, new name, new uniforms....same results. That most snakebitten of franchises, the Hartford Whalers, has become the Carolina Hurricanes. That much you may already know. You may also know something about the separation from the state of Connecticut that took on soap opera-like proportions. You may have even heard of THE PIG. But, here's a news flash: The management, the coaches, and the players are still the same. Let's just say it hasn't been pretty so far. A record of 0-3-0, including a home opening loss to Pittsburgh, has put the team in not necessarily a large hole, but a pretty good-sized one nonetheless. Start digging.... THE GOOD * When training camp began, Nelson Emerson seemed to be out of a job. After all, the Hurricanes came into camp with about eight potential right wingers. Worse yet, 'Canes management had been vocal about a need to get bigger and stronger. Not good news for a guy who's 5-11, 175 pounds. Too many smallish, speedy players on the roster, management said. Well, Nellie apparently wasn't listening to all that. After finishing among the team's leading pre-season scorers, Emerson recorded three goals and two assists in the team's first three games. The five points means that Emerson has had a hand in an astounding 71% of the Hurricanes' goals. His scoring exploits have landed him on the team's top line with Keith Primeau and Gary Roberts, supplanting Sami Kapanen. However, Emerson might not want to get too comfy on the first line. He's a notoriously fast starter, slow finisher. * After selling approximately 3,000 season tickets for the 21,000 Greensboro Coliseum, the team's temporary home for two years, disaster seemed imminent. If two hockey teams play a game and no one shows up to watch, does it count? However, the naysayers were quieted after 18,661 showed up for the home opener against Pittsburgh. Nevermind the fact that Carolina fans becoming acclimated to the game think that Tyler Wright is better than that Lemieux guy ever was. For now, it's something for the franchise to hang its collective hat on. * Kevin Dineen. Kevin 11. The heart and soul of the franchise. Fittingly, Dineen, who scored the final goal in Whaler history, scored the first goal in Hurricane history. Ironically, both tallies came against Tampa Bay. The only difference was in how the goals were scored. The Whaler goal came during a scrum in front of the net, while the Hurricane goal was a 50-foot slapper. THE BAD * After coming to Carolina in a four-player deal that saw goalie-of-the-future Jean-Sebastien Giguere get traded to Calgary, Gary Roberts was expected to become the team's go-to goal scorer. But, three games into the season, Roberts has yet to hit the back of the net. * Sean Burke may not be saying it, but he can't be happy being relegated to the bench for two of the first three games. Trevor Kidd, who also came over in the Roberts deal, got the call against Tampa Bay and Ottawa. Burke also can't be feeling too comfortable these days knowing that Carolina GM Jim Rutherford is attempting to trade him. Burke will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. For now, there are no takers, but just wait until Ron Hextall strings together three or four stinkers. And don't laugh Flyer fans, you know it's coming. Philly GM Bobby Clarke will give Burke the four million or so that he wants and all will be well. * Chalk up one disallowed goal that should not have been. With 2:30 to go in the Tampa Bay game, Geoff Sanderson scored a goal waived off by referee Lance Roberts. Roberts claimed that Kevin Dineen was in the crease. Dineen claimed that he was pushed in by a Lightning defenseman. Replays justified Dineen's claim. The goal would have tied the game. Did someone say snakebitten? THE UGLY * Some say that the Hurricanes' uniforms look like Detroit's, especially the all-red road models. I prefer to compare them to the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario junior league -- the junior team of Eric Lindros, among others. (That's two Flyer references already in this article; no more, I promise.) * What happens when you put a man inside a pig costume, stuff him inside a Zamboni, and then fill the Zamboni with dry ice? Sounds like a high school science experiment, right? Well, no, actually it's an NHL science experiment. Namely, the Carolina franchises' contribution to the betterment of humanity through science. In an effort to come up with a kickin' mascot, the geniuses in the Hurricanes PR department devised the idea of a pig; a hog, a happy-go-lucky, mud-wallowing, sometimes talkative member of the class mammalia. Quick history lesson: In June 1995 a 25-million-gallon hog waste lagoon collapsed in Onslow County, NC, polluting the New River. Hurricanes Bertha and Fran tore through the state in 1996. Anyone sensing a pattern here? The Hurricanes decided to unveil the mascot during a pre-season game against Detroit. With a "professional" hog caller present, the Zamboni wheeled out to center ice and opened, revealing only the pig's feet, shaking uncontrollably. Phil Madren, the 32-year-old, err, guinea pig the team hired to play the pig had suffered a seizure due to a lack of oxygen; a lack of oxygen caused by the dry ice. The Zamboni retreated from the ice, pig included, and an ambulance whisked Madren away to safety. The pig was AWOL for the home opener, but the Hurricanes promise that it will be back, still played by Madren, this time with a name. No word on how may children were permanently scarred by the incident. That'll do, pig. ----------------------------------------------------------------- MONTREAL CANADIENS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Alain Vigneault Roster: C - Saku Koivu, Marc Bureau, Darcy Tucker, Vincent Damphousse, Sebastien Bordeleau, Eric Houde. LW - Shayne Corson, Martin Rucinsky, Benoit Brunet, Scott Thornton, Terry Ryan, Brian Savage. RW - Mark Recchi, Stephane Richer, Turner Stevenson, Valeri Bure. D - Dave Manson, Vladimir Malakhov, Jassen Cullimore, Stephane Quintal, Patrice Brisebois, Peter Popovic, David Wilkie, Craig Rivet, Brett Clark, Francois Groleau. G - Andy Moog, Jocelyn Thibault. Injuries: David Wilkie (bruised right calf, day-to-day); Jassen Cullimore, d (torn cartilage in shoulder, day-to-day); Peter Popovic, d (infected left ankle, day-to-day). Transactions: None. Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 2 1 0 1 3 6 3 0-0-1 1-0-0 Game Results: 10/01 Ottawa T 2-2 10/04 at Boston W 4-1 TEAM NEWS by Jacques Robert, Montreal Correspondent LES CANADIENS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME Hey folks, just take a look at the 97-98 new roster - there's no reason to be excited apparently! OK, Reggie Houle & Co loosened the purse strings to acquire Stanley Cup experience in the person of goalie Andy Moog. But remember: not so long ago, the defensive squad was blamed for lack of good results, and so was the offensive lines, particularly in the absence of Saku Koivu. However, a brand new coaching staff could make the difference between this year and last year's record. Vigneault, King, Jodoin and Melanson are likely to have Les Canadiens usher in a new era: a modern system, a brand new way of establishing relationship with players as well as computer-assisted methods of training. In Montreal, odds are good that the good old boys' tradition would be thing of the past. For good finally. Players have already noticed changes on and off the ice. And confidence seems to have come back in the dressing room. As a matter of fact, the first two games reflected this new state of mind. If Vigneault's boys tied the first game against their petpeeve Ottawa, they definitely set the stage for an outstanding season with a win against the rebuilding Bruins club. Recchi-Koivu-Corson against Boston: 10 points! In the Fleet Center, the first line made up of Koivu, Recchi and Corson had a ball! Not only did it deliver 10 points, but Recchi got away with the third hat trick of his career. Moreover, Saku Koivu assisted on all goals scored by the Canadiens. Talking about Saku, the little Finn is no longer a worried player troubled by the miserable season he experienced last year. This season, Koivu is full of confidence, and the way the coaching staff has taken over is not foreign to his positive attitude: "We are organized now!" he said. "During practice we are working on things we're actually going to do in a game. That makes the difference." CORSON: "I'm in the best shape, I've been in years." Shayne Corson, 31, is also happy with the new entourage while coming out of a good training camp that allowed him to earn a spot on the first line. In addition, he is no longer bothered with his knee injury. "I don't think anyone knows how much my knee bothered me last year. I'm in the best shape I've been in years." Stephane Richer has also put the last season behind him. He is all set to produce great pieces of hockey in the upcoming months. Against Ottawa, he scored twice, albeit, suffering from a sore back and despite the boos from the Molson Center crowd when he was introduced. Injuries Are Still a Problem Actually, Richer demonstrates that Les Canadiens are still plagued by injuries. Wilkie, Cullimore and Popovic are still missing. It's not good news since they are all defencemen. And defence is precisely the Habs Achilles' heel. Moog is undoubtedly a good acquisition but, most of all, he has to be able to rely on strong defencemen. Hopefully, Malakhov could be off to a great season since he scored his first goal against Boston. But he cannot make up for the whole defence. Brisebois and Quintal have to show up... So far, those three guys have not responded to the new coaching methods. In my opinion, it is just a matter of time. Well, Montreal is still in reconstruction but odds are good that it is to have a great season as long as injuries do not interfere with Vigneault's plans. Let's pray! ON MY NOTEBOOK Les Canadiens: no more dress code on trips A new atmosphere definitely reigns in the Canadiens dressing room this year. The dress code is becoming a thing of the past. Ties, jackets, shirts are no longer mandatory on the charter flights. It's enough to make Toe Blake turn over in his grave! Vigneault younger than... Moog Alain Vigneault, 36, is experiencing a situation that few coaches have ever had to face. His starting goalie, Andy Moog, is two years his senior! Recently, Moog even reminded his coach that they had played against each other when they both played in the junior rank. Vigneault had completely forgotten about that. Thibault: waiting it out Thibault is quietly warming up the bench. He even told reporters that it was useless for the Montreal media jungle to keep asking him how he feels when he's not the starting goalie. Patience is becoming his middle name. For how long? ----------------------------------------------------------------- OTTAWA SENATORS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Jacques Martin Roster: C - Alexei Yashin, Radek Bonk, Sergei Zholtok, Shaun Van Allen. LW - Daniel Alfredsson (holdout), Randy Cunneyworth, Magnus Arvedson, Dennis Vial, Bruce Gardiner. RW - Marian Hossa, Alexandre Daigle, Andreas Dackell, Shawn McEachern, Denny Lambert. D - Lance Pitlick, Sean Hill, Chris Phillips, Wade Redden, Stan Neckar, Jason York, Janne Laukkanen, Igor Kravchuk. G - Damian Rhodes, Ron Tugnutt. Injuries: None. Transactions: Sept 29 - placed Tom Chorske, lw, on waivers (claimed by NY Islanders); Sept 29 - demoted Phil Crowe, lw; Radim Bicanek, d; and Frank Musil, d; to Detroit (IHL). Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 3 1 1 1 3 8 9 1-0-0 0-1-1 Game Results: 10/01 at Montreal T 2-2 10/03 at Philadelphia L 5-3 10/04 Carolina W 3-2 TEAM NEWS by The Nosebleeders, Ottawa Corresondents We're Back! But Alfie's Not... Cancel your next appointment with the shrink, put away your Prozac, no need to drown your sorrows in that batch of homemade moonshine... put on a smile because the Nosebleeders are back once again! Ooh, the applause is simply deafening... Yes that's right, yet another overdose of professional hockey is upon us, and who better to serve up your bi-weekly platter of Senator insights than the Nosebleeders. Seems only yesterday that we were signing off for the last time (wait a minute, given how long the NHL season is, it probably WAS yesterday...). And yet it seems like decades ago that a certain Sabre named Derek Plante managed to sneak a butterfly out of Ron Tugnutt's trapper and into the twine to eliminate the Senators in Round 1 of the playoffs. But that's ancient history, right? (Note to shrink: that off-season therapy is working!). Coming off their best season since rejoining the NHL in 1992, the Ottawa Senators had hoped to recharge their batteries and avoid any turmoil over the off-season in the hopes that, come October, they could pick up where they left off last year. But, alas, it was not meant to be. Even throughout last season, everybody knew that Sens GM Pierre Gauthier's biggest challenge over the off-season was to re-sign the Swedish Messiah Daniel Alfredsson. At first, Gauthier seemed committed to task as he quickly initiated talks with Alfie's agent Michael Barnett. But then the summer heat must have got to Gauthier because talks suddenly slowed to a halt. Days turned to weeks, weeks to months, and now, here we are today, a few games into the season, and still no Alfie. For the record, Alfredsson is seeking a two-year deal worth $5.1 million (US), while the Sens have countered with $10 million over 5 years. So, how close are we to seeing number 11 hit the Corel Centre ice? According to Gauthier last week, discussions are off, and he doesn't expect Alfredsson to play for Ottawa this season. Ouch. Well, at least the Nosebleeders are back, right? Yeah, we know... A Sorry State of Affairs Rumours have it that Alfredsson, should he not sign with Ottawa, may try his luck in the IHL. The Chicago Wolves and Manitoba Moose are interested, as are the Long Beach (California) Ice Dogs. Two things worth mentioning here: 1. Give up. The best contract offer so far has been tendered by Manitoba, and is the equivalent to 2 weeks pay with Ottawa; and 2. It really hurts the soul to hear that Long Beach has a hockey franchise. What is this world coming to? On the Bright Side... Alfie's situation aside, there was still plenty of things to get excited about in Ottawa. And one of those 'things' was in diapers when Sens captain Randy Cunneyworth was being drafted into the NHL by Buffalo in 1980. 1996 first-round draft pick Marian Hossa - still three months shy of the legal drinking age in Ottawa - surprised everybody with his exceptional play in the silly season. Hossa, 18, led the team in scoring with seven points in seven games, and seemed a natural fit playing beside Alexei Yashin. With the verdict in, Hossa now finds himself on the top line with Shawn McEachern and Yashin. Although the Sens have 10 days to decide if Hossa should go back to junior, chances are good that the Portland Winterhawks (WHL) shouldn't hold their breath. "Hossa is here to stay," said Sens head coach Jacques Martin after announcing his opening day lineup. Just Where Do They Find These Guys? Remember a few years back when the Sens brought an unknown, skinny Swede into camp named Daniel Alfredsson? And remember how Alfie proceeded to shock the hockey world by not only making the club, but also going on to make the NHL All-Star squad two years in a row? Well, in the immortal words of Yogi Berra, it may very well be "deja vu all over again." When the Sens picked 25-year-old Swede Magnus Arvedson in the fifth round of the 96 draft, nary a whimper of glee permeated the lips of even the most die-hard Senator fans. Fast forward to today, and suddenly ol' Magnum .45 is in The Show. Predictions of glory may be premature at this point, but the similarities between Arvedson and Alfredsson are kinda spooky - similar surname, same home country, drafted in the same round, both training camp darkhorses. But ask Arvedson if he is the next coming of the Swedish Messiah, and he'll quickly brush you aside. "I've always said I'm not a goal scorer like Alfredsson. I'm more of a defensive player." Regardless of where Arvedson's talents lie, his selection to the team does make for a more difficult season for the Nosebleeders, who, on occasion, have suffered from severe attacks of syntax paralysis with the likes of 'Alferdson', 'Yaishin' and (RIP) 'Duschene'. The Numbers Game Chalk this up as one of the strangest off-season moves in recent memory. In an attempt to promote team unity, Sens GM Pierre Gauthier recently informed his troops that nobody would be allowed to wear jersey numbers above #35, goaltenders excepted. As a result, Alexandre Daigle traded in his trademark '91' for '9', Radek Bonk ditched '76' for '14', and Stan Neckar dropped from '94' to '24'. The decision also prevented rookie defenceman Chris Phillips from wearing '77'. Instead, he was handed good ol' number '5'. Guess this rules out any chance of Wayne Gretzky finishing his career in Bytown? 'Waive' Goodbye to Buddha Power A few weeks ago, Tom Chorske announced to the Ottawa media that he was retiring Buddha Power and putting the plump good luck charm out to pasture. Turns out it was a disastrous move - Chorske was put on waivers and claimed Sept. 29 by the New York Islanders. Let that be a lesson to everybody - mess with religious icons, and you may end up working for Mike Milbury. Every Cloud Has a Silver-Aged Lining Nobody likes to be sent back to the minors, but if you're Derek Armstrong, Jason Zent, Clayton Beddoes, Radim Bicanek, Frank Musil, Jani Hurme or Phil Crowe, there is an upside. These Senator farmhands are members of the IHL's Detroit Vipers, and can now officially tell their future grandchildren that they once played with hockey legend Gordie Howe. This Just In: Hell Has Officially Frozen Over Last season, Sports Illustrated - you know, the official magazine for junior bowling championships - showed how little they knew about professional hockey when they proclaimed Ottawa to be the worst professional sports franchise in North America, despite their impressive run to the playoffs. Now, suddenly, the cobwebs at SI are predicting the Senators to finish first in the Northeast Division. Apparently, 'Foot in the Mouth' is not a delicacy at SI headquarters. Sens are also picked first by the New York Times and a few other less noteworthy sources. Trivia Time Believe it or not, the Senators are sporting new uniforms this year. Although not as obvious a change as, say, Hartford/Carolina, Ottawa nevertheless changed their jerseys ever so slightly. Can you guess what they did? Answer at the end of this column. Let the Season Begin With the long and painful silly season over and done with, the Senators headed out to the Molson Centre to take on the Montreal Canadiens in their season opener. Last season, the Senators owned the Habs, posting a 3-0-2 mark including impressive 6-0, 6-3 and 5-2 victories. In fact, at one point the Senators scored 13 consecutive goals against the Canadiens. When has that ever happened before in the Habs' glorious past? But with Mario Tremblay gone and former Sens assistant coach Alain Vigneault at the helm, this was a different Montreal club, as was evidenced by the team's 5-2-2 pre-season record and the rejuvenated play of Saku Koivu and Benoit Brunet. Playing in front of a capacity crowd and a huge television audience, the Senators put their butterflies to rest and skated on to a 2-2 tie with the Habs. Stephane Richer tallied twice for Montreal while Sergei 'Mr. Goal Post' Zholtok and Igor Kravchuk replied for Ottawa. Kravchuk's goal is a shoo-in for the season highlight video, as he sprawled out to tap a floater over Habs' goalie Andy Moog's shoulder on a 2-on-1 break. The Rhodes to Recovery Although not quite the 'big bang' to the season as they had hoped, most Senators were nevertheless content to leave Montreal with a point, particularly goaltender Damian Rhodes. Last season, Rhodes suffered a mysterious calf injury near the end of the year and could only sit by and watch helplessly as backup Ron Tugnutt stole the hearts of Senators fans with his incredible post-season efforts. That led to speculation and criticism which weighed heavily on Rhodes' shaky self-confidence throughout the off-season. After head coach Jacques Martin raised a few eyebrows by naming him as his opening game starter, Rhodes was determined to prove to the world that he could return to the form which made him a Bytown hero two years ago. Thanks to his defense, Rhodes had a relatively easy night, facing only 25 shots all game. But he looked particularly sharp in the dying minutes of the game, making a few key saves to preserve the tie. New Number, New Era? Should you ever get a chance to watch a replay of this Sens-Habs game, that guy you see running around crashing into people, creating scoring chances and forechecking aggressively, is none other than Radek Bonk. We're serious, folks. Meanwhile, Alex Daigle vowed never again to duplicate his miserable -33 +/- rating from last year. 13:29 into the game, and Daigle is -1. Oh well, can't win 'em all. An Olympic Year Sens GM Pierre Gauthier is preparing for his role as a Canadian Olympic Team assistant GM, joining fellow assistant GM Bob Gainey, and Bobby Clarke as GM. Clarke captured a few headlines when he talked about rich "vulture" teams like the New York Rangers and his Philly Flyers preying upon financially "weak" teams. "The teams that spend the money end up winning". Clarke felt that salary escalation is just beginning and said it all stemmed back to Glen Sather in 1988 when he "sold" Wayne Gretzky to the Kings. Clarke's take on the salary issue is a much different perspective than Gauthier's, who is on record as saying the Alfie situation is like "the final exam for our franchise." "We may as well start over again if we give in." Flying High Clarke's mighty Flyers certainly played like vultures when they faced the Sens. The Sens were clearly the better team for the latter half of the first and most of the second period but, like vultures, the Flyers played a waiting game and came away with a 5-3 victory. The big line of Eric Lindros, John LeClair, and Dainius Zubrus combined for eight points. The Sens worked hard to overcome a 2-0 early Flyer lead and tied the game 2-2 by the end of the first. The Daigle, Cunneyworth, Bonk line continued to play well and combined for six points. Bonk's two goals were enough to earn a third star in the game. The Flyers shutdown of the Yashin, Hossa, McEachern line may have been the difference in this game. Scratch That Chris Phillips, Sean Hill were healthy scratches to make room for Stan Neckar and Lance Pitlick who didn't play against the Canadiens in the opener. If you're part of the Senators defensive depth, be prepared for some time in the stands. Rumours Flying... It seems Ottawa and the Detroit Red Wings might be cooking up a hot deal. Wings scout Dan Belisle has been a regular at Senators games recently, including their first two regular season contests. Rumours have it that Detroit is keenly interested in young defenceman Stan Neckar. Fishing in Bad Weather? The Hartford Whalers, aka the Carolina Hurricanes, were the Sens first home opponent of the year. The Hurricanes entered the game with an 0-2 record starting off pretty much as the Whalers left off last season. Janne Laukkanen scored a power-play goal with 11:47 remaining as the Ottawa Senators rallied for a 3-2 victory. Carolina's Gary Roberts was serving a roughing penalty when Laukkanen one-timed a pass from Sergei Zholtok and fired a low slap shot from the blue line that beat Trevor Kidd to the stick side. Ron Tugnutt made 16 saves in his first start of the season and made a great stop on a Geoff Sanderson partial breakaway. This was the Hurricanes' only shot in the third period. A Good Start Only one game into the season, and already the Corel Centre notches a sellout. And remember, folks, this is against the Hartford Whalers, no matter how different they look. No Sympathy Here When Wayne Gretzky was traded to Los Angeles in August 1988, we knew that we'd never hear "Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers" again. And we cried. When Art Modell trucked out of Cleveland for greener pastures in Baltimore, we realized we may never hear the name "Cleveland Browns" again. And we cried. When Mario Lemieux retired from hockey last year, we knew we'd never see #66 again. And we cried. When Peter Karmanos yanked his team out of Hartford and headed for Carolina, we knew we'd never again see another Senators-Whalers classic... so, what's for dinner, darling? Well, At Least They Look Better Than Dennis Rodman It seems many people think the Carolina Hurricanes' logo and team colors are mighty gruesome. We, on the other hand, applaud the look. After Colorado and Phoenix unveiled their nightmarish attack on the retinas two years ago and last year, respectively, we thought the days of the classic jersey were over. By no means is this the next coming of the Saint-Flannel, but it's refreshing to look at a player and instinctively know where the arms begin and the shoulders end. On the Road Again When the Sens travel short haul, Coach Martin forbids them from checking baggage. Not sure why but we'll find out for you. Pierre Gauthier has decided to accompany the team to California for it's three-game road trip. He will be saving money (to pay Alfie, Pierre?) by staying in his Anaheim condo. Trivia Answer The team's logo no longer contains the words 'Ottawa Senators'. Previous logos had the team name scrolling downward within the right-hand arch. Yep, folks, only diehard fans like us would notice that. Or do we desperately need a social life? Way Ta Go, Buddy! We'll end this column by officially welcoming back one of the most colourful hockey men in history - Don "Grapes" Cherry. Don made his first "Coach's Corner" appearance last Saturday since his wife, Rose, died June 1 of cancer. Fighting back tears, Cherry was up to his old tricks during the first intermission of the Caps-Leafs broadcast, firing shots at Islanders' defenceman Rich Pilon for being a 'coward' and to referee Don Koharski for being, well, Don Koharski. At the end of the segment, however, Don took a few moments and thanked everybody for their support and sympathies over the summer. We're grown men, people, but it was tough to keep the lower lip from quivering after seeing that. Glad you're back, Don. ----------------------------------------------------------------- PITTSBURGH PENGUINS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Kevin Constantine Roster: C - Ron Francis, Martin Straka, Ed Olczyk, Chris Ferraro, Stu Barnes, Tyler Wright. LW - Alexei Morozov, Andreas Johansson, Greg Johnson, Garry Valk, Alek Stojonav. RW - Jaromir Jagr, Rob Brown, Peter Ferraro, Alex Hicks, Robet Dome. D - Kevin Hatcher, Darius Kasparaitis, Fredrik Olausson, Brad Werenka, Chris Tamer, Jiri Slegr, Neil Wilkinson, Ian Moran. G - Tom Barrasso, Ken Wregget. Injuries: Alex Stojanov, lw (pelvis, indefinitely); Ian Moran, d (knee, 1-2 weeks); Garry Valk, lw (charley horse, day-to-day); Neil Wilkinson, d (abdomen, day-to-day); Greg Johnson, c (groin, day-to-day). Transactions: Traded Jason Woolley, d, to Buffalo for a 4th-round draft pick. Traded Francois Leroux, d, to Colorado for a 3rd-round draft pick. Lost Robert Lang, c, in the Waiver Draft. Sent Roman Oksiuta, rw, to the Quebec Rafales on the IHL. Signed Rob Brown, rw. Claimed Chris and Peter Ferraro off waivers from the New York Rangers. Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 3 1 1 1 3 10 11 0-1-1 1-0-0 Game Results: 10/01 Los Angels T 3-3 10/03 at Carolina W 4-3 10/04 Florida L 5-3 TEAM NEWS by Brett Taylor, Pittsburgh Correspondent The Penguins began the Post-Mario Lemieux era this week, looking much the same as they did with Mario. After the first week they are 1-1-1, beating a weak Carolina Hurricane team and losing to Florida after surrendering three goals in the last two and a half minutes of the game. All while new head coach Kevin Constantine is in the process of ushering out the "country club mentality" of the Penguin locker room. Through the first three games the Pens have not looked much different from last year. The power play is still strong, although it still has not began to really click yet. The penalty killing is still a general weak spot, giving up three power-play goals against LA. The defense is still thin. The Pens have a pretty good group of forwards, Rob Brown was invited to camp and, not only has he made the team, but is on the first power-play unit. Craig Patrick has made strides to tighten things up a bit by trading off two weak blueliners in Francois Leroux and Jason Woolley. Woolley has a great set of wheels and a healthy share of offensive skills, but is small and weak in his own end. Leroux is big and tough, but his ridiculously poor skating diminishes his good defensive skills. The Pens shockingly placed hard-hitting and hard-working winger Joe Dziedzic on waivers just a few weeks after signing him to a new contract in mid-September. Joe was one of the hardest working forwards on the team last season and seemed to be a role player of the future for the Pens. Luckily, Dziedzic cleared waivers and remains Pittsburgh property while playing for Cleveland of the IHL. Almost immediately after the season began Patrick sent Roman Oksiuta to the minors. In the two roster spots opened up by sending down Dziedzic and Oksiuta, Patrick signed the Ferraro twins, Chris and Peter, off waivers from the New York Rangers. Chris scored in his second game with the Pens. He was assisted by Peter, this marked the first time the two connected for a goal in the NHL. The Ferraros are playing on a line with Martin Straka. The trio worked well together against Florida and saw considerable ice time. They could make a good second line, if they continue to gel. Their speed would take the pressure off of the Jagr-Francis-Morozov line. Jaromir Jagr has stepped up in the way he was expected to as the team's scoring leader, recording one goal and four assists in the first three games. As expected, Ron Francis was named the Pens' new captain. Alexei Morozov has shown some strong individual skills so far. He scored a goal seven minutes into his first game. Breaking in behind the defense with Jagr, he took the pass on the door step and rammed home his first NHL goal. Morozov was the Pens' first pick in the 1995 Entry Draft. He is reminiscent of Jagr during the early days, in that he tries the same fancy little plays that worked for him in junior and international league play, but is finding that they will be unsuccessful in the NHL. Tom Barrasso is back from his hiatus, er, year off, and is playing well. The win over Carolina was the 296th of his career. He's counting down to his 300th career win. He will be the first American born goaltender to reach the 300-win mark. If we need to spell it out for ya, that makes him the winningest U.S. born goalie in NHL history. Another player who has made a contribution to the team early this season is Tyler Wright. Not known for his offensive prowess, he managed to pound home two goals in the 4-3 win over Carolina, barely missing a hat trick when he failed to lift a shot at point blank over a fallen Sean Burke in the third period. Overall the Pens look a lot better than they did a year ago, and that was with Mario Lemieux. They need to get the forwards playing both ends of the ice, and the defense playing in the one they belong. The offense will never be a problem, they are scoring goals, and when they finally sign Petr Nedved they will become even stronger. The goaltending has been strong, not great, but strong. If they can tighten things up defensively the goaltending will become even stronger. Kevin Constantine will whip the team in to shape but it will just take some time. It is too early to gauge what the team will look like this season. Wait until November for a better read. RECENT LINES Offense Alexei Morozov/Ron Francis/Jaromir Jagr Martin Straka/Chris Ferraro/Peter Ferraro Ed Olczyk/Stu Barnes/Rob Brown Alex Hicks/Tyler Wright/Andreas Johansson Defense Brad Werenka/Kevin Hatcher Darius Kasparaitis/Fredric Olausson Chris Tamer/Jiri Slegr ================================================================= ================================================================= TEAM REPORTS ================================================================= WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION ----------------------------------------------------------------- CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Craig Hartsburg Roster: C - Alexei Zhamnov, Jeff Shantz, Steve Dubinsky, Todd White. LW - Bob Probert, Ethan Moreau, Eric Daze, Dan Cleary, James Black, Jean-Yves Leroux. RW - Tony Amonte, Sergei Krivokrasov, Jim Cummins, Craig Mills. D - Chris Chelios, Gary Suter, Eric Weinrich, Keith Carney, Michal Sykora, Tuomas Gronman, Trent Yawney. G - Jeff Hackett, Chris Terreri Kirk Daubenspeck. Injuries: Jeff Hackett, g (sprained right ankle, indefinite). Transactions: Recalled Kirk Daubenspeck, g, from Indianapolis (IHL). Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 2 0 2 0 0 4 9 0-0-0 0-2-0 Game Results: 10/1 at Phoenix L 6-2 10/4 at San Jose L 3-2 TEAM NEWS by Dan Glovier * Let's see.troubles scoring, lack of power-play proficiency, and no second-line center. Yep, the Hawks are exactly where they left off last year! They've scored two goals in their two games, thusly not eclipsing that elusive three-goal barrier they had an awfully hard time doing last year. In two games, they are 2-18 on the power play. Doh! Suggestion: Get J.F. Sauve out of retirement. That cat used to rock and roll on the power play for Quebec! * Jeff Hackett sprained his ankle in the San Jose game trying to make a diving, rolling (in the pike position) save on the Marko Sturm goal. They're not sure how long he's out, but now we'll get to see how Chris Terreri handles a bit of a workload. * Chris Chelios may already be trying to do too much. At times last year, Chris didn't look like Mr. Norris. It usually had something to do with the fact that he had been playing 37 minutes a night for three out of the last five nights. But early on in the season getting victimized on basic plays? Couple this with an off-season quote he made about getting more involved in the offense, and I think he may be trying to shoulder too much of the load. Once again, this goes back to the fact that they do not have a legitimate number two center who could put up some points and distribute the puck so that others (Daze, Moreau, etc.) might also contribute. * Speaking of Ethan Moreau, they experimented with him at center (wow, it's a "WE NEED A FREAKIN' CENTER!!!!!" theme, isn't it?) in their first game against Phoenix, and that didn't work out too well. They moved him back to left wing for the San Jose game, and he tipped home a goal (on a brilliant feed by Chelios) and played really well. This would be a positive. Let's take a moment and bask in the glory that is a positive. * First-round pick Daniel Cleary made the big team because of his strong training camp performance. In his first NHL game he was put on the left side with Zhamnov and Amonte. And he looked every bit an 18-year old playing in his first game. But that's to be expected. What wasn't expected was when coach Hartsburg benched him for game two of the season against San Jose. If you're going to have the kid up in the bigs, play him. Let him make those rookie mistakes. If you're not committed to him 100 percent, occasional ugliness and all, send him to the IHL where he'll play all kinds of shifts and he can develop whatever it is he's lacking. In the game that Cleary sat, James Black skated with Amonte and Zhamnov. * The Hawks have their own version of the famed New Jersey Crash Line in place. Jean-Yves Leroux, Steve Dubinsky, and Craig Mills are playing good dump-and-kill hockey. So far they've provided a spark whenever they've been on the ice. With all of the early season penalties, their shifts have been minimal, but this is looking like it might be a serviceable line for the Hawks. * The Hawks have a huge stockpile of defensemen, and as teams slowly figure out who can or can not play, look for the Hawks to deal one or two of them (either straight up or part of a package) to get some help at center. This idea not only makes sense, but when Bob Murray signed free agent defenseman (and ex-Hawk) Trent Yawney, you know he has to have something in mind for a defenseman or two. * Those Brett Hull rumors seem to be only that: rumors. They keep popping up, but neither side is admitting anything, and don't you think something would have been done if something was in the works? ----------------------------------------------------------------- DALLAS STARS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head coach: Ken Hitchcock Roster: C-Mike Modano, Guy Carbonneau, Joe Nieuwendyk, Bob Bassen. LW-Dave Reid, Greg Adams, Benoit Hogue, Juha Lind, Bob Errey, Patrick Cote. RW-Todd Harvey, Pat Verbeek, Jamie Langenbrunner, Jere Lehtinen, Grant Marshall. D-Craig Ludwig, Darryl Sydor, Shawn Chambers, Richard Matvichuck, Sergei Zubov, Sergey Gusev, Dan Keczmer, Craig Muni. G-Ed Belfour, Roman Turek. Injuries: Shawn Chambers, d (fractured bone in hand, 2-4 weeks). Sergei Zubov, d (hand injury of unknown severity) Transactions: Signed Craig Muni, d, to a one-year contract; signed Mike Modano, c, to a one-year contract; placed Shawn Chambers, d, on injured reserve; reassigned Brad Lukowich, d, Petr Buzek, d, Manny Fernandez, g, Peter Douris, rw, Chris Tancill, rw, Jeff Mitchell, rw Tony Hrkac, c, Jon Sim, c, Lee Jinman, c, Kevin Sawyer, lw and Jamie Wright, lw, to the Michigan K-Wings of the IHL. Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 2 0 1 1 1 3 4 0-1-0 0-0-1 Game Results: 10/1 at Colorado T 2-2(OT) 10/4 St. Louis L 2-1 Team News by Jim Panenka OK, so what tag line do we want to use to kickoff the big show? "Here's the story, of a lovely lady.." Nope. Doesn't fit. "Sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip." No way. Too predictable. "Now here's the story of a man named Jed- a poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed." Ah, now that's getting closer. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." Wait! That's it. Yeah, we have a winner. Besides, what could be a better testament to the warm feeling a good bottle of Ripple can provide, and that awful feeling you get after the last drop has been poured? But, I digress. Best of Times For the second consecutive year, Dallas was one of the most aggressive clubs when it came to signing free agents. Owner Tom Hicks has opened up his wallet more often than most of us dream of selling all of our worldly possessions and going on a world-wide goodwill tour in search of the elusive Badaboum, LCS' favorite team mascot. Well, it's a popular dream around HERE, Sancho! No, but really -- Tom Hicks has provided the catalyst for GM Bob Gainey to seal all the deals le Capitaine can think of. And Gainey has definitely come up with some good ones. Gainey can once again be thanked for making some of the shrewdest moves in the league when it comes to getting the most bang for the buck. The biggest news definitely came in July when Eddie the Eagle signed a three-year contract. Although everyone felt pretty weird about letting Andy Moog go unprotected, it was obvious that for whatever reasons, the Stars felt they needed a change between the pipes. Moog was the solid, steady, reliable workhorse for the current Stars franchise since the beginning. And, he was always one of the most vocal and positive forces for sustaining a winning atmosphere. Make no doubt about it, fellow hockey fans -- Andy Moog was one of the main reasons Dallas won the central division last season. But, when the playoffs ended a bit too early for everyone's liking, talk quickly shifted to an upgrade in the nets. Moog left on bittersweet terms. The Stars told Moog, in essence, "you can't play here as the starter anymore, but as soon as you retire, we welcome you back for another job in the franchise." Gee, thanks, guys. That's just swell of ya. So, Andy went to Montreal. And, that lovable Latvian Arturs Irbe was not offered another contract. So, he ended up with Vancouver. Instead, one of today's greatest players to ever stop a puck now wears a Star on his jersey. There is no denying that Ed Belfour signed with Dallas for only one reason: the tasty, puffy, fresh popcorn available in the press box before each and every game! Or was that to win a Stanley Cup? It's so easy to confuse the two. Yep. Eddie wants the Big Hardware. The Ultimate Prize. The all- time, number-one favorite way to swig you some bubbly after a long day at the office. Belfour has yet to hoist the Cup, and he is pretty sure this team can play in front of him well enough to get him there. And, no one denies that after taking the Blackhawks to the playoffs every season from '89-'90 to '95-'96, the Eagle can probably get the job done. To back up Belfour, the Stars retained the promising upstart Roman Turek. That Big Ol' Bear of a netminder can go on some serious hot streaks. But, the general consensus is Roman is still a work in progress. He can also have some pretty awful games. But, the same holds true for Belfour. The Stars are just counting on Eddie to have a lot fewer bad games than the Big Czech. Up to the D, you see Just when you thought it was safe to sell all your possessions and go on a world-wide goodwill tour, the Stars upgraded their defense by adding the proven talent of Shawn Chambers. Actually, Chambers was originally drafted by the Minnesota North Stars in '87, and spent four seasons with the club. So, like this team has done in the past, the Stars brought back a familiar face. Chambers will add a big boost to the mobility of the defense, along with Sydor and Zubov. And he is a proven scorer, at one time holding the second-best record for power-play goals and most playoff points for his team. Both areas definitely needed an upgrade for the Stars. As an added bonus, Chambers is yet another in the long list of Stars acquisitions that have their names engraved on the Cup. So, pardon us if we don't shed a tear when it comes time to remember that it was Grant Ledyard that was shipped off to the Canucks (busy buggers, weren't they?) to make room for Chambers. Ledyard has great foot speed, and is a sound player, but his tripping act in the dying seconds of Game Seven vs. Edmonton last year left a bad taste in everyone's mouth. See ya, Leds. Good luck. Worst of Times A sad day came when it was announced that Neal Broten would not be offered another contract by the Stars. Neal was brought back during the February grind last year when the team needed a spark to carry them through the home stretch and into the playoffs. Number Seven lived up to the billing by further gelling the team together. During February, Broten played in nine games. The Stars posted a 7-2-0 record in those nine games. Broten scored five goals and five assists in those nine games, while going +5. The highlight was a two-point night where Broten bagged the game winning goal in overtime against Los Angeles. At that time, there was a fantastic moment of closure. It isn't often a hero gets a chance to return and once again become a hero. It happened for the Stars, and for Neal Broten. Neal still holds the all-time records for points (867), assists (593), and games played (992) for the Stars. (Thanks to Kurt Daniels, with the Stars' front office, for the stats) As it stands, Broten was still holding out for some kind of interest and any kind of contract. It was reported that Broten was offered a tryout for the Canucks, but declined because no contract offer came with it. It doesn't look like any other offers are coming. Come on, guys. Pick him up. He can still add to any team. In keeping with the general doom and gloom theme here, the Stars were not spared from the current plague of holdouts by free agents in the league (don't EVEN get me started!). Mike Modano gave everyone a good scare by holding out right up until the last pre-season game. Modano's agent was really goosing all the attention he could get out of it by stating that the Stars were using "terrorist tactics" to trick his client into a sham. Boy, what a rip! Modano was offered over 3+ million per, making him the highest-paid player on the team. The only catch was, it was a take it or leave it deal -- sign it or it will go. Despite all the public posturing, it was pretty easy to see that Dallas really wanted to keep Modano on the team, and Modano was equally as interested in staying with the winner he helped build. In the end, both sides won when they met in the middle. See how easy that can be, boys? Now, why can't they just do the same and sign Derian Hatcher. Oh, yes. There were two holdouts this year. Derian Hatcher, the Stars' captain and el primero defenseman, is also holding out. You don't think the NHLPA was behind this, two players from each team holding out, do you? Nah -- that couldn't happen. Anyway, Big Derian is still not in a Stars uniform. Last word was he and the team were a scant $200K apart in negotiations. Until the deal gets done, Hatcher has reportedly been working out with the Sarnia Sting in Michigan. You want more bad news? We got it for you. Both Shawn Chambers and Sergei Zubov are out with differing hand injuries. So, now do you not only lose your number-one man, in terms of minutes-played (Hatcher), you also lose two of your best, and most-mobile defensemen in the bargain with Chambers and Zubov. Oh yes, that'll suck. But, getting back to some better news- Dallas did post the best record in the Central Division during the pre-season. The Stars earned a 5-1-2 record, going 2-0-2 on the road. During that time, Joe Nieuwendyk went on a tear. Nieuwendyk earned 10 points, which was good enough for a league-leading tie for first in points scored. Joe scored a point in each game he played, and led the team with a +7 pre-season rating. He was one of the leaders in goals scored (5), and one of the best in shooting percentage. For his efforts, Joe was named as one of the rotating captains of the team. At least, until Derian Hatcher re-joins Dallas. Coach Ken Hitchcock dropped a few jaws to the floor when he named Sergei Zubov as the first acting captain of the team during the Pre-season. It was said that Zubov stood there for awhile dumbfounded before the nomination sunk in. (I would have loved to have seen that look! The guy is nuts, I tell ya, NUTS! But, he is a great player. Oh YES, he IS a great player.) Zubov earned his nomination by leading the team in assists (6) during the pre-season, and by posting a three-assist night against Tampa Bay. Zubie has definitely come to play this year. Look for him to make a much bigger mark this time 'round. This, of course, depends on just how badly he hurt his hand against St. Louis on Oct. 4. Hitchcock also named Mike Modano and Craig Ludwig alternates, and all four will have a 10-game rotation wearing the "C", or until the Hatcher situation gets resolved. In the meantime, the Stars added some more size and strength to the hurting defensive corps by signing veteran "D" Craig Muni to a one-year contract. Muni should be able to add back some of the bang to the Stars' game, which has been sorely missing without Hatcher in the lineup. Not to take credit away from the usual corps such as Matvichuk and Ludwig. Mattie and Luds have been doing the best they can to keep the league's weasels at bay. It is obvious though, that Derian's size, strength, and total commitment to the team cannot be easily replaced. Even though the defense is hurting, and the chemistry of the offense has been changed by the Modano holdout, the Stars still had a pretty decent first two regular-season games. But with a 0-1-2 record, Dallas will not have as quite a spectacular start as last year's 6-0 tear to break the ice (so to speak). On October 1, in Colorado, the Mighty Avs and the Stars nullified each other, and skated away with a 2-2 tie. Both teams appeared to be feeling each other out, playing very tentatively, much like it was still the pre-season. But, to both teams' credit, it seemed like either one was still very dangerous. Ed Belfour and Patrick Roy held yet another classic duel between two of the best shutout masters of all time. Both men came away victorious. This game served as notice to all in the league that were watching: Great teams will win only when backstopped by great goaltenders. The Avs and the Stars are starting two of the best- ever to hold the position. It was an indication of the (possibly) great things to come in late April. For the home-opener in Dallas on October 4, the Stars organization was eager to put their best foot forward by holding a pre-game 3-D laser extravaganza and banner-raising ceremony. The Central Division Championship banner was raised after all four captains (Nieuwendyk, Modano, Zubov, and Ludwig) removed the white sheet covering the banner. Boy, that Star Wars fanfare music was, like, cool or sumpin'! Unfortunately for Dallas, the Blues were still fresh from a 7-2 thumping of the Coyotes just two nights prior. St. Louis came out with much more energy and quickness in their step. The Stars appeared to be just reacting to the Blues, and weren't initiating any play of their own. Hully and Big Mac (Brett Hull and Al MacInnis to you newbies) each had two-goal nights the previous game, but both were held goal-less by the Stars. Only Brett Hull got on the score sheet with an assist (on the game- winner). MacInnis was on the score sheet, but only after getting penalized for tripping Modano on a rush. Anyhoo, Belfour let in a (sort of a) softie after an initial stop deflected out of his glove, and over his shoulder, landing unabated behind him in the goal. So Joe Nieuwendyk's sweet first goal, the only one of the game for Dallas, wasn't enough. The Blues left Reunion Arena two points richer, but one man poorer. Pierre Turgeon suffered a fractured hand, and will be out a few weeks. And Dallas was left standing around, trying to figure out where in the hell the two points they were supposed to pick up had gone. Since Modano's holdout lasted until the very end of the pre-season, Hitchcock more or less said he coached the team with the absence of both MoDo and Hatch as a permanent situation. He had to plan for the contingency that neither one would return. To carry out this plan, Hitch formed a new first line of Adams- Nieuwendyk-Verbeek. This line has shown great promise, and Nieuwendyk has expressed his interest in keeping a good thing going. Why not? After Modano returned, he became part of the (essentially) second line of Lind-Modano-Lehtinen. Lehtinen has been the greatest thing to happen to Modano since Greg Adams came around. Conversely, Juha Lind, a fellow Finnish player, has been the greatest thing for Lehtinen. Both Fins have been getting along great, and Jere must be excited to be able to yell out in his native tongue to one of his linemates. Modano is stuck in the middle just trying to stay out of their way, much less figure out just what in the hell they are saying to each other! "Very dynamic." Modano was quoted, when asked what he thought of his two wingers. So, both primary front lines show plenty of promise. They will need help from the back end to fulfill the promise. It was obvious that even though Dan Keczmer (a veteran of the K-Wings), and Sergey Gusev (a young, promising defender) were both playing well, neither was up to speed when it came time to keeping the gap between the forwards and the defense on the rushes. It was completely obvious against St. Louis that neither one could sustain effective puck movement, outlets to the forwards, or enough smart decisions with the puck to keep any offensive momentum. Instead, it turned into a chop-fest in the neutral zone. And, it just got plain ugly at the Blues' blue line. St. Louis seemed to nullify every Dallas rush, while the Stars were too reactive, and nowhere near enough proactive. The defense couldn't play with enough physical presence to keep St. Louis from showing them a total lack of respect. It was getting really ugly out there. The Stars' forwards played the usual "we couldn't cash in on our many great scoring chances" song. Boy, that sounds sooooooooooooo familiar. The Stars are in great shape overall. But the time has come to start earning points. They are already in 10th place in the conference, and will start falling fast without a few wins. Dallas will try to live up to the high expectations of last year by having another strong regular season, capped by a better postseason. They get their next chance on October 7, in Buffalo. Quick Notes * The home fans have shown the most support in recent memory. The crowd was very loud and vocal during the home-opener. The fans also showed their savvy by loudly cheering Modano, after he registered his first shot on net, for the first time this season, since the holdout. They were very glad to have him back. * The Dallas fans also gave Eddie the Eagle his props by wildly cheering his first few big saves, followed by a thunderous "EDDIE! EDDIE!" chant. It's clear that Dallas hockey fans love Ed Belfour. He appeared really boosted by the warm welcome. WE LOVE YOU, MAN! * The fans will finally get a chance to watch hockey in a better barn within the next decade. Dallas city officials reached an agreement with the NBA Dallas Mavericks and the Stars to build a new arena mega-plex, complete with luxury boxes and local shopping, etc.-- after years of negotiations. Its now up to the Dallas taxpayers to either accept or s-can the idea. More on this story soon. Until 'den -- peace, out. ----------------------------------------------------------------- DETROIT RED WINGS ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------- PHOENIX COYOTES ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Jim Schoenfeld Roster: C - Bob Corkum, Craig Janney, Jeremy Roenick, Cliff Ronning, Mike Stapleton. LW - Shane Doan. Brad Isbister, Darrin Shannon, Keith Tkachuk, Juha Ylonen. RW - Dallas Drake, Mike Gartner, Jocelyn Lemieux, Jim McKenzie, Rick Tocchet. D - Murray Baron, Gerlad Diduck, Jim Johnson, Norm Maciver, Jayson More, Teppo Numminen, Deron Quint. G - Nikolai Khabibulin, Jimmy Waite. Injuries: Darcy Wakaluk, g (arthroscopic knee surgery, out 4-6 months). Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 3 2 1 0 4 10 10 1-0-0 1-1-0 Transactions: None. Game Results: 10/1 Chicago W 6-2 10/3 at St. Louis L 7-2 10/5 at Philadelphia W 2-1 TEAM NEWS by Glenn Stahlman and Jeff Brown The Phoenix Coyotes opened the 1997-1998 season looking to improve on the negatives which left a bad taste in the mouths of hockey fans across the Valley of the Sun. Foremost, they need to win at home. After posting a dismal 15-19-7 home record last season (23rd in the NHL), America West Arena was anything but the coolest place in the desert. One thing the Coyotes did well last season was win on the road. Their 23-18-0 road record was fifth-best in the league and propelled them into the playoffs. The Coyotes special teams also played a major role in the playoff run. Both the power play and penalty kill ranked fifth in the NHL last season and only Colorado and Detroit ranked higher in the special teams index. Great defense, right? Not exactly. The opposing teams just seemed to skate into a brick wall behind the Coyotes' blue line. Or is that a 'Bulin Wall? Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin has to be the nucleus of the Coyotes defense. Last season he compiled a GAA of 2.83 and finished with seven shutouts, second only to Martin Brodeur of New Jersey. Will it be enough for new head coach Jim Schoenfeld? "...When we had a lot of penalty killing, he (Khabibulin) really made some point-blank saves. It's something he's capable of but I don't want him to have to do that every night," Schoenfeld said. Khabibulin will have to face his opponents without all-star defenseman and fellow countryman Oleg Tverdovsky, who is currently involved in a contract dispute with team management. Coyotes GM Bobby Smith is prepared to let his young star sit out the entire season, standing firm in his decision not trade anyone who thinks another team will pay them more money. Team captain Keith Tkachuk took Smith seriously, electing to forego his holdout for a new contract. Last season's goal-scoring leader reported to the team in time for opening day. Opening night proved somewhat successful, as the Dogs ran all over Chicago, 6-2, in front of a sellout crowd at America West. The Coyotes saw goals scored by six different players and Nikolai Khabibulin made 28 saves. Special teams stopped eight Blackhawk power plays and Jeremy Roenick scored on a shorthanded breakaway. Unfortunately, the Coyotes could not convert on their own power play opportunities. "Hopefully this is the start of something big," said Roenick, who also had two assists against his old team. The Dogs did not fair so well in their first road outing, falling hard to the St. Louis Blues, 7-2. Khabibulin gave up four goals in the first two periods and was pulled for backup netminder Jimmy Waite, who proceeded to allow three more goals in the third. Again, the Coyotes' power play was held at bay, leaving Schoenfeld wondering when his special teams would go on the offensive. Drake, Janney Bring Doom to Philly After a shaky 1-1 start, Coyotes' fans had to be thinking the worst as their team skated into CoreStates Center to take on the defending Eastern Conference Champion Philadelphia Flyers. This game had all the makings of a potential blowout. The Flyers, who are bigger, stronger and faster than the entire league looked to face-off against a shaken Coyotes team still looking for an identity. It was David and Goliath on ice, and just like in biblical times, the giant fell. The Coyotes peskiness and relentless attack proved to be the difference, as the Flyers never found their offensive game. An early first period goal by Rod Brind'Amour was all Philly could muster, and the Dogs perseverance paid off. Craig Janney lit the lamp at 4:24 of the second period, knocking in his own rebound after taking a feed from the corner by Dallas Drake. Janney, known more for his passing skills than his goal scoring, elected to shoot the puck and stayed with it, beating Garth Snow and an army of Flyers in front of the net. The score remained tied throughout a game riddled by poor officiating from referee Dan Marouelli. Thankfully the penalty calling did not effect the score, as both teams went 0-fer on the power play. The Coyotes killed all nine Flyer power plays, including two five-on-three disadvantages. Unfortunately for Phoenix, they too were unable to capitalize on nine power-play opportunities. Thus far this season the Coyotes are a whopping 0-16 when skating with the man advantage. It wasn't until 9:29 of the third period that the tie was broken, and it was one of the Coyotes unsung heroes who broke the knot. Dallas Drake took a neutral-ice pass from Craig Janney and started a two-on-one with Keith Tkachuk. Flyer defenseman Chris Therrien played it perfectly, taking away the pass, but Drake beat Snow between the pads for the game winner. "It was a big play at the end of a long, hard shift," said Coach Jim Schoenfeld. "It all started, though, with a fantastic play by Craig Janney. That was a beautiful play by both of them." The goal was Drake's second of this young season, and his first since being promoted to the number one line. "I wanted to pass it...(Tkachuk) doesn't miss to many of those," said Drake. "I didn't have much of a pass so I put my head down and took the shot." Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin more than did his part, making 27 saves and even standing on his head on more than one occasion to stuff the Flyers. "You can't say enough about Nikki. He speaks for himself," said Drake. "This is a big boost for us, especially after that last game we played. It proved to us we can bounce back from bad games." New Dogs in the Pound The 1997-1998 season has brought some changes to the Phoenix Coyotes roster. The biggest name missing from the list is also the shortest, Don Hay. General manager Bobby Smith picked his scapegoat just days after Anaheim handed his Coyotes an early exit from the playoffs, firing the franchise's first-ever head coach. Smith then picked longtime Washington Capital boss Jim Schoenfeld to help push the Dogs into the Stanley Cup Playoffs' second round for the first time. Most well known for his fiery attitude and the physical style of hockey he professes, Schoenfeld was also a gritty player in his own right, tallying 1,132 penalty minutes in 13 seasons with Buffalo, Detroit and Boston. In 1974-75 season Schoenfeld was named the youngest team captain in league history at the time with the Sabres. He finished third in the voting for the Norris Trophy that year, amassing a franchise record +60 plus/minus rating. After adding a gritty, physical-style head coach, the Coyotes needed to replace their most physical player, right wing Kris King, who left for Toronto in the off season. They found their man in rogue veteran Rick Tocchet. Tocchet, who has played for six different teams in his 13-year career, came over from Boston as a free agent. He is a member of an elite group of players who have scored 300 career goals while accumulating 2,000 penalty minutes. Though plagued by back injuries on and off throughout his career, if healthy Tocchet's great hands and quick shot could light the lamp often for the Coyotes this season, as he has scored 30 or more goals seven times in his career. Two rookies started the season on the Coyotes' roster, center Juha Ylonen and right wing Brad Isbister. Neither will see much time at their natural positions, as the Coyotes need help filling out the left side of their forward lines. Both Ylonen and Isbister spent last season playing for the Springfield Falcons, the Coyotes' AHL affiliate. Ylonen, a solid stickhandler and passer, netted 20 goals and 41 assists, leading Springfield in 1996. Isbister, the franchise's fourth selection in the 1995 draft, has elevated quickly in the Coyotes' system, splitting time last year with Portland (WHL) and Springfield and also played for the Canadian World Junior Team. Both players should bring excitement and fresh legs to the Phoenix bench this season. Upcoming The Coyotes next face of at home against Eastern Conference foe Boston on 10/8 and then it's off to Colorado for another huge road game vs. the Avalanche on 10/11. They return to America West on 10/13 to begin a five-game home stand against Chicago. They also will face San Jose, Anaheim, Washington and Buffalo during this stint. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ST. LOUIS BLUES ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Joel Quenneville Roster: C - Pierre Turgeon, Darren Turcotte, Harry York, Craig Conroy, Pascal Rheaume. LW - Geoff Courtnall, Tony Twist, Pavol Demitra. RW - Brett Hull, Jim Campbell, Joe Murphy, Scott Pellerin, Rudy Poeschek, Blair Atcheynum, Kelly Chase, Terry Yake. D - Al MacInnis, Chris Pronger, Steve Duchesne, Marc Bergevin, Chris McAlpine, Jamie Rivers. G - Grant Fuhr, Jamie McLennan. Injuries: Pierre Turgeon, c (surgery for broken right wrist, 6-8 weeks). Transactions: Claimed Pascal Rheaume, c, from the New Jersey Devils in the waiver draft; Acquired Kelly Chase, rw, from the Toronto Maple Leafs for future considerations; assigned Ricard Persson, d, to Worcester (AHL). Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 3 2 1 0 4 10 6 1-1-0 1-0-0 Game Results: 10/1 Buffalo L 3-1 10/3 Phoenix W 7-2 10/4 at Dallas W 2-1 TEAM NEWS by Jim Iovino Sneaky Pete out of action Bad news struck the St. Louis Blues three games into the season. Pierre Turgeon, the team's leading scorer last year, broke his right wrist after being slashed by Dallas's Guy Carbonneau during the Blues' 2-1 win on Oct. 4. "I don't think it was vicious," Blues head coach Joel Quenneville said. "I haven't seen the replay, but someone saw it and said it (the slash) didn't look bad." The injury couldn't have come at a worse time for both Turgeon and the Blues. Turgeon was on fire at the time of the injury. He assisted on both Blues goals against Dallas before breaking his wrist and had picked up four assists in the team's first three games. He was also a major reason for the team's great start on the power play. With Turgeon in the lineup, St. Louis was five of 18 with the man advantage. The Blues started the season on fire, as well by winning two of their first three games. And those two wins were impressive. After being beat single- handedly by Dominik Hasek in the season opener, the Blues charged back to pummel the Coyotes, 7-2. Nikolai Khabibulin was chased from the Dogs' net after two periods. The next night the Blues lost Turgeon but still defeated the Stars, 2- 1. Jim Campbell's go-ahead goal in the first period was the difference. Turgeon had surgery to repair his broken wrist and will be out of action for anywhere from six to eight weeks. The Blues have little depth at center and will definitely feel Turgeon's absence. The rest of the Blues' centers include Harry York, Darren Turcotte, Craig Conroy and Pascal Rheaume. Duchesne deal pays off So who doesn't think the Ottawa Senators got screwed in the Igor Kravchuk for Steve Duchesne deal? Duchesne currently leads the Blues in points and, like Turgeon, is a major factor for the Blues' awesome power play. Duchesne has tallied a goal and four assists in the team's three games this season. One reason for the Blues' success with the man advantage has to be the fact that Duchesne is taking a lot of pressure off of Al MacInnis along the blue line. No longer can teams key in on MacInnis's slapper on one side when Duchesne has an equally deadly blast on the other. By the way, Kravchuk hasn't been slouching in Ottawa, either. The steady defenseman has a goal and two assists in three games with the Sens. McLennan gets long awaited win Because the Blues had back-to-back games, Grant Fuhr was given a rest when the team played the Stars. In his place was Jamie McLennan, who spent all of last season playing in the minors at Worcester, had not won an NHL game since Nov. 30, 1995, when he beat the lowly Senators, 5-3. McLennan had an impressive performance against the Stars. He stopped 27 of 28 Dallas shots en route to the 2-1 victory. McLennan replaced Jon Casey as the Blues backup goaltender this season. Casey was released after last season, and is currently unsigned by an NHL team. He's spending his days as a minor leaguer, waiting for a call. Um, Jon, don't wait too long, buddy... ----------------------------------------------------------------- TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Mike Murphy Roster: C - Darby Hendrickson, Steve Sullivan, Kevyn Adams, Alyn McCauley. LW - Fredrik Modin, Wendel Clark, Todd Warriner, Derek King, Kris King, Igor Korolev. RW - Mats Sundin, Sergei Berezin, Tie Domi, Mike Johnson, Martin Prochazka. D - Jamie Macoun, Dimitri Yushkevich, Mathieu Schneider, David Cooper, Per Gustafsson, Jason Smith, Rob Zettler. G - Felix Potvin, Glenn Healy. Injuries: None. Transactions: Traded Kelly Chase, lw, to St. Louis for future considerations. Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 2 0 2 0 0 1 7 0-1-0 0-1-0 Game Results: 10/1 Washington L 4-1 10/4 at NY Islanders L 3-0 TEAM NEWS by Jonah A. Sigel NEW FACES, SAME RESULTS It's been a long hard off-season for the Maple Leafs once again. Interim general manager Bill Watters made several key acquisitions over the summer, yet few have proved so far to improve the quality of the hockey team. Defenseman Per Gustafson, goaltender Glenn Healy, forwards Mike Kennedy, Derek King, and Kris King all have joined the blue and white. Unfortunately through both the preseason and in the first two games thus far in the 1997-1998 season, the new faces have made little difference. The same problems that have plagued the Maple Leafs in the past continue to do so in the present. An inept offense, vanishing goaltending and an incapable defensive corps are making winning games very difficult. In the home opener against Washington, goaltender Felix Potvin seemed to struggle on almost all Washington goals. In Saturday's game against the Islanders, the inability of the offense to capitalize on opportunities they were granted proved fatal as once again the Leafs came up short. The betting in Toronto is not whether the Leafs will make the playoffs, rather how long before head coach Mike Murphy is fired. With coach of the year winner Ted Nolan available, and Toronto native Mike Keenan also unemployed, it seems certain that Murphy is not going to last long in Toronto. With the culmination of a new management team, and so many new faces, should the team continued to struggle it will be interesting to see how long Dryden et all will wait before hiring "their man". It seems unlikely the Leafs will be able to swing any deals so early in the season, they just don't have any bait to attract the big fish that they so desperately need. All Leaf fans can hope for is that management stops the selling of prospects and future draft picks in poor trades for a quick fix. It is apparent that missing the playoffs and getting a blue chip prospect or two would be a welcome change for Bud lovers. Unfortunately, the price of that is, of course, having to sustain another brutal season. It appears Leaf fans are much more willing to accept the losing of a younger, more energetic team that is trying than an aged, overpaid group who is underachieving. ================================================================ ================================================================= TEAM REPORTS ================================================================= WESTERN CONFERENCE PACIFIC DIVISION ----------------------------------------------------------------- ANAHEIM MIGHTY DUCKS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Ron Wilson Roster: C - Ted Drury, Mark Janssens, Richard Park, Sean Pronger, Steve Rucchin, Kevin Todd. LW - Shawn Antoski, Espen Knutsen, Warren Rychel. RW - Joe Sacco, Tomas Sandstrom, Teemu Selanne, Scott Young. D - J.J. Daigneault, Bobby Dollas, David Karpa, Jason Marshall, Dmitri Mironov, Ruslan Salei, Brent Severyn, Dan Trebil, Darren Van Impe. G - Guy Hebert, Mikhail Shtalenkov. Injuries: Shawn Antoski, lw (hernia surgery, 8 weeks); J.F. Jomphe, c (abdominal strain, indefinite); Peter Leboutillier, rw (left knee strain, day-to-day). Transactions: 9/28, claimed Brent Severyn, d, from Colorado in waiver draft. Holdouts: Paul Kariya, lw, Group II Free Agent. Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 2 1 1 0 2 5 5 1-0-0 0-1-0 Game Results: 10/3 Vancouver L 3-2 in Tokyo 10/4 Vancouver W 3-2 in Tokyo TEAM NEWS by Viktor Malakoff BIG IN JAPAN On the ice, choppy and soft though it was, the Ducks were a hit in the land of the rising sun. They split with Vancouver in a "home-and-home" on foreign soil -- the first time NHL games that count in the standings have been played outside of North America. Off the ice, there was much talk about the non-appearance of Anaheim's superstar of Japanese descent, Paul Kariya. Kariya remains home in Vancouver, his contract talks still at an impasse. For their part, Ducks management is playing the miffed role, wondering why they haven't heard from Kariya's agent lately. New Anaheim coach Pierre Pagé is convinced that Kariya's extended holdout -- and agent Don Baizley's laissez-faire attitude -- is part of a Players Association master plan to set a new pay standard for top-level talent. In other words, Kariya is waiting for Lindros to sign an extension with Philadelphia before settling his situation with the Ducks -- or vice versa. The Flyers have the luxury of sitting on their hands, however, because The Big Train is under contract and playing. Whatever the case, the split at Yoyogi Arena gives the Ducks as many wins without Kariya this year as they had in the first 11 games last year, when #9 was out with an abdominal injury. The Ducks did miss Kariya's speed in their Tokyo lineup, especially in the game one "road" loss. The pool-top rink confabulated to host the international tilts wasn't up to NHL quality standards, but it was nearly Olympic sized, and would have proven a fine sheet for Kariya to dazzle Japan's fans. Now those fans will have to wait until the 1998 Olympics to see Kariya, who will be wearing a Canadian National Team jersey instead of an Anaheim one. NEW FACES The Ducks are sporting a few new faces this year, both on and off the ice. Pierre Pagé -- acquired from Calgary for a conditional 1998 draft pick -- and Don Hay, join Walt Kyle, last season's lone coaching holdover, behind the bench. Upon joining the team, Pagé was described by GM Jack Ferreira as the man "we wanted from the beginning." Had he been available when the franchise started up five years ago, said Ferreira, Pagé would have been Anaheim's first coach. Hay, of course, is the former Phoenix bench boss who was thoroughly outwitted by Ferreira's eventual second choice, Ron Wilson, in last year's playoffs. On the roster, the Ducks have made several smart and significant additions. They signed Tomas Sandstrom, the feisty, versatile winger, to a two-year deal as an unrestricted free agent. Sandstrom, of course, sipped from the Stanley Cup last year as a member of the Detroit Red Wings. Then Ferreira took advantage of Colorado's tight budget -- hit hard thanks to the Rangers $21 million offer to Joe Sakic -- to acquire winger Scott Young from the Avalanche for a third-round draft pick. The Ducks then picked up considerable blue-line grit by snagging Brent Severyn off the waiver wire, also from Colorado. Within the organization, the top candidate for success with the big club is expected to be Norwegian-born Espen Knutsen, a smallish but talented center with tremendous playmaking abilities. Knutsen, at 25 a three-year veteran of the Swedish Elite League, had been penciled in as the team's number two center. But the Kariya holdout forced Pagé to try the diminutive Knutsen, who had played well in the preseason, at left wing on the top trio. That combination lasted just two ineffective regular-season periods, however, before Knutsen was replaced by Sandstrom. Nonetheless, Knutsen is expected to fit in somewhere if and when the full roster is finally on the ice. It seems that Sean Pronger, teamed almost exclusively with Sandstrom (this time at right wing) in the preseason, has emerged as Pagé's favorite center. The sizable and gritty duo seems to have some natural chemistry, and by the second of the Japanese games, Pronger was skating with Selanne and Sandstrom (who switched back to the port side). COMING UP After five days off in the wake of their international journey, the Ducks begin a five-game homestand, and six-of-seven at The Pond. First up: Former Assistant GM Pierre Gauthier and his Ottawa Senators, who are also suffering a holdout by their best forward, Daniel Alfredsson. ----------------------------------------------------------------- CALGARY FLAMES ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Brian Sutter Roster: C - Cory Stillman, Aaron Gavey, Steve Begin, Andrew Cassels, Marty Murray, Michael Nylander. RW - Theoren Fleury, Jarome Iginla, Ron Stern, Ed Ward, Sandy McCarthy. LW - Jonas Hoglund, Marty McInnis, German Titov, Chris Dingman, Mike Peluso. D - James Patrick, Tommy Albelin, Joel Bouchard, Todd Simpson, Cale Hulse, Zarley Zalapski, Derek Morris. G - Rick Tabaracci, Dwayne Roloson. Injuries: Ronnie Stern, lw (knee injury, 4-6 weeks). Transactions: Claimed Mike Peluso, lw, from the New York Rangers in the waiver draft. Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 2 0 2 0 0 2 7 0-2-0 0-0-0 Game results: 10/1 Detroit L 3-1 10/3 Colorado L 4-1 TEAM NEWS by Tony Wong and Jim Iovino Have the NHL schedule makers no heart? Their cruelty showed through this season with the announcing of the Calgary Flames’ early schedule. The Flames, who are painfully going through a rebuilding process, opened up the season with a tilt with the defending Stanley Cup champs, the Detroit Red Wings. Two days later, the Flames had to face off against the powerful Colorado Avalanche. Talk about a bad way to start a season, eh? Sure, the Flames open the season on a four-game homestand, but with an opposition like that, there’s no surprise that Calgary is a disappointing 0-2 to start the year. Opening night against Detroit showed Flames fans just how much their team is in need of scoring. Calgary managed just one goal against Chris Osgood, who was rarely tested. The Flames came back two days later against Patrick Roy and were dealt the same cards -- just one lousy goal and another loss. Yes, the Flames were playing two of the best teams in the league, but you can’t sugar coat the obvious: The Flames have very little offense, and it doesn’t look to get better anytime soon. Oh, it will be a very long season in Calgary this year... Hark! What is that? The Flames play the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday night?!? Call it a gift from above, because the Leafs are just what the Flames need to turn things around. With an even worse offense than Calgary’s, Toronto comes into town to boost the spirit of Flames players and fans. Look for Calgary to finally win their first game of the season. Maybe the schedule makers do have a heart... Wong’s Words Here are some notes on the preseason and first game against Detroit from our Calgary correspondent, Tony Wong, who is on a mission to break the world’s Rice- A-Roni Eating Record this week in San Francisco. May the force be with you, Tony... - Even more so than last year, the Flames ran hot and cold in the preseason. For stretches, they would be an aggressive, feisty bunch that fought for the puck. For other stretches we not only looked lackadaisical, we looked almost dead. The gap between the good and bad stretches was even bigger than last year. - Boy did the veterans stink it up in camp. Patrick, Zalapski, Stillman, Iginla, Hoglund all played with lead in their legs. - Morris played pretty well in camp and was probably Calgary's best defenseman overall in the preseason. While he didn't show off the "Paul Coffey" type wheels that he's supposed to have, he was solid defensively and showed a nice shot. - Calgary's defense, of all things, might be a problem. In the preseason and in their first game against Detroit, Calgary's defensemen had trouble maintaining their composure in the offensive zone. Once Detroit figured this out, they rushed the point mercilessly and were able to force the puck out of the zone rather easily...oh for the days of MacInnis, Suter and Macoun... - Michael Nylander might end up a bust. Still weak on the puck (EVERYONE was knocking him off the puck), playing in Europe has given him some bad habits. Worst amongst these is the desire to "razzle dazzle" (i.e. make a bunch of moves) every time he crosses into the offensive zone. While this might have worked when he was the most skilled player on the ice in Europe, against NHL competition they've simply been tying him up when he does this. Hopefully he learns to make the simple play or simple pass real soon. - While Cassels & Fleury seem to be an ideal pairing, I don't think it will work out. They seem to have too many of the same instincts and often go to the same area/go for the same play rather than complementing each other. I hope I'm wrong. - While Fleury is in much better shape mentally (less dour) and physically this year, he still has that jinxed feeling. The rest of the NHL has figured out that Fleury doesn't have a great shot, but that he can beat them one on one up close. The result has been defensemen basically backing up and giving Fleury a shot from the wing. Theo hasn't come up with a solution to this basic problem, but will start scoring in bunches when (and if) he does. So don't expect too much regardless of how good his fitness is. If he doesn't figure this out, he's not going anywhere. Either that, or Theo gets himself a giant centre (that Calgary doesn't have) that feasts on rebounds. - The Detroit game was pretty boring throughout until the third period. Both teams seemed to sleepwalk through the first two periods. Detroit's lead was the result of two marginal calls at the beginning of the first and second periods that lead to power-play goals. In the third period, the line of McCarthy, Peluso and rookie Begin crashed around and ignited the Flames. After that, for about 10 minutes, the Flames crashed the Detroit net and created a number of chances. The result was a goal by Iginla and about four great missed opportunities. After some confusion in pulling the goalie in the last minute, Detroit scored into an empty net and it was all over. - Tabaracci was a highlight. With a number of exceptional stops, he kept the game close. Without him, the score would have been 6- or 7-0. - Corey Stillman played like Aaron Gavey did for the last half. He fought for the puck and created a number of chances. Amongst them was an assist on Iginla's goal. If he keeps it up and he'll definitely have a much, much better year than last year. - Morris played pretty well most of the game, but had two big give-aways in his own zone that led to a breakaway and a two-on-one. Morris also didn't hold the puck in during the last minute, which resulted in Detroit's empty-net goal. Oh well - not bad for his first NHL game. - Sutter chose to go with three assistants instead of picking a captain yet. Simpson, Fleury and Patrick wore the "A". - Todd Simpson was on the power play. What??!? The most questionable of all of Sutter's moves so far. Homer Simpson would probably fare just as well, with more meat on his shot... - Patrick looked average to start, but started to pick up his play as the game went on. Behind Tabaracci and Stillman, he was probably Calgary's best player. Zalapski, on the other hand, still looked like he was sorta sleepy. Let's hope he wakes up, 'cause the Flames missed his solid all-around play last year. ----------------------------------------------------------------- COLORADO AVALANCHE ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Marc Crawford Roster: C - Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Mike Ricci, Stephane Yelle, Jari Kurri, Josef Marha. LW - Valeri Kamensky, Rene Corbet, Eric Lacroix. RW - Claude Lemieux, Adam Deadmarsh, Keith Jones. D - Sandis Ozolinsh, Sylvain Lefebvre, Uwe Krupp, Adam Foote, Alexei Gusarov, Jon Klemm, Aaron Miller, Eric Messier, Wade Belak, Francois Leroux, Pascal Trepanier. G - Patrick Roy, Craig Billington. INJURIES: Keith Jones, rw (knee, one month); Mike Ricci, c (shoulder, one month); Sandis Ozolinsh, d (shoulder, day-to-day). TRANSACTIONS: Traded Scott Young, rw, to Anaheim for 1999 third round pick; lost Brent Severyn, d, to Anaheim in the waiver draft; traded 1998 third round pick to Pittsburgh for Francois Leroux, d; assigned Yves Sarault, rw, to Hershey (AHL). STANDINGS: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 3 2 0 1 5 9 3 0-0-1 2-0-0 GAME RESULTS: 10/1 Dallas T 2-2 10/3 at Calgary W 4-1 10/5 at Edmonton W 3-0 TEAM NEWS by Greg D’Avis If you're a believer in portents, then the season began well for the Avalanche; the last time Valeri Kamensky scored the team's first goal of the year, they went on to win the Stanley Cup. Colorado began the season sharply, in contrast to the way they stumbled out of the gate the last two years. While there've been some struggles with chemistry and the like, the first week of the season filled any fan of the burgundy-and-blue with crazed optimism and religious fervor. Opening night against Dallas was a sloppy affair; the Avalanche both dominated and were lucky to escape with a tie. Despite controlling the puck for a majority of the game, the Avs had a difficult time getting good shots on Ed Belfour and gave Dallas chance after chance with stupid penalties. As Crawford experimented with different lines - at different times, Sakic, Forsberg, Yelle, Corbet, Lemieux, Deadmarsh, Leroux and Kamensky all played center - the chemistry was lacking in a big way. The power play struggled, pretty plays ended with missed passes. The once-feared trip through Alberta wasn't much of a struggle - Calgary wasn't a match for the Avalanche, as Peter Forsberg re-established himself as the most exciting player in hockey, changing the game every time he touched the puck. The game was most notable for the debut of the Avs' new physical presence; Francois Leroux fought twice, including a monster battle against Sandy McCarthy, and Wade Belak tussled with Mike Peluso twice. Also significant, in the long run, were two goals -- one by Uwe Krupp, a nice one-timer which was a good welcome back for the big guy, and one by Jari Kurri, who's been proving he still has some of the old skills. Edmonton was another violent game, reaching the pinnacle of absurdity when Valeri Kamensky fought Oiler Jason Arnott. Patrick Roy celebrated his 32nd birthday with his 38th career shutout; Claude Lemieux got himself untracked with two goals; and (everyone sing along!) Peter Forsberg was the best player on the ice. The Good: Patrick Roy, Patrick Roy, Patrick Roy. St. Patrick looked almost unbeatable in the first three games, giving up no bad goals and doing all that funky head-shakin' that everyone loves. Helping him out has been the defense, playing a new "lock" system similar to the one Detroit used so effectively last year. The shots have been cut down, and those that do come aren't too good. Also, the odd-man-rushes which plagued the team so much last year have virtually disappeared. The team has also been much more physical - Leroux and Belak definitely help, providing the imposing presence that didn't exist last year, but everyone's finishing their checks, which is more reminiscent of the Cup year than last season. Rene Corbet is developing into a premier agitator; he's always been hyper, but this year he's been all over the ice, in everyone's face, all the time. Peter Forsberg and Uwe Krupp -- both of whom had significant injury problems last year -- are playing well. Forsberg's been the best player on the ice the first three games; while his stats (two goals, four assists) are good, they only hint at how dominant he is. He's back to making everyone look like a pylon, and as soon as he and Kamensky get used to Deadmarsh as a linemate, things could get crazy. Krupp's size was missed during the playoffs last year; he's also looked good. He says he feels better than ever -- which is what he said at the beginning of last year, too. The penalty killing was suspect after Keane's departure. "No problem!" said Marc Crawford, as he moved defenseman Jon Klemm into Keane's old spot next to Stephane Yelle on the top penalty-killing line (Klemm also plays wing with Yelle and Jari Kurri on the checking line). The two form a near-impenetrable wall; in the first three games, despite myriad power plays for the other team, the Avalanche only gave up one power-play goal (in the midst of what amounted to a five-minute Dallas power play). Of course, you don't have to kill penalties if you don't take them, which brings us to... The Bad: Lots of penalties. A whole lot. And for the most part, it's not the overly physical players, like Adam Foote or Claude Lemieux, taking them. Forsberg's playing like he must drill every player in the league at least once. Krupp and Yelle have both spent significant "quiet time" in the box as well. Just as alarming is the team's propensity for taking penalties when they're already a man down; one five-on-three in a game is too many, much less the three or four they faced in Edmonton. The absence of key players. Number 19 is out there, he shows up in the box scores and takes face-offs, but Joe Sakic hasn't been much of a presence so far. Adam Deadmarsh hasn't been making much of a pitch for the Hall of Fame either. Of course, this cuts both ways -- it can be said that if the Avs are doing well with these two slumping, they'll be even more formidable once they hit their groove. Sandis Ozolinsh's separated shoulder isn't serious and he'll likely be back Tuesday against Boston. It's just worrisome because after the team was so shorthanded last year due to bumps and bruises, it would have been nice to see a few weeks go by before even a minor injury. Jari Kurri suffered a scary injury in a collision with Drake Berehowsky of the Oilers, but was eventually able to play again after lying on the ice for several minutes. The New: There's a few new faces around; a few rookies, a few vets. The departures of Mike Keane, Scott Young and Brent Severyn left holes, thus far, ably filled. Wade Belak: The 6'5", 223-lb defenseman caused the most excitement locally in an otherwise drab preseason, mostly by fighting anyone he could and laying vicious checks on those he didn't. The 24-year-old former first-round draft pick spent most of last year with Hershey in the AHL; in spot duty with the Avalanche, he looked lost and out of place. Not so this year. Because of the overabundance of qualified defensemen on the team, he's seen only spot duty, alternating games on wing with Pascal Trepanier; he made an impression, though, fighting Mike Peluso twice in the Calgary victory. Jari Kurri: Kurri didn't play in the Original Six era -- it just seems like it. Now 37, the one-time 70-goal scorer was picked up more for his defensive abilities and leadership. He's looked pretty sharp early on, though, with a goal and assist in the first three games and time on all the units. With his goal against the Flames, he's now three away from 600 for his career. Francois Leroux: The Avalanche traded for the behemoth Leroux immediately after losing Severyn in the waiver draft, and addressed the team's biggest problem last year -- lack of toughness. Leroux -- another defenseman who's getting used as a wing -- isn't much of a skater and won't provide the offense that Chris Simon once did, but he's one of the most intimidating fighters in the league and will hopefully serve as a deterrent to anyone getting fresh with Sakic or Forsberg. Josef Marha: The Czech center finally stuck with the team this year, after being the final cut the past two seasons. He's likely only around until Mike Ricci returns, unless he plays well enough to make the long-expected Ricci trade happen. He's a playmaker with good speed; the knock on him is his size (6', 176 pounds). He's not afraid to get his nose dirty but gets moved off the puck too easily. After the first three games, he's the only player yet to see action. Eric Messier: Everyone expected that Messier, after playing impressively in occasional duty last year, would be a gimme coming into 1997, but his fate wasn't decided until the final day of training camp. He's been one of the bright spots in the first week, playing smart, solid defense and contributing a bit offensively, seeing power play point duty while Ozolinsh is out. He has point potential, scoring big for Hershey last year, but has yet to get his first NHL goal. He's an incredibly hard worker -- undrafted, he was signed as a free agent after Colorado found him playing roller hockey. Pascal Trepanier: The "who?" of the new guys. Trepanier -- once again, a defenseman-playing-wing -- snuck up on everyone, getting the last roster spot instead of the more likely Yves Sarault or Christian Matte. The 24-year-old is a feisty player who's played an effective checking role in the first few games. Messier's defensive partner last season, he has the potential to develop into a Corbet-type player. Against Dallas, he laid impressive checks on Sergei Zubov and Greg Adams - neither player was a factor afterwards. Also undrafted, Colorado signed him as a free agent after stints with Cornwall (AHL), Dayton (ECHL) and Kalamazoo (IHL). ----------------------------------------------------------------- EDMONTON OILERS ---------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Ron Low Roster: C - Doug Weight, Jason Arnott, Todd Marchant, Steve Kelly, Boyd Devereaux. LW - Dean McAmmond, Rem Murray, Ryan Smyth, Mats Lindgren, Bill Huard, Joe Hulbig, Ray Whitney. RW -, Mike Grier, Andrei Kovalenko, Kelly Buchberger, Dennis Bonvie. D - Drew Bannister, Drake Berehowsky, Sean Brown, Greg deVries, Kevin Lowe, Bryan Marchment, Boris Mironov. G - Curtis Joseph, Bob Essensa. Injuries: Rem Murray, lw (cracked bone in left wrist, out two weeks). Transactions: None. Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 3 1 2 0 2 7 14 0-2-0 1-0-0 Game Results: 10/1 at San Jose W 5-3 10/3 Detroit L 8-2 10/5 Colorado L 3-0 TEAM NEWS by Simon D. Lewis Future’s So Bright So, the Oilers strap on the pads for a new season. As usual in October, there’s lots of positive talk going on. "This should be the season when the boys in blue take another step toward the status of bona fide contenders." "Jason Arnott’s going to take over and become a dominant player." "It’s time for all that young blood to mature and play like we know they can." And of course, there’s the issue of ownership. The team is for sale and, at this point, there have been two offers made from local groups. There’s a dearth of information about the bidders. Everyone’s playing it close to the chest. Local speculation wonders if the expansion money coming to the team in the next year or two could be a deal breaker. Some think that the current owner, Peter Pocklington, may well want to keep that money. It’s all pretty murky at the moment. Watch this space. Shaky Start Going down to San Jose for a win in the season opener was a pleasant road trip. The young Oilers continued to bask in the glow of last spring’s playoff run. A win...this was the way it was supposed to be. But just a second, boys. Remember last year when you didn’t beat the Wings or the Avalanche one time? Well, guess who your first two home game are against? Gut check time...right? Stevie Y. and the champion Red Wings came in and laid a real licking on the Oilers to the tune of 8-2. The locals were out of sync all night. Detroit came in waves and wouldn’t quit until the game was out of sight. Two nights later Patrick Roy and the Avalanche showed up and won 3-0. Number 33 was stellar between the pipes for the Avs. The Oilers couldn’t score but they made Roy work very hard for his shutout. Edmonton got lots of chances including eight power plays. Coach Ron Low felt his team wasn’t good enough five-on-five. When Colorado got their chances they buried them. New Faces The guy who is really making heads turn is defenceman Drake Berehowsky. Leaf fans will remember him as the first rounder who was chewed up and spat out of the sinkhole that is Toronto hockey. He’s been in the IHL for the last few years and made the Oilers as a walk on. He scored in the opener and has been about the best D-man in the first three games. Other new faces on defence are Sean Brown and Drew Bannister who were around during the playoffs last year. Up front, Joe Hulbig, Steve Kelly and Dennis Bonvie have come up through the system. Bonvie is the designated pugilist, inheriting the mantle from the reluctant Louie Debrusk, who has already been sent down to the farm by Tampa Bay. Another addition up front is Boyd Devereaux, a rookie who Ron Low just can’t leave off the team right now. Ray Whitney used to be the Oilers’ stick boy back in the glory days. He made the pros in San Jose but couldn’t stick on the team. This fall he made the Oilers. It’s hard to believe that a guy with this much heart and talent couldn’t play in the Shark tank. ----------------------------------------------------------------- LOS ANGELES KINGS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Larry Robinson Roster: C - Ray Ferraro, Olli Jokinen, Ian Laperriere, Donald MacLean, Yanic Perreault, Jozef Stumpel, Roman Vopat. LW - Craig Johnson, Matt Johnson, Luc Robitaille, Vladimir Tsyplakov. RW - Sandy Moger, Glenn Murray, Brad Smyth. D - Aki Berg, Rob Blake, Phillippe Boucher, Garry Galley, Mattias Norstrom, Sean O'Donnell, Jan Vopat, Doug Zmolek. G - Frederic Chabot, Stephane Fiset, Jamie Storr. Injuries: Ray Ferraro, C (sprained knee, unknown); Jamie Storr, G (groin, soon?). Transactions: Signed Jamie Storr, G, to a one-year contract extension. Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 3 0 1 2 2 10 11 0-0-0 0-1-2 Game Results: 10/1 at Pittsburgh T 3-3 10/2 at Boston L 6-5 10/5 at NY Rangers T 2-2 TEAM NEWS by Matt Moore Ah, a new season begins. The Dave Taylor-era is now in its first full season, and his presence has already been felt. Taylor has brought back two former teammates from his playing days, Garry Galley and Luc Robitaille, to try and provide some leadership and some offensive spark to the team. With Galley, the Kings gained an offensive-minded defenseman who will provide the point man for the power-play unit the Kings have been missing since forever. With Luc, you return one of the most popular players in Kings' history, and, if he regains his old form, Robitaille will provide the sniper that was sorely missing last year. Taylor also made one of the better moves in the past few years, getting Jozef Stumpel and Sandy Moger from Boston in exchange for Dmitri Khristich and Byron Dafoe. In Stumpel the Kings get a playmaker, which was something that was definitely not there last year. By getting rid of Khristich, the overall team atmosphere improved and also eliminated the one-man army attitude that Khristich seemed to approach the game with. And by moving Dafoe, the Kings have made it clear that Jamie Storr is the goaltender of the future and that he was going to have to step up and become a backup goaltender to Stephane Fiset. This trade also emphasized the movement of the Kings toward a bigger, younger team. This season began in Pittsburgh, the first of five road games, which is somewhat frightening considering how crappy the Kings were on the road last year. They had the worst road record in the NHL. But the Kings showed admirable spunk despite falling behind 2-0 to the Pens. Led by Garry Galley's two power-play goals and a Luc Robitaille goal, the Kings had the opportunity to win the game, which is all one can ask for from such a young team. The next night was more of a disappointment. Other than raise the question of who the hell would schedule back-to- back road games on the first two nights of the season, it also made one wonder why Stephane Fiset would be forced to start both games. Sure, Jamie Storr is on the injured list and Frederic Chabot has never started an NHL game, but why not start Chabot? The game was against the Bruins, who aren't exactly the class of the league, and if you send the message to Chabot that he can't start against them, what happens if he is forced to start against a team like the Red Wings or Avs? This game saw the return of Jozef Stumpel to Boston for the first time since the trade. He scored his first goal of the season and seemed all happy about it, but somehow it didn't seem as big of a deal considering that Dafoe was the winning goaltender for the Bruins and that Dmitri Khristich also scored a goal. The third game of the season was a mixture of good and bad. The good: the Kings were in the position to win a tight game against one of the better teams in the league, and the very good play of Craig Johnson, who could have easily broken open the game in the Kings favor except for some bad luck and good plays by Rangers. The bad? The fact that they gave up the game-tying goal in the last nine seconds of the game. That the Kings went into a passive mode of play, where they allowed the Rangers to control the tempo and style of play. And that there were entirely too many players in the game who have played for both teams, which made for some very confusing times when I listened to the play-by-play. But a point is a point, especially a point made while on the road. ----------------------------------------------------------------- SAN JOSE SHARKS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Darryl Sutter roster: C - Tony Granato, Bernie Nicholls, Ron Sutter, Dody Wood, Patrick Marleau, Marco Sturm, Victor Kozlov. LW - Shawn Burr, Murray Craven, Jeff Friesen, Stephane Matteau, Andrei Nazarov. RW - Owen Nolan, Shean Donovan, Todd Ewen, Alex Korolyuk. D - Doug Bodger, Todd Gill, Bill Houlder, Al Iafrate, Marty McSorley, Marcus Ragnarsson, Mike Rathje, Andrei Zyuzin. G - Mike Vernon, Kelly Hrudey. injuries: Al Iafrate, d (back, indefinte). transactions: None. Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 2 1 1 0 2 6 7 1-1-0 0-0-0 game results: 10/1 Edmonton L 5-3 10/4 Chicago W 3-2 team news: Al Swanson, San Jose Correspondent Two outta three ain't good... Anyone who's followed the Sharks for the past three years is painfully aware of the fact that two of the past three have ended up with the Sharks at the bottom of the heap. In point of fact, the flesh-eating Fish have never had a winning season. But that fact can almost be overlooked when a team makes it to the playoffs. Something our smelly friends had better really strive for this year because the fans are restless. Toward the end of last year the Sharks had the longest sell-out record ended when fans had seen too much heartache. Bungled plays, bad penalties, horrible defense, awful goaltending. And for the first time in six years, the fans booed the home team. So what has George Gund (owner), Dean Lombardi (GM) and Darryl Sutter (new head coach) done this summer to repair the damage caused by the last two years? Let's take a quick look: "What I did on my summer vacation", by Dean Lombardi After the end of last year's festivities(?!), Deano -- as he is affectionately known to 'Los Tiburones' fans -- decided to do something he'd never done during the summer break before: Build a winning hockey team. Did he accomplish the monumental task of rebuilding a franchise that for two years has floundered like minnows? Of course, only the full season will tell, but here's what did happen... First, Eddie 'the chicken' Belfour flew the coup for less money than our own Goldfish were offering. Do we blame him? No. Let's face it, for two years it's looked like the Gunds' wanted more to earn dollars than wins. Do we hate him? Emphatically YES! I mean, come on! When Belfour wanted outta Chi-town, the Sharks were there. The Hammerheads even traded a decent player or two (Ulf Dahlen and Michal Sykora, along with goalie Chris Terreri) for the low-flying buzzard. But it's ancient history now. At least until Dallas plays in the Arena. Then the Eagle had better watch out or he'll be seeing more Stars than he counted on. Then it seemed like the Deanster just passed over every decent goalie available. OK, there were no superstars (Moog?) and he knew the waiver draft was coming. In addition, next year several top names in net will become available. Fish fans would have not been all that happy with that line of thinking, though... But in the works all along was a deal to acquire last year's playoff MVP: 34-year-old Red Wing Mike Vernon. True, with Vernon and Hrudey in net, the Great Whites have the oldest tandem in the NHL. However, some of the other trades the Deanmeister made may make up for that. Defense in the past two years was laughable if you weren't a Sharks fan, a damn shame if you were. With Al "The Planet" Iafrate in the lineup, the Sharks denfense could play .500 hockey. Without him -- as they were most of the season -- they were simply cannon fodder for whatever team was on the ice against them. The Sharks managed to come in with the highest goals-against record in the NHL. (No wonder, since they spent more time defending the power play than any other team.) Lombardi and Sutter have again bet on Iafrate to come through this year. It's not starting out as well as they might have hoped because Big Al is still rehabilitating his back after last year's surgery. In addition, Lombardi has added Bill Houlder (from Tampa Bay) and much-anticipated newcomer Andrei Zyuzin to the blue line to help bolster the lackluster defense. Also, Mike Rathje (amazingly) looked sharp in the opener against Edmonton. In fact, his rippin' shot from the blue line had shades of Iafrate written all over it. One of the gaping holes from last season was left wing. Deano decided to fill that to the brim, bringing in Stephane Matteau, Shawn Burr and Murray Craven. With speedy Jeff Freisen (albeit not under contract right now) and Andrei "The Russian Bear" Nazarov in place, these three make a nice -- if not spectacular -- addition to the left side of the ice. Jeff should be entering a point in his career where words like 'potential' should be restated in terms like 'talent'. He thinks so, too, and that's probably why his contract negotiations are going so slow. Andrei -- if he can stay outta the Sin Bin -- is a force to be reckoned with. Center is also full of 'potential' this year. The second pick overall in this year's draft yielded Patrick Marleau -- one very bright spot in the Sharks future and already under contract at age 18. Marco Sturm is another youngster the Sharks have been grooming in Germany. Hard work during the preseason earned him a place at center -- at least for now. But -- in this writer's humble opinion -- the star at center has to be Viktor Kozlov. He's been maturing in the ranks for four years, often showing flashes of brilliance. Too often, those flashes have been between long periods of mediocrity. During the preseason and in the first game against Edmonton, however, he looked like a changed man -- and changed for the better. Two goals and a willingness to finish made him look tough even to the Edmonton press. Center is more than rounded out with Bernie Nicholls, Dody Wood and Ron Sutter. Right wing has the explosive Owen Nolan. Last year he was called "our superstar" by then-coach Al Sims. And a superstar he would be, too, if he could show up to play every night. Everyone -- including Owen -- knows he can do it, but knowing and doing are worlds and goals apart. It's fair to say that along with Vernon and Iafrate, this guy has to play every game for the Sharks to be contenders for anything but last place. Opening Night Jitters... October 1, 1997. A night Sharks fans had been looking forward to for six long months. Or so we thought. After taking a back seat to Edmonton early on, Viktor Kozlov had a bang-up night, scoring two goals. But that was the single bragging point. From the two five-on-three's to the three power-play goals to the horrible number of penalties, it looked a lot like the past two years. Marleau looked good in his NHL regular season debut, but with the Sharks as support, what can you expect? Scratches included Zyuzin, Strum, Korolyuk and Iafrate. Friesen sat at home watching while contract negotiations drag on. This new trend of high pay and contract holdouts threatens a sport just coming into its own. Blackhawks at San Jose: For the second game, Coach Sutter decided to bring in most of the rookie class. Andrei Zyuzin was the sole freshmen scratch, leaving Strum, Marleau and Korolyuk to face Amonte and Co. Amonte scored early, putting the Sharks in the all-too familiar position of second-place. Korolyuk scored his first NHL goal in the first period. But it was Marco Sturm's goal in the second period that was the highlight of the game. Coming on the ice after a rather bunk penalty, Sturm headed right into Chicago's zone. With a kick pass from McSorley, Sturm made one of the nicest plays to come from a Shark in a long time. He drew Hackett out till he over-committed, then shot over the head of the sprawling goalie. The play also took Hackett out of the game and sent in former Shark Chris Terreri. San Jose went on to win 3 - 2. ----------------------------------------------------------------- VANCOUVER CANUCKS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Tom Renney Roster: C - Mark Messier, Trevor Linden, Mike Sillinger, Dave Scatchard; LW - Martin Gelinas, Markus Naslund, Gino Odjick, Donald Brashear, David Roberts; RW - Pavel Bure, Brian Noonan, Lonny Bohonos, Scott Walker D - Jyrki Lumme, Dana Murzyn, Matthias Ohlund, Grant Ledyard, Dave Babych, Steve Staios, Mark Wotton; Chad Allan G - Kirk McLean, Corey Hirsch, Arturs Irbe. Injuries: Adrian Aucoin, d (ankle sprain Sept. 20; 2-4 more weeks). Transactions: none. Free Agent Holdouts: Alexander Mogilny, rw; Bret Hedican, d. Standings: GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD 2 1 1 0 2 5 5 1-0-0 0-1-0 Game Results: 10/3 Anaheim W 3-2 at Tokyo 10/4 at Anaheim L 3-2 at Tokyo TEAM NEWS by Carol Schram No one can say that the Vancouver Canucks haven't tried just about everything to distance themselves from last year's sub-.500, no-playoffs campaign. The Canucks are beginning 1997-98 with a new captain, a new defensive pair on the blue line, a new goalie, new uniforms, and even a new address for their home opener - Yoyogi Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The Canucks usually don't have too much trouble keeping fan attention in hockey- mad Vancouver during the off-season, but this summer has probably packed in more action than ever before. The Orca Bay P.R. people have done everything in their power to try to create a strong, positive image of commitment and dedication around this year's Canucks, but their efforts haven't been without certain complications. First, the new uniform design was leaked a couple of weeks before the official unveiling. This gave everyone enough time to make their Free Willy jokes before the big party, when the new attitude was officially launched. Next, Pat Quinn stunned everyone when it started to look like the rumors were true that he was pursuing disgruntled unrestricted free agent Mark Messier. After 10 days of covert operations that the CIA would be proud of, it was time for another press conference at the end of July, this time to unveil Vancouver's new prize center -- one of the greatest players and greatest leaders in NHL history. As coach Tom Renney put it, the new uniform suddenly looked pretty good when Mark Messier was wearing it! Then, Toronto Maple Leaf interim GM Bill Watters decided to see if the Canucks had overspent their budget with the Messier signing. He front-loaded a five- year deal and offered it to Swedish defense prospect Matthias Ohlund, Vancouver's 1994 first-rounder who was now considered a Group IV defected free agent. The Canucks could either match the offer or surrender Ohlund with no compensation. Pat Quinn made us wait for the entire seven-day period before announcing that he was matching, but he wasn't too pleased about it. Bottom line, though: Ohlund is already performing like one of Vancouver's best defenseman, and may turn out to be well worth $2 million this season, and possibly be underpaid by the end of his long-term contract. After that, Quinn confused all his observers by signing free-agent goaltender Arturs Irbe from Dallas. Sure, Vancouver's netminding left a lot to be desired last season, but their team defense was nothing to write home about, either. Kirk McLean has remained a sentimental favorite among most Vancouver fans, and Corey Hirsch was still considered a legitimate number one prospect. So what were they going to do with Irbe? That question got louder during preseason, particularly in one home game when the Canucks blew a 5-1 lead over the Edmonton Oilers with four quick, bad goals on Irbe, eventually losing 6-5. Hirsch was the backup that game, and was looking visibly more and more relaxed each time Irbe waffled a puck or let one slip by him. Nevertheless, at the end of that week, it was Irbe on Vancouver's waiver draft protected list, and Hirsch that had been thrown to the wolves (no matter that Nathan Lafayette, who the Canucks traded for Hirsch at the 1995 deadline, was also up from grabs). To the surprise of many, Hirsch went unclaimed in the September 28 draft, as did utility forward David Roberts. So, for now, the Canucks are carrying three goalies, but they have solidly thrown their support behind Kirk McLean, who likes a lot of work and who looked steady in both of his early outings. Irbe is dressing as McLean's backup, and Hirsch is waiting in limbo until either one goaltender gets injured or his roster spot is required for someone else, like an Alex Mogilny or a Bret Hedican. This year, the Canucks would barely qualify as a NHL team if they didn't have a Group II free agent holdout or two. Bret Hedican loves Vancouver and desperately wants to stay, but at age 27, he still hasn't managed to parlay his great speed into solid, consistent overall defensive play. At last report, the Canucks offered Hedican a two-year deal at $850,000 and $950,000 US, and Hedican's agent countered with one-year at $950,000. The sides aren't too far apart, so look for a deal to be done soon. Meanwhile, down in Malibu, California, the Canucks recently sent Alex Mogilny an offer that they termed "reasonable -- on the generous side of reasonable". They have yet to receive a response directly, and Hockey Night in Canada's Greg Millen quoted Mogilny's agent Mike Barnett as saying, for the first time, that his client may now be seeking a trade. Mogilny's talent would add yet another dimension to an outstanding offensive core, but it is starting to look like the Alex situation is a long way from being done. Of course, no one can talk about Alex Mogilny without bringing up Pavel Bure in the same breath. The Russian Rocket made headlines of his own just before training camp opened, when word leaked out of a one-on-one meeting between Bure and Pat Quinn. Rumor had it that, after two injury-filled, sub-par seasons, Bure had asked for a trade and Quinn was considering accommodating him. But then... * Bure disassociated himself with the source of the rumors, Serge Levin -- a Russian assistant of his agent, Ron Salcer. * Bure fired Salcer and replaced him with NHL Players' Association champion Mike Gillis. * Rumors flew that Bure had fired his personal trainer, his father Vladimir. When questioned, Vlad did imply that he had a falling out with his son and that his services were no longer required (although he is employed by the Canucks, not by Pavel directly). Pavel, who has taken to answering every media question with riddles, said "I did not fire my father. Maybe he fired himself". Then the media started speculating that Bure wasn't going to show up at training camp as he held out for a trade. But he was there with bells on at Whistler -- skating on a line with Mark Messier and Markus Naslund, sitting in a locker stall next to Messier, and generally soaking up the advice and good spirits that Messier has to offer. Agent Mike Gillis was also at Whistler meeting with Quinn, which looked like a good sign. The best sight by far, however, was looking at Bure on the ice. The fire was back in the Russian Rocket's jets, and he was playing with a spirit he seemed to have abandoned for most of the past two seasons. Bure continued to play well throughout the preseason, didn't hurt himself in the final exhibition game for the first time in awhile, and after toying with the press about whether or not he was going to accompany his team to Japan, Bure not only made the trip but was arguably Vancouver's best player. He is showing his trademark fearlessness again as he revs up his amazing speed and blasts straight to the front of the net. Plus, he already has two goals in his first two games to show for his efforts -- an amazing start for a guy who, even in his 60-goal years, was notoriously slow out of the starting gates. Bure has also left behind his number 96 and gone back to his old number 10, thinking maybe the change can help him to regain his form of three-plus seasons ago. So far so good... So, Bure was awesome. What else happened in Japan? Well, the great overall success of the mission was countered somewhat by the very poor ice conditions at the Yoyogi Arena -- actually an Olympic swimming pool which had been converted for this occasion. Bouncing pucks and falling players were the norm, and the ice got so thin towards the end of the second game that Tomas Sandstrom's skate actually ruptured a pipe under the surface and there was some danger that, with three minutes to go and the Ducks up by a goal, the two teams might not be able to finish what they had started. The ice was repaired enough to finish the game, but the score remained the same, so the Canucks head back to North America with a split. Scott Walker scored the first-ever NHL regular-season goal outside of North America, and his puck is headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame. For a guy who lives, eats, and breathes hockey and has only scored nine goals in his entire NHL career, the moment is likely one that he'll remember for the rest of his life. Along with Bure's two goals, the other Canuck scorers in the first two games were Messier and Trevor Linden. These two made more headlines from Tokyo when Trevor Linden announced that he had decided to hand over his captain's "C" to Messier. Much had been made of the captaincy issue ever since Messier arrived in Vancouver. While Linden has been a long-suffering, dependable captain with many good qualities, there is no denying that Messier is one of the great leaders in all of team sports, and his character has made a palpable difference to the Canucks right from the first press conference, when he said he had come here to try to win a Stanley Cup. Messier's personality and experience carry weight with his teammates, and they carry weight on the ice, with opponents and officials. If Linden had not offered the "C", it would have become an issue the moment the team started to struggle, or anytime Messier showed more leadership characteristics than Linden did. Furthermore, with Linden a player who has never quite lived up to the offensive potential he showed in his early years, perhaps this move will free him up to concentrate more on his game. Linden is now wearing Dana Murzyn's "A", which was offered to him by the defenseman. Bure continues to wear the other "A". There was a scary moment in the first game of the Tokyo series, when it looked like the Canucks' $20 million investment in Messier may have been for naught. Toward the end of the second period, with the score 3-1 Vancouver, Messier went down in a heap in the offensive zone, and the man with no pain threshold was writhing on the ice clutching his leg. Early fears were that another knee injury had struck the Canucks, and Messier grudgingly allowed himself to be assisted off the ice in obvious agony. By the end of the game, the report came in that the injury was a charley horse -- a deep blow to the thigh area, inflicted by the knee of the Ducks' Mark Janssens. Messier was officially deemed "iffy" for Game Two, and after less than two periods in a Vancouver uniform, there was doubt about how the Canucks were going to get by without him. They sagged noticeably after he went down, quickly allowing the Ducks a goal to make it a 3-2 game, then holding on through an offensive onslaught in the third period to preserve their victory. While Messier likely wasn't 100% the following night, he managed to convince team doctors that he was well enough to take the pre-game warm-up, then talked them into letting him play. He still kept up with Bure in a number of offensive rushes during the game, and even managed to get himself hauled down as he split the defense with just over a minute to go in the game and his team down a goal, leading to a frantic game-ending power play that Vancouver couldn't quite convert. It's not the first time that Messier has played hurt, but it may be the first time that the second game of the season has seemed so important to him and his team. It is imperative that the Canucks get off to a good start, and while a split isn't the ideal result from Tokyo, there are many signs pointing to a much better year for the talent-laden Vancouver Canucks this season. Their week-long "field trip" to Asia may be just what they needed to help heal some of the bad feelings that lingered after last season, and it appears that the players are growing closer and developing the type of unity that is needed to succeed in team sports. While Messier's addition easily overshadows the other changes in the Canucks' opening-day roster, a few other notable changes have also been made. Late- season acquisition Sergei Nemchinov turned down the Canucks' richer offer to return to the Big Apple and play on Long Island. Center Mike Ridley was willing to come back for another year, but the team passed on him after two years of mysterious recurring back and leg troubles that were likely a draining influence in the dressing room. Tough guy Troy Crowder wasn't issued a qualifying offer, as he became a spare part after last season's acquisition of Donald Brashear. On the blue line, Leif Rohlin chose not to accept the Canucks' qualifying offer and went back to play in Europe, and Chris Joseph signed on with Philadelphia. In addition to veterans Messier and Irbe, Grant Ledyard brings 16 years of NHL defensive experience after signing as a free agent from Dallas this summer, and he has been paired with the impressive rookie Matthias Ohlund. Rookie Chad Allan is also still on the defensive roster while Adrian Aucoin sits out with a sprained ankle. Mark Wotton has also stayed with the big club after filling in on an injury-ridden defense last season, and 6'7" Goliath Chris McAllister may still get a shot once he recovers from a preseason knee injury. At forward, big rookie Dave Scatchard saw his first-ever NHL action in Japan as a fourth-line center, and there is still some buzz surrounding nifty little Slovak Lubomir Vaic, who impressed in camp but is starting the season, at least, on the farm in Syracuse. The Canucks have already made many adjustments, but expect more roster adjustments once the Mogilny and Hedican situations are resolved. It may only be game two, but here in Vancouver, it has already been quite a ride! ================================================================ ================================================================ Next Issue: October 21, 1997 ================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NHL STANDINGS Thru October 6, 1997 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- EASTERN CONFERENCE NORTHEAST DIVISION GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD MONTREAL 2 1 0 1 3 6 3 0-0-1 1-0-0 BUFFALO 3 1 1 1 3 6 8 0-0-0 1-1-1 OTTAWA 3 1 1 1 3 8 9 1-0-0 0-1-1 PITTSBURGH 3 1 1 1 3 10 11 0-1-1 1-0-0 BOSTON 2 1 1 0 2 7 9 1-1-0 0-0-0 CAROLINA 3 0 3 0 0 7 11 0-1-0 0-2-0 ATLANTIC DIVISION GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD WASHINGTON 3 3 0 0 6 14 4 2-0-0 1-0-0 PHILADELPHIA 3 2 1 0 4 9 6 2-1-0 0-0-0 NY ISLANDERS 2 1 0 1 3 5 2 1-0-0 0-0-1 TAMPA BAY 3 1 1 1 3 8 7 1-1-1 0-0-0 FLORIDA 2 1 1 0 2 6 6 0-0-0 1-1-0 NEW JERSEY 2 1 1 0 2 5 7 0-0-0 1-1-0 NY RANGERS 2 0 0 2 2 4 4 0-0-2 0-0-0 WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD DETROIT 2 2 0 0 4 11 3 0-0-0 2-0-0 PHOENIX 3 2 1 0 4 10 10 1-0-0 1-1-0 ST LOUIS 3 2 1 0 4 10 6 1-1-0 1-0-0 DALLAS 2 0 1 1 1 3 4 0-1-0 0-0-1 CHICAGO 2 0 2 0 0 4 9 0-0-0 0-2-0 TORONTO 2 0 2 0 0 1 7 0-1-0 0-1-0 PACIFIC DIVISION GP W L T PTS GF GA HOME ROAD COLORADO 3 2 0 1 5 9 3 0-0-1 2-0-0 ANAHEIM 2 1 1 0 2 5 5 1-0-0 0-1-0 SAN JOSE 2 1 1 0 2 6 7 1-1-0 0-0-0 VANCOUVER 2 1 1 0 2 5 5 1-0-0 0-1-0 EDMONTON 3 1 2 0 2 7 14 0-2-0 1-0-0 LOS ANGELES 3 0 1 2 2 10 11 0-0-0 0-1-2 CALGARY 2 0 2 0 0 2 7 0-2-0 0-0-0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NHL LEAGUE LEADERS Thru October 6, 1997 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- INDIVIDUAL SCORING LEADERS --- PLAYER TEAM GP G A PTS +/- PIM PP SH GW GT S PCTG ------------------------- ---- -- --- --- --- --- --- -- -- -- -- --- ---- NELSON EMERSON CAR 3 3 2 5 0 0 2 0 0 0 10 30.0 DINO CICCARELLI TAM 3 2 3 5 0 2 1 0 1 0 16 12.5 PETER FORSBERG COL 3 2 3 5 2 8 0 0 1 0 13 15.4 BRENDAN SHANAHAN DET 2 2 3 5 2 4 2 0 1 0 8 25.0 STEVE DUCHESNE STL 3 1 4 5 1 6 1 0 0 0 6 16.7 NICKLAS LIDSTROM DET 2 1 4 5 2 2 0 0 0 0 4 25.0 MARK RECCHI MON 2 3 1 4 1 0 1 0 1 0 8 37.5 PETER BONDRA WAS 2 2 2 4 2 2 0 0 1 0 10 20.0 RADEK BONK OTT 3 2 2 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 5 40.0 MARTIN LAPOINTE DET 2 2 2 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 6 33.3 DOUG WEIGHT EDM 3 2 2 4 1- 0 2 0 0 0 12 16.7 JAROMIR JAGR PIT 3 1 3 4 1- 4 1 0 0 0 13 7.7 CRAIG JANNEY PHO 3 1 3 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 33.3 JOHN LECLAIR PHI 3 1 3 4 2 2 0 0 0 0 15 6.7 JEREMY ROENICK PHO 3 1 3 4 4 2 0 0 0 0 6 16.7 JOZEF STUMPEL LOS 3 1 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 50.0 SAKU KOIVU MON 2 0 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0.0 PIERRE TURGEON STL 3 0 4 4 1- 2 0 0 0 0 5 0.0 JASON ARNOTT EDM 3 3 0 3 0 8 1 0 0 0 9 33.3 DAVE GAGNER FLA 2 3 0 3 2 2 0 1 0 0 4 75.0 AL MACINNIS STL 3 3 0 3 1- 2 3 0 0 0 10 30.0 RICHARD ZEDNIK WAS 3 3 0 3 3 0 1 0 0 0 11 27.3 JASON DAWE BUF 3 2 1 3 3 0 0 0 0 1 8 25.0 ROB DIMAIO BOS 2 2 1 3 2- 0 0 0 1 0 6 33.3 DALLAS DRAKE PHO 3 2 1 3 2 7 0 0 2 0 5 40.0 GARRY GALLEY LOS 3 2 1 3 0 4 2 0 0 0 9 22.2 KEVIN HATCHER PIT 3 2 1 3 4- 0 2 0 0 1 5 40.0 BRETT HULL STL 3 2 1 3 1- 0 1 0 0 0 18 11.1 CLAUDE LEMIEUX COL 3 2 1 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 11 18.2 ERIC LINDROS PHI 3 2 1 3 2 6 0 0 0 0 8 25.0 TEPPO NUMMINEN PHO 3 2 1 3 3 4 0 0 0 0 5 40.0 SERGEI ZHOLTOK OTT 3 2 1 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 5 40.0 CALLE JOHANSSON WAS 3 1 2 3 2 0 1 0 0 0 9 11.1 CRAIG JOHNSON LOS 3 1 2 3 2 2 0 0 0 0 5 20.0 CHRIS GRATTON PHI 3 1 2 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 4 25.0 JOE JUNEAU WAS 3 1 2 3 2 2 0 0 0 0 3 33.3 STEVE KONOWALCHUK WAS 3 1 2 3 3 2 0 0 0 0 3 33.3 IGOR KRAVCHUK OTT 3 1 2 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 7 14.3 DONALD MACLEAN LOS 3 1 2 3 2 2 1 0 0 0 3 33.3 LARRY MURPHY DET 2 1 2 3 4 2 1 0 1 0 5 20.0 TOMAS SANDSTROM ANA 2 1 2 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 9 11.1 TEEMU SELANNE ANA 2 1 2 3 0 4 0 0 0 0 9 11.1 BRAD SMYTH LOS 3 1 2 3 1 4 0 0 0 0 4 25.0 ROB ZAMUNER TAM 3 1 2 3 1 2 0 1 0 0 6 16.7 DAINIUS ZUBRUS PHI 3 1 2 3 2 4 1 0 1 0 7 14.3 JAN BULIS WAS 3 0 3 3 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 RANDY CUNNEYWORTH OTT 3 0 3 3 1 6 0 0 0 0 6 0.0 IGOR LARIONOV DET 2 0 3 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.0 ADAM OATES WAS 3 0 3 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 0.0 FREDRIK OLAUSSON PIT 3 0 3 3 2- 2 0 0 0 0 7 0.0 MICHAL PIVONKA WAS 3 0 3 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 0.0 SHAYNE CORSON MON 2 0 3 3 0 4 0 0 0 0 1 0.0 STEPHANE YELLE COL 3 0 3 3 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JASON YORK OTT 3 0 3 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 0.0 --- DEFENSEMEN SCORING LEADERS --- PLAYER TEAM GP G A PTS +/- PIM PP SH GW GT S PCTG ------------------ -------- -- --- --- --- --- --- -- -- -- -- --- ---- STEVE DUCHESNE STL 3 1 4 5 2 6 1 0 0 0 5 20.0 NICKLAS LIDSTROM DET 2 1 3 4 3 2 0 0 0 0 4 25.0 AL MACINNIS STL 3 3 0 3 0 2 2 0 0 0 11 27.3 GARRY GALLEY LOS 3 2 1 3 0 4 2 0 0 0 9 22.2 KEVIN HATCHER PIT 3 2 1 3 4- 0 2 0 0 1 5 40.0 TEPPO NUMMINEN PHO 3 2 1 3 3 4 0 0 0 0 5 40.0 LARRY MURPHY DET 2 1 2 3 4 2 1 0 1 0 5 20.0 CALLE JOHANSSON WAS 3 1 2 3 3 0 1 0 0 0 9 11.1 IGOR KRAVCHUK OTT 3 1 2 3 1- 0 0 1 0 1 7 14.3 FREDRIK OLAUSSON PIT 3 0 3 3 2- 2 0 0 0 0 7 .0 J.J. DAIGNEAULT ANA 2 1 1 2 1 4 0 0 1 0 6 16.7 MARTY MCSORLEY SJS 2 1 1 2 1 10 0 0 0 0 5 20.0 VLADIMIR MALAKHOV MON 2 1 1 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 5 20.0 BRYAN BERARD NYI 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 9 11.1 PHIL HOUSLEY WAS 3 1 1 2 3 2 0 1 0 0 9 11.1 UWE KRUPP COL 3 1 1 2 4 6 1 0 0 0 6 16.7 JANNE LAUKKANEN OTT 3 1 1 2 1 2 1 0 1 0 5 20.0 DOUG BODGER SJS 2 0 2 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 .0 BRUCE DRIVER NYR 2 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 .0 GRANT LEDYARD VAN 2 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 .0 GORD MURPHY FLO 2 0 2 2 2 4 0 0 0 0 4 .0 DON SWEENEY BOS 2 0 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 PAUL LAUS FLO 2 0 2 2 0 4 0 0 0 0 2 .0 KENNY JONSSON NYI 2 0 2 2 2 4 0 0 0 0 2 .0 AKI BERG LOS 2 0 2 2 1 4 0 0 0 0 2 .0 CHRIS THERIEN PHI 3 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 .0 --- INDIVIDUAL LEADERS --- -- GOAL SCORING -- -- ASSISTS -- NAME TEAM GP G NAME TEAM GP A ------------------------- ---- -- --- ------------------------- ---- -- --- DAVE GAGNER FLA 2 3 SAKU KOIVU MON 2 4 MARK RECCHI MON 2 3 NICKLAS LIDSTROM DET 2 4 JASON ARNOTT EDM 3 3 STEVE DUCHESNE STL 3 4 NELSON EMERSON CAR 3 3 PIERRE TURGEON STL 3 4 AL MACINNIS STL 3 3 IGOR LARIONOV DET 2 3 RICHARD ZEDNIK WAS 3 3 SHAYNE CORSON MON 2 3 PETER BONDRA WAS 2 2 BRENDAN SHANAHAN DET 2 3 DOUG BROWN DET 2 2 JAN BULIS WAS 3 3 PAVEL BURE VAN 2 2 DINO CICCARELLI TAM 3 3 ROB DIMAIO BOS 2 2 RANDY CUNNEYWORTH OTT 3 3 VIKTOR KOZLOV SAN 2 2 PETER FORSBERG COL 3 3 CLAUDE LAPOINTE NYI 2 2 JAROMIR JAGR PIT 3 3 MARTIN LAPOINTE DET 2 2 CRAIG JANNEY PHO 3 3 RANDY MCKAY NJD 2 2 JOHN LECLAIR PHI 3 3 STEPHANE RICHER MON 2 2 ADAM OATES WAS 3 3 BRENDAN SHANAHAN DET 2 2 FREDRIK OLAUSSON PIT 3 3 RADEK BONK OTT 3 2 MICHAL PIVONKA WAS 3 3 DINO CICCARELLI TAM 3 2 JEREMY ROENICK PHO 3 3 ALEXANDRE DAIGLE OTT 3 2 JOZEF STUMPEL LOS 3 3 JASON DAWE BUF 3 2 STEPHANE YELLE COL 3 3 DALLAS DRAKE PHO 3 2 JASON YORK OTT 3 3 PAT FALLOON PHI 3 2 PETER FORSBERG COL 3 2 GARRY GALLEY LOS 3 2 KEVIN HATCHER PIT 3 2 BRETT HULL STL 3 2 CLAUDE LEMIEUX COL 3 2 ERIC LINDROS PHI 3 2 TEPPO NUMMINEN PHO 3 2 MIKAEL RENBERG TAM 3 2 LUC ROBITAILLE LOS 3 2 DOUG WEIGHT EDM 3 2 JASON WIEMER TAM 3 2 TYLER WRIGHT PIT 3 2 SERGEI ZHOLTOK OTT 3 2 -- POWER PLAY GOALS -- -- SHORT HANDED GOALS -- NAME TEAM GP PP NAME TEAM GP SH ------------------------- ---- -- --- ------------------------- ---- -- --- AL MACINNIS STL 3 3 DAVE GAGNER FLA 2 1 BRENDAN SHANAHAN DET 2 2 JODY HULL FLA 2 1 NELSON EMERSON CAR 3 2 BOB CORKUM PHO 3 1 GARRY GALLEY LOS 3 2 PHIL HOUSLEY WAS 3 1 KEVIN HATCHER PIT 3 2 IGOR KRAVCHUK OTT 3 1 DOUG WEIGHT EDM 3 2 ROB ZAMUNER TAM 3 1 ALEX KOROLYUK SAN 1 1 BRYAN BERARD NYI 2 1 DOUG BROWN DET 2 1 ADAM GRAVES NYR 2 1 STEVE HEINZE BOS 2 1 IGOR KOROLEV TOR 2 1 VIKTOR KOZLOV SAN 2 1 VYACHESLAV KOZLOV DET 2 1 PAT LAFONTAINE NYR 2 1 VLADIMIR MALAKHOV MON 2 1 MARK MESSIER VAN 2 1 MIKE MODANO DAL 2 1 ETHAN MOREAU CHI 2 1 LARRY MURPHY DET 2 1 JOE NIEUWENDYK DAL 2 1 BOB PROBERT CHI 2 1 MARK RECCHI MON 2 1 STEPHANE RICHER MON 2 1 TOMAS SANDSTROM ANA 2 1 TREVOR LINDEN VAN 2 1 STEVE THOMAS NJD 2 1 SCOTT YOUNG ANA 2 1 JASON ARNOTT EDM 3 1 RADEK BONK OTT 3 1 CALLE JOHANSSON WAS 3 1 DINO CICCARELLI TAM 3 1 ALEXANDRE DAIGLE OTT 3 1 STEVE DUCHESNE STL 3 1 PAT FALLOON PHI 3 1 BRETT HULL STL 3 1 JAROMIR JAGR PIT 3 1 VALERI KAMENSKY COL 3 1 UWE KRUPP COL 3 1 JANNE LAUKKANEN OTT 3 1 CLAUDE LEMIEUX COL 3 1 DONALD MACLEAN LOS 3 1 KEITH PRIMEAU CAR 3 1 MIKAEL RENBERG TAM 3 1 LUC ROBITAILLE LOS 3 1 GEOFF SANDERSON CAR 3 1 JAROSLAV SVEJKOVSKY WAS 3 1 TYLER WRIGHT PIT 3 1 RICHARD ZEDNIK WAS 3 1 SERGEI ZHOLTOK OTT 3 1 DAINIUS ZUBRUS PHI 3 1 -- GAME WINNING GOALS -- -- OVERTIME GOALS -- NAME TEAM GP GW NAME TEAM GP GOT ------------------------- ---- -- --- ------------------------- ---- -- --- DALLAS DRAKE PHO 3 2 0 0 MARCO STURM SAN 1 1 BILL LINDSAY FLA 2 1 PETER BONDRA WAS 2 1 PAVEL BURE VAN 2 1 J.J. DAIGNEAULT ANA 2 1 ROB DIMAIO BOS 2 1 JOHN MACLEAN NJD 2 1 LARRY MURPHY DET 2 1 SERGEI NEMCHINOV NYI 2 1 MARK RECCHI MON 2 1 BRENDAN SHANAHAN DET 2 1 DRAKE BEREHOWSKY EDM 3 1 JIM CAMPBELL STL 3 1 KELLY CHASE STL 3 1 DINO CICCARELLI TAM 3 1 ADAM DEADMARSH COL 3 1 PETER FORSBERG COL 3 1 RON FRANCIS PIT 3 1 DALE HUNTER WAS 3 1 TRENT KLATT PHI 3 1 JANNE LAUKKANEN OTT 3 1 JOE REEKIE WAS 3 1 MIROSLAV SATAN BUF 3 1 DAINIUS ZUBRUS PHI 3 1 -- GAME TYING GOALS -- NAME TEAM GP GT ------------------------- ---- -- --- PAT LAFONTAINE NYR 2 1 KEVIN STEVENS NYR 2 1 JASON DAWE BUF 3 1 KEVIN HATCHER PIT 3 1 JON KLEMM COL 3 1 IGOR KRAVCHUK OTT 3 1 -- SHOTS -- -- FIRST GOALS -- NAME TEAM GP S NAME TEAM GP FG ------------------------- ---- -- --- ------------------------- ---- -- --- BRETT HULL STL 3 18 PETER FORSBERG COL 3 2 DINO CICCARELLI TAM 3 16 TONY AMONTE CHI 2 1 JOHN LECLAIR PHI 3 15 BRYAN BERARD NYI 2 1 PAVEL BURE VAN 2 14 DOUG BROWN DET 2 1 ROB BLAKE LOS 3 13 CHRIS FERRARO PIT 2 1 PETER FORSBERG COL 3 13 KRIS DRAPER DET 2 1 JAROMIR JAGR PIT 3 13 STEVE HEINZE BOS 2 1 WENDEL CLARK TOR 2 12 VLADIMIR MALAKHOV MON 2 1 WAYNE GRETZKY NYR 2 12 RANDY MCKAY NJD 2 1 JAROSLAV SVEJKOVSKY WAS 3 12 MIKE MODANO DAL 2 1 DOUG WEIGHT EDM 3 12 SERGEI NEMCHINOV NYI 2 1 JOE NIEUWENDYK DAL 2 1 BOB PROBERT CHI 2 1 STEPHANE RICHER MON 2 1 TEEMU SELANNE ANA 2 1 NIKLAS SUNDSTROM NYR 2 1 SCOTT WALKER VAN 2 1 DINO CICCARELLI TAM 3 1 JASON DAWE BUF 3 1 PAT FALLOON PHI 3 1 CHRIS GRATTON PHI 3 1 KEVIN HATCHER PIT 3 1 BRETT HULL STL 3 1 STEVE KONOWALCHUK WAS 3 1 DEAN MCAMMOND EDM 3 1 ROD BRIND'AMOUR PHI 3 1 ERIK RASMUSSEN BUF 3 1 GEOFF SANDERSON CAR 3 1 ALEXANDER SELIVANOV TAM 3 1 JAROSLAV SVEJKOVSKY WAS 3 1 TYLER WRIGHT PIT 3 1 -- SHOOTING PERCENTAGE (MIN 2 SHOTS) -- NAME TEAM GP G S PCTG ------------------------- ---- -- --- --- ---- DAVE GAGNER FLA 2 3 4 75.0 CLAUDE LAPOINTE NYI 2 2 3 66.7 RANDY MCKAY NJD 2 2 3 66.7 DOUG BROWN DET 2 2 4 50.0 STEPHANE RICHER MON 2 2 4 50.0 SHAWN ANTOSKI ANA 2 1 2 50.0 MARC BERGEVIN STL 3 1 2 50.0 CRAIG BERUBE WAS 3 1 2 50.0 CHRIS DINGMAN CGY 2 1 2 50.0 VIACHESLAV FETISOV DET 2 1 2 50.0 JODY HULL FLA 2 1 2 50.0 DIMITRI KHRISTICH BOS 2 1 2 50.0 NORM MACIVER PHO 3 1 2 50.0 JIM MCKENZIE PHO 3 1 2 50.0 SERGEI NEMCHINOV NYI 2 1 2 50.0 JOZEF STUMPEL LOS 3 1 2 50.0 MARCO STURM SAN 1 1 2 50.0 NIKLAS SUNDSTROM NYR 2 1 2 50.0 TIM TAYLOR BOS 2 1 2 50.0 MARK TINORDI WAS 3 1 2 50.0 RADEK BONK OTT 3 2 5 40.0 DALLAS DRAKE PHO 3 2 5 40.0 KEVIN HATCHER PIT 3 2 5 40.0 TEPPO NUMMINEN PHO 3 2 5 40.0 JASON WIEMER TAM 3 2 5 40.0 TYLER WRIGHT PIT 3 2 5 40.0 SERGEI ZHOLTOK OTT 3 2 5 40.0 -- PLUS/MINUS -- NAME TEAM GP +/- ------------------------- ---- -- --- CORY CROSS TAM 3 4 MICHAL GROSEK BUF 3 4 PHIL HOUSLEY WAS 3 4 UWE KRUPP COL 3 4 JOE REEKIE WAS 3 4 JEREMY ROENICK PHO 3 4 JIRI SLEGR PIT 3 4 MARK MESSIER VAN 2 4 LARRY MURPHY DET 2 4 JAN BULIS WAS 3 3 PAUL COFFEY PHI 3 3 JASON DAWE BUF 3 3 ADAM DEADMARSH COL 3 3 ROMAN HAMRLIK TAM 3 3 STEVE KONOWALCHUK WAS 3 3 ERIC MESSIER COL 3 3 TEPPO NUMMINEN PHO 3 3 ED OLCZYK PIT 3 3 ERIK RASMUSSEN BUF 3 3 DARRYL SHANNON BUF 3 3 RICK TOCCHET PHO 3 3 JASON WIEMER TAM 3 3 STEPHANE YELLE COL 3 3 RICHARD ZEDNIK WAS 3 3 PAVEL BURE VAN 2 3 KYLE MCLAREN BOS 2 3 DIMITRI KHRISTICH BOS 2 3 MARKUS NASLUND VAN 2 3 SCOTT MELLANBY FLA 2 3 --- GOALTENDING LEADERS --- -- GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE -- (MIN 1 GP) GOALTENDER TEAM GP GA AVG ------------------------- ---- -- --- ----- MIKE DUNHAM NJD 1 0 0.00 CHRIS TERRERI CHI 1 0 0.00 TOMMY SALO NYI 2 2 0.96 PATRICK ROY COL 3 3 0.97 JAMIE MCLENNAN STL 1 1 1.00 OLAF KOLZIG WAS 3 3 1.13 ANDY MOOG MON 2 3 1.44 CHRIS OSGOOD DET 2 3 1.50 MIKE RICHTER NYR 2 4 1.86 ED BELFOUR DAL 2 4 1.94 -- WINS -- GOALTENDER TEAM GP W L T ------------------------- ---- --- -- -- -- PATRICK ROY COL 3 2 0 1 OLAF KOLZIG WAS 3 2 0 0 RON HEXTALL PHI 2 2 0 0 CHRIS OSGOOD DET 2 2 0 0 NIKOLAI KHABIBULIN PHO 3 2 1 0 ANDY MOOG MON 2 1 0 1 TOMMY SALO NYI 2 1 0 1 TOM BARRASSO PIT 2 1 0 1 BYRON DAFOE BOS 1 1 0 0 JAMIE MCLENNAN STL 1 1 0 0 BILL RANFORD WAS 1 1 0 0 MIKHAIL SHTALENKOV ANA 1 1 0 0 RON TUGNUTT OTT 1 1 0 0 DOMINIK HASEK BUF 3 1 1 1 DAREN PUPPA TAM 3 1 1 1 GRANT FUHR STL 2 1 1 0 MARTIN BRODEUR NJD 2 1 1 0 KIRK MCLEAN VAN 2 1 1 0 JOHN VANBIESBROUCK FLA 2 1 1 0 MIKE VERNON SAN 2 1 1 0 CURTIS JOSEPH EDM 3 1 2 0 -- SAVE PERCENTAGE -- GOALTENDER TEAM GP GA SA SPCTG ------------------------- ---- --- --- ---- ----- MIKE DUNHAM NJD 1 0 11 1.000 CHRIS TERRERI CHI 1 0 6 1.000 PATRICK ROY COL 3 3 87 .966 TOMMY SALO NYI 2 2 59 .966 JAMIE MCLENNAN STL 1 1 28 .964 OLAF KOLZIG WAS 3 3 66 .955 CHRIS OSGOOD DET 2 3 56 .946 ANDY MOOG MON 2 3 55 .945 BILL RANFORD WAS 1 1 17 .941 RON HEXTALL PHI 2 4 56 .929 -- SHUTOUTS -- GOALTENDER TEAM GP SO W L T ------------------------- ---- --- -- -- -- -- TOMMY SALO NYI 2 1 1 0 1 PATRICK ROY COL 3 1 2 0 1 --- ROOKIE SCORING LEADERS --- PLAYER TEAM GP G A PTS +/- PIM PP SH GW GT S PCTG ------------------ -------------- -- --- --- --- --- --- -- -- -- -- --- ---- RICHARD ZEDNIK WASHINGTON 3 3 0 3 3 0 1 0 0 0 11 27.3 DONALD MACLEAN LOS ANGELES 3 1 2 3 2 2 1 0 0 0 3 33.3 JAN BULIS WASHINGTON 3 0 3 3 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 .0 MARCO STURM SAN JOSE 1 1 1 2 1 4 0 0 1 0 2 50.0 JAROSLAV SVEJKOVSK WASHINGTON 3 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 11 9.1 VACLAV PROSPAL PHILADELPHIA 3 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 JAN BENDA WASHINGTON 3 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 ALEXANDER KOROLYUK SAN JOSE 1 1 0 1 1- 2 1 0 0 0 1 100.0 CHRIS FERRARO PITTSBURGH 2 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 4 25.0 SHAWN BATES BOSTON 2 1 0 1 2- 0 0 0 0 0 3 33.3 CHRIS DINGMAN CALGARY 2 1 0 1 1- 0 0 0 0 0 2 50.0 ALEXEI MOROZOV PITTSBURGH 3 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 20.0 ERIK RASMUSSEN BUFFALO 3 1 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 6 16.7 MICHAEL KNUBLE DETROIT 2 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 PETER FERRARO PITTSBURGH 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 MIKE JOHNSON TORONTO 2 0 1 1 2- 0 0 0 0 0 8 .0 ERIC MESSIER COLORADO 3 0 1 1 3 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 -- GOAL SCORING -- -- ASSISTS -- NAME TEAM GP G NAME TEAM GP A ------------------ ------------ -- --- ------------------ ------------ -- --- RICHARD ZEDNIK WASHINGTON 3 3 JAN BULIS WASHINGTON 3 3 ALEXANDER KOROLYUK SAN JOSE 1 1 VACLAV PROSPAL PHILADELPHIA 3 2 MARCO STURM SAN JOSE 1 1 JAN BENDA WASHINGTON 3 2 CHRIS FERRARO PITTSBURGH 2 1 DONALD MACLEAN LOS ANGELES 3 2 SHAWN BATES BOSTON 2 1 MARCO STURM SAN JOSE 1 1 CHRIS DINGMAN CALGARY 2 1 MICHAEL KNUBLE DETROIT 2 1 ALEXEI MOROZOV PITTSBURGH 3 1 PETER FERRARO PITTSBURGH 2 1 DONALD MACLEAN LOS ANGELES 3 1 MIKE JOHNSON TORONTO 2 1 ERIK RASMUSSEN BUFFALO 3 1 ERIC MESSIER COLORADO 3 1 JAROSLAV SVEJKOVSK WASHINGTON 3 1 JAROSLAV SVEJKOVSK WASHINGTON 3 1 -- POWER PLAY GOALS -- NAME TEAM GP PP ------------------ ------------ -- -- ALEXANDER KOROLYUK SAN JOSE 1 1 RICHARD ZEDNIK WASHINGTON 3 1 DONALD MACLEAN LOS ANGELES 3 1 JAROSLAV SVEJKOVSK WASHINGTON 3 1 -- POWER PLAY ASSISTS -- NAME TEAM GP PPA ------------------ ------------ -- --- MARCO STURM SAN JOSE 1 1 MIKE JOHNSON TORONTO 2 1 VACLAV PROSPAL PHILADELPHIA 3 1 ERIC MESSIER COLORADO 3 1 JAROSLAV SVEJKOVSK WASHINGTON 3 1 JAN BULIS WASHINGTON 3 1 -- POWER PLAY POINTS -- NAME TEAM GP PPP ------------------ ------------ -- --- JAROSLAV SVEJKOVSK WASHINGTON 3 2 ALEXANDER KOROLYUK SAN JOSE 1 1 MARCO STURM SAN JOSE 1 1 MIKE JOHNSON TORONTO 2 1 VACLAV PROSPAL PHILADELPHIA 3 1 ERIC MESSIER COLORADO 3 1 RICHARD ZEDNIK WASHINGTON 3 1 DONALD MACLEAN LOS ANGELES 3 1 JAN BULIS WASHINGTON 3 1 -- GAME WINNING GOALS -- NAME TEAM GP GW ------------------ ------------ -- -- MARCO STURM SAN JOSE 1 1 -- SHOTS -- NAME TEAM GP S ------------------ ------------ -- --- RICHARD ZEDNIK WASHINGTON 3 11 JAROSLAV SVEJKOVSK WASHINGTON 3 11 MIKE JOHNSON TORONTO 2 8 ERIK RASMUSSEN BUFFALO 3 6 SERGEI SAMSONOV BOSTON 2 5 ALEXEI MOROZOV PITTSBURGH 3 5 MAGNUS ARVEDSSON OTTAWA 3 5 CHRIS FERRARO PITTSBURGH 2 4 MATTIAS OHLUND VANCOUVER 2 4 PER AXELSSON BOSTON 2 4 MARIAN HOSSA OTTAWA 3 4 FRANCOIS GROLEAU MONTREAL 1 3 SHAWN BATES BOSTON 2 3 PATRICK MARLEAU SAN JOSE 2 3 VACLAV PROSPAL PHILADELPHIA 3 3 JAN BENDA WASHINGTON 3 3 DONALD MACLEAN LOS ANGELES 3 3 BRAD ISBISTER PHOENIX 3 3 WARREN LUHNING NY ISLANDERS 1 2 MARTY MURRAY CALGARY 1 2 12 MORE PLAYERS WITH 2 -- SHOOTING PERCENTAGE (MIN 2 SHOTS) -- NAME TEAM GP G S PCTG ------------------ ------------ -- --- --- ----- MARCO STURM SAN JOSE 1 1 2 50.0 CHRIS DINGMAN CALGARY 2 1 2 50.0 SHAWN BATES BOSTON 2 1 3 33.3 DONALD MACLEAN LOS ANGELES 3 1 3 33.3 RICHARD ZEDNIK WASHINGTON 3 3 11 27.3 CHRIS FERRARO PITTSBURGH 2 1 4 25.0 ALEXEI MOROZOV PITTSBURGH 3 1 5 20.0 ERIK RASMUSSEN BUFFALO 3 1 6 16.7 JAROSLAV SVEJKOVSK WASHINGTON 3 1 11 9.1 -- PENALTY MINUTES -- NAME TEAM GP PIM ------------------ ------------ -- --- WADE BELAK COLORADO 1 17 STEVE BEGIN CALGARY 2 7 MARCO STURM SAN JOSE 1 4 ESPEN KNUTSEN ANAHEIM 2 4 MATTIAS OHLUND VANCOUVER 2 4 JAMIE RIVERS ST LOUIS 3 4 JAN BULIS WASHINGTON 3 4 ALEXANDER KOROLYUK SAN JOSE 1 2 TODD WHITE CHICAGO 1 2 MICHAEL KNUBLE DETROIT 2 2 CHRIS FERRARO PITTSBURGH 2 2 PASCAL TREPANIER COLORADO 2 2 STEVE KELLY EDMONTON 2 2 SERGEY GUSEV DALLAS 2 2 PER AXELSSON BOSTON 2 2 SERGEI SAMSONOV BOSTON 2 2 ERIC MESSIER COLORADO 3 2 DONALD MACLEAN LOS ANGELES 3 2 -- PLUS/MINUS -- NAME TEAM GP +/- ------------------ ------------ -- --- ERIC MESSIER COLORADO 3 3 RICHARD ZEDNIK WASHINGTON 3 3 ERIK RASMUSSEN BUFFALO 3 3 JAN BULIS WASHINGTON 3 3 JAN BENDA WASHINGTON 3 2 DONALD MACLEAN LOS ANGELES 3 2 BRAD BOMBARDIR NEW JERSEY 1 1 FRANCOIS GROLEAU MONTREAL 1 1 MARTY MURRAY CALGARY 1 1 MARCO STURM SAN JOSE 1 1 MICHAEL KNUBLE DETROIT 2 1 MARC SAVARD NY RANGERS 2 1 VACLAV PROSPAL PHILADELPHIA 3 1 ALEXEI MOROZOV PITTSBURGH 3 1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- RANDOM NHL STATS Thru October 6, 1997 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAT TRICKS 1. Dave Gagner, FLA at PIT, Oct 4th, 1st season, 5th career. 2. Mark Recchi, MON at BOS, Oct 4th, 1st season, 3rd career. SHUTOUTS 1. Tommy Salo, NYI vs TOR, 3-0, Oct 4th, 28 saves, 1st season, 6th career. 2. Patrick Roy, COL at EDM, 3-0, Oct 5th, 34 saves, 1st season, 38th career. PENALTY SHOTS 1. TRENT KLATT (PHI) UNSUCCESSFUL AGAINST JOHN VANBIESBROUCK (FLA) GAME NO. 3, Oct 1. FINAL SCORE: FLA 1 AT PHI 3 2. ROB DIMAIO (BOS) UNSUCCESSFUL AGAINST ANDY MOOG (MTL) GAME NO. 21, Oct 4. FINAL SCORE: MTL 4 AT BOS 1 TOTAL SHOTS: 2 TOTAL GOALS: 0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NHL GOALTENDING STATS Thru October 6, 1997 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- TM NO GOALTENDER GPI MINS AVG W L T EN SO GA SA SPCT G A PIM ANA 35 M. SHTALENKOV 1 60 2.00 1 0 0 0 0 2 27 .926 0 0 0 ANA 31 GUY HEBERT 1 60 3.00 0 1 0 0 0 3 32 .906 0 0 0 BOS 30 JIM CAREY 1 60 4.00 0 1 0 0 0 4 23 .826 0 0 0 BOS 34 BYRON DAFOE 1 60 5.00 1 0 0 0 0 5 31 .839 0 0 0 BUF 39 DOMINIK HASEK 3 185 2.59 1 1 1 0 0 8 100 .920 0 0 0 CAR 37 TREVOR KIDD 2 118 3.05 0 2 0 1 0 6 53 .887 0 0 2 CAR 1 SEAN BURKE 1 59 4.07 0 1 0 0 0 4 27 .852 0 0 0 CGY 31 RICK TABARACCI 2 120 3.00 0 2 0 1 0 6 41 .854 0 0 0 CHI 40 CHRIS TERRERI 1 23 .00 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1.000 0 0 0 CHI 31 JEFF HACKETT 2 96 5.63 0 2 0 0 0 9 39 .769 0 0 0 COL 33 PATRICK ROY 3 185 .97 2 0 1 0 1 3 87 .966 0 0 2 DAL 20 ED BELFOUR 2 124 1.94 0 1 1 0 0 4 48 .917 0 0 2 DET 30 CHRIS OSGOOD 2 120 1.50 2 0 0 0 0 3 56 .946 0 0 0 EDM 31 CURTIS JOSEPH 3 147 4.49 1 2 0 0 0 11 85 .871 0 0 0 EDM 30 BOB ESSENSA 1 33 5.45 0 0 0 0 0 3 16 .813 0 0 0 FLA 34 JOHN VANBIESBROUC 2 119 3.03 1 1 0 0 0 6 59 .898 0 0 0 LAK 35 STEPHANE FISET 3 189 3.49 0 1 2 0 0 11 91 .879 0 0 0 MTL 35 ANDY MOOG 2 125 1.44 1 0 1 0 0 3 55 .945 0 0 0 NJD 1 MIKE DUNHAM 1 20 .00 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 1.000 0 0 0 NJD 30 MARTIN BRODEUR 2 100 4.20 1 1 0 0 0 7 39 .821 0 0 0 NYI 35 TOMMY SALO 2 125 .96 1 0 1 0 1 2 57 .965 0 0 0 NYR 35 MIKE RICHTER 2 129 1.86 0 0 2 0 0 4 50 .920 0 0 0 OTW 31 RON TUGNUTT 1 60 2.00 1 0 0 0 0 2 18 .889 0 0 0 OTW 1 DAMIAN RHODES 2 124 3.39 0 1 1 0 0 7 57 .877 0 0 0 PHI 30 GARTH SNOW 1 60 2.00 0 1 0 0 0 2 24 .917 0 0 0 PHI 27 RON HEXTALL 2 120 2.00 2 0 0 0 0 4 56 .929 0 0 0 PHO 35 NIKOLAI KHABIBULI 3 160 2.63 2 1 0 0 0 7 70 .900 0 0 2 PHO 28 JIM WAITE 1 20 9.00 0 0 0 0 0 3 12 .750 0 0 0 PIT 35 TOM BARRASSO 2 125 2.88 1 0 1 0 0 6 57 .895 0 0 0 PIT 31 KEN WREGGET 1 60 4.00 0 1 0 1 0 4 22 .818 0 0 2 SJS 29 MIKE VERNON 2 119 3.53 1 1 0 0 0 7 54 .870 0 0 0 STL 29 JAMIE MCLENNAN 1 60 1.00 1 0 0 0 0 1 28 .964 0 0 0 STL 31 GRANT FUHR 2 118 2.54 1 1 0 0 0 5 48 .896 0 0 0 TBL 93 DAREN PUPPA 3 184 2.28 1 1 1 0 0 7 93 .925 0 0 0 TOR 30 GLENN HEALY 1 60 3.00 0 1 0 0 0 3 28 .893 0 0 0 TOR 29 FELIX POTVIN 1 60 4.00 0 1 0 0 0 4 27 .852 0 0 0 VAN 1 KIRK MCLEAN 2 119 2.52 1 1 0 0 0 5 58 .914 0 0 0 WSH 37 OLAF KOLZIG 3 160 1.13 2 0 0 0 0 3 63 .952 0 0 0 WSH 30 BILL RANFORD 1 20 3.00 1 0 0 0 0 1 18 .944 0 0 0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NHL PLAYER STATS Thru October 6, 1997 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEAM P NO PLAYER GP G A PTS +/- PIM PP SH GW GT S PCTG ANA R 17 TOMAS SANDSTROM 2 1 2 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 9 11.1 ANA R 8 TEEMU SELANNE 2 1 2 3 0 4 0 0 0 0 9 11.1 ANA D 36 J.J. DAIGNEAULT 2 1 1 2 1 4 0 0 1 0 6 16.7 ANA C 54 SEAN PRONGER 2 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 ANA L 11 SHAWN ANTOSKI 2 1 0 1 1 6 0 0 0 0 2 50.0 ANA R 48 SCOTT YOUNG 2 1 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 6 16.7 ANA D 29 DARREN VAN IMPE 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 ANA C 18 MARK JANSSENS 2 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 ANA L 16 WARREN RYCHEL 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 ANA G 31 GUY HEBERT 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 ANA D 28 JASON MARSHALL 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 ANA D 34 DANIEL TREBIL 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 ANA C 20 STEVE RUCCHIN 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 ANA G 35 M. SHTALENKOV 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 ANA C 32 RICHARD PARK 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 ANA D 24 RUSLAN SALEI 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 ANA D 2 BOBBY DOLLAS 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 ANA R 14 JOE SACCO 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 .0 ANA L 22 BRENT SEVERYN 2 0 0 0 0 17 0 0 0 0 1 .0 ANA C 13 TED DRURY 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 ANA C 47 *ESPEN KNUTSEN 2 0 0 0 3 4 0 0 0 0 2 .0 ANA D 33 DAVE KARPA 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 ANA D 15 DMITRI MIRONOV 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 .0 ANA R 19 ROB DIMAIO 2 2 1 3 -2 0 0 0 1 0 6 33.3 BOS C 12 DIMITRI KHRISTICH 2 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 50.0 BOS D 32 DON SWEENEY 2 0 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 BOS L 21 TED DONATO 2 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .0 BOS R 23 STEVE HEINZE 2 1 0 1 -1 2 1 0 0 0 3 33.3 BOS C 26 TIM TAYLOR 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 50.0 BOS C 17 *SHAWN BATES 2 1 0 1 -2 0 0 0 0 0 3 33.3 BOS D 18 KYLE MCLAREN 2 1 0 1 3 2 0 0 0 0 7 14.3 BOS D 44 DAVE ELLETT 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 BOS R 41 JASON ALLISON 2 0 1 1 -1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 BOS G 34 BYRON DAFOE 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 BOS C 45 ROBERT LANG 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 BOS G 30 JIM CAREY 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 BOS R 27 LANDON WILSON 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 BOS L 22 KEN BAUMGARTNER 2 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 3 .0 BOS D 77 RAY BOURQUE 2 0 0 0 -3 0 0 0 0 0 4 .0 BOS D 29 DEAN MALKOC 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 BOS D 37 MATTIAS TIMANDER 2 0 0 0 -3 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 BOS C 33 ANSON CARTER 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 BOS R 57 *PER AXELSSON 2 0 0 0 -2 2 0 0 0 0 4 .0 BOS L 14 *SERGEI SAMSONOV 2 0 0 0 -2 2 0 0 0 0 5 .0 BUF R 17 JASON DAWE 3 2 1 3 3 0 0 0 0 1 7 28.6 BUF L 81 MIROSLAV SATAN 3 1 1 2 -3 2 0 0 1 0 6 16.7 BUF C 19 BRIAN HOLZINGER 3 0 2 2 -1 4 0 0 0 0 4 .0 BUF R 28 DONALD AUDETTE 3 1 0 1 0 17 0 0 0 0 6 16.7 BUF R 15 DIXON WARD 3 1 0 1 -1 2 0 0 0 0 5 20.0 BUF C 9 *ERIK RASMUSSEN 3 1 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 6 16.7 BUF D 8 DARRYL SHANNON 3 0 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 6 .0 BUF D 4 MIKE WILSON 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 BUF L 18 MICHAL GROSEK 3 0 1 1 4 5 0 0 0 0 5 .0 BUF D 74 JAY MCKEE 3 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 5 .0 BUF D 5 JASON WOOLLEY 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 BUF D 21 MIKE HURLBUT 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 .0 BUF L 12 RANDY BURRIDGE 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 BUF G 39 DOMINIK HASEK 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 BUF R 32 ROB RAY 3 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 .0 BUF D 6 BOB BOUGHNER 3 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 2 .0 BUF C 26 DEREK PLANTE 3 0 0 0 -2 4 0 0 0 0 6 .0 BUF D 42 RICHARD SMEHLIK 3 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 5 .0 BUF R 36 MATTHEW BARNABY 3 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 5 .0 BUF C 22 WAYNE PRIMEAU 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 CAL L 7 *CHRIS DINGMAN 2 1 0 1 -1 0 0 0 0 0 2 50.0 CAL R 12 JAROME IGINLA 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 33.3 CAL C 16 CORY STILLMAN 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 .0 CAL L 18 MARTY MCINNIS 2 0 1 1 -1 0 0 0 0 0 4 .0 CAL D 32 CALE HULSE 2 0 1 1 0 5 0 0 0 0 3 .0 CAL L 42 ED WARD 1 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 CAL D 6 JOEL BOUCHARD 1 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 CAL L 44 JONAS HOGLUND 1 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 CAL C 28 *MARTY MURRAY 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 CAL D 27 TODD SIMPSON 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 CAL D 5 TOMMY ALBELIN 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 CAL C 21 ANDREW CASSELS 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 .0 CAL R 14 THEOREN FLEURY 2 0 0 0 -2 12 0 0 0 0 8 .0 CAL D 3 JAMES PATRICK 2 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 CAL L 8 MIKE PELUSO 2 0 0 0 0 17 0 0 0 0 1 .0 CAL G 31 RICK TABARACCI 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 CAL D 33 ZARLEY ZALAPSKI 2 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 CAL R 15 SANDY MCCARTHY 2 0 0 0 -1 5 0 0 0 0 2 .0 CAL C 92 MICHAEL NYLANDER 2 0 0 0 -2 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 CAL L 13 GERMAN TITOV 2 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 6 .0 CAL D 53 *DEREK MORRIS 2 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 CAL C 57 *STEVE BEGIN 2 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 2 .0 CAR R 19 NELSON EMERSON 3 3 2 5 0 0 2 0 0 0 10 30.0 CAR R 24 SAMI KAPANEN 3 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 16.7 CAR C 55 KEITH PRIMEAU 3 1 1 2 0 8 1 0 0 0 4 25.0 CAR R 11 KEVIN DINEEN 2 1 0 1 -3 2 0 0 0 0 3 33.3 CAR L 8 GEOFF SANDERSON 3 1 0 1 -2 0 1 0 0 0 10 10.0 CAR R 18 ROBERT KRON 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 .0 CAR D 3 STEVE CHIASSON 3 0 1 1 0 19 0 0 0 0 4 .0 CAR D 5 KEVIN HALLER 3 0 1 1 -1 2 0 0 0 0 5 .0 CAR L 10 GARY ROBERTS 3 0 1 1 0 10 0 0 0 0 6 .0 CAR D 2 GLEN WESLEY 3 0 1 1 -3 6 0 0 0 0 5 .0 CAR D 39 ENRICO CICCONE 3 0 1 1 1 29 0 0 0 0 2 .0 CAR C 92 JEFF O'NEILL 3 0 1 1 -1 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 CAR G 1 SEAN BURKE 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 CAR R 29 KEVIN BROWN 1 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 CAR R 17 CHRIS MURRAY 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 CAR G 37 TREVOR KIDD 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 CAR D 6 ADAM BURT 3 0 0 0 -1 11 0 0 0 0 5 .0 CAR L 32 STU GRIMSON 3 0 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 .0 CAR R 27 STEPHEN LEACH 3 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 CAR R 12 STEVEN RICE 3 0 0 0 -1 17 0 0 0 0 2 .0 CAR C 44 KENT MANDERVILLE 3 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 3 .0 CAR D 14 *STEVEN HALKO 3 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 CAR L 24 BOB PROBERT 2 1 1 2 -2 0 1 0 0 0 5 20.0 CHI R 10 TONY AMONTE 2 1 1 2 -1 2 0 0 0 0 5 20.0 CHI R 25 SERGEI KRIVOKRASOV 2 1 0 1 -2 2 0 0 0 0 7 14.3 CHI L 19 ETHAN MOREAU 2 1 0 1 -1 4 1 0 0 0 5 20.0 CHI L 38 JAMES BLACK 2 0 1 1 -1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 CHI D 7 CHRIS CHELIOS 2 0 1 1 -2 0 0 0 0 0 7 .0 CHI D 20 GARY SUTER 2 0 1 1 -3 0 0 0 0 0 5 .0 CHI C 36 ALEXEI ZHAMNOV 2 0 1 1 -1 2 0 0 0 0 4 .0 CHI C 11 JEFF SHANTZ 2 0 1 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 2 .0 CHI D 6 MICHAL SYKORA 2 0 1 1 -4 4 0 0 0 0 3 .0 CHI G 40 CHRIS TERRERI 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 CHI L 32 *DANIEL CLEARY 1 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 CHI C 49 *TODD WHITE 1 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 CHI G 31 JEFF HACKETT 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 CHI D 2 ERIC WEINRICH 2 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 CHI D 5 TRENT YAWNEY 2 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 CHI D 4 KEITH CARNEY 2 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 CHI C 14 STEVE DUBINSKY 2 0 0 0 -3 2 0 0 0 0 3 .0 CHI L 55 ERIC DAZE 2 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 4 .0 CHI L 23 *JEAN-YVES LEROUX 2 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 CHI R 39 *CRAIG MILLS 2 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 COL C 21 PETER FORSBERG 3 2 3 5 2 8 0 0 1 0 13 15.4 COL R 22 CLAUDE LEMIEUX 3 2 1 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 11 18.2 COL C 26 STEPHANE YELLE 3 0 3 3 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 .0 COL D 4 UWE KRUPP 3 1 1 2 4 6 1 0 0 0 6 16.7 COL C 17 JARI KURRI 3 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 33.3 COL R 18 ADAM DEADMARSH 3 1 1 2 3 11 0 0 1 0 8 12.5 COL L 13 VALERI KAMENSKY 3 1 0 1 2 2 1 0 0 0 7 14.3 COL D 24 JON KLEMM 3 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 5 20.0 COL D 2 SYLVAIN LEFEBVRE 3 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 .0 COL C 19 JOE SAKIC 3 0 1 1 -2 0 0 0 0 0 10 .0 COL D 29 *ERIC MESSIER 3 0 1 1 3 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 COL D 8 SANDIS OZOLINSH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 COL D 6 *WADE BELAK 1 0 0 0 0 17 0 0 0 0 0 .0 COL D 3 AARON MILLER 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 COL D 7 *PASCAL TREPANIER 2 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 COL D 5 ALEXEI GUSAROV 3 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 2 .0 COL D 27 FRANCOIS LEROUX 3 0 0 0 1 12 0 0 0 0 0 .0 COL G 33 PATRICK ROY 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 COL D 52 ADAM FOOTE 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 COL L 28 ERIC LACROIX 3 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 COL L 20 RENE CORBET 3 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 2 .0 DAL C 25 JOE NIEUWENDYK 2 1 1 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 5 20.0 DAL L 23 GREG ADAMS 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 33.3 DAL C 9 MIKE MODANO 2 1 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 13 7.7 DAL D 56 SERGEI ZUBOV 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 DAL C 28 BOB BASSEN 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 DAL L 33 BENOIT HOGUE 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 DAL L 12 BOB ERREY 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 DAL R 29 GRANT MARSHALL 1 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 DAL G 20 ED BELFOUR 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 DAL C 21 GUY CARBONNEAU 2 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 3 .0 DAL D 6 DAN KECZMER 2 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 DAL D 3 CRAIG LUDWIG 2 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 DAL L 14 DAVE REID 2 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .0 DAL R 16 PAT VERBEEK 2 0 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 5 .0 DAL D 5 DARRYL SYDOR 2 0 0 0 1 5 0 0 0 0 4 .0 DAL D 24 RICHARD MATVICHUK 2 0 0 0 -1 8 0 0 0 0 0 .0 DAL R 26 JERE LEHTINEN 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 DAL C 11 *JUHA LIND 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 DAL C 10 TODD HARVEY 2 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 3 .0 DAL C 15 JAMIE LANGENBRUNNER 2 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 DAL D 4 *SERGEY GUSEV 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 DET L 14 BRENDAN SHANAHAN 2 2 3 5 2 4 2 0 1 0 8 25.0 DET R 20 MARTIN LAPOINTE 2 2 2 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 6 33.3 DET D 5 NICKLAS LIDSTROM 2 1 3 4 3 2 0 0 0 0 4 25.0 DET C 8 IGOR LARIONOV 2 0 4 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 DET D 55 LARRY MURPHY 2 1 2 3 4 2 1 0 1 0 5 20.0 DET R 17 DOUG BROWN 2 2 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 4 50.0 DET L 13 VYACHESLAV KOZLOV 2 1 1 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 3 33.3 DET C 33 KRIS DRAPER 2 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 33.3 DET D 2 VIACHESLAV FETISOV 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 50.0 DET L 15 TOMAS HOLMSTROM 1 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 DET C 41 BRENT GILCHRIST 2 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 5 .0 DET D 3 BOB ROUSE 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 DET C 19 STEVE YZERMAN 2 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 .0 DET R 22 *MICHAEL KNUBLE 2 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 DET R 25 DARREN MCCARTY 2 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 .0 DET R 26 JOEY KOCUR 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 DET D 27 AARON WARD 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 DET D 4 JAMIE PUSHOR 2 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 DET G 30 CHRIS OSGOOD 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 DET R 11 MATHIEU DANDENAULT 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 EDM C 39 DOUG WEIGHT 3 2 2 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 12 16.7 EDM C 7 JASON ARNOTT 3 3 0 3 1 8 1 0 0 0 9 33.3 EDM L 8 RAY WHITNEY 2 0 2 2 -1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 EDM L 51 ANDREI KOVALENKO 3 0 2 2 -4 0 0 0 0 0 5 .0 EDM D 55 DREW BANNISTER 3 0 2 2 -2 11 0 0 0 0 8 .0 EDM C 26 TODD MARCHANT 3 0 2 2 -2 4 0 0 0 0 15 .0 EDM L 94 RYAN SMYTH 3 0 2 2 -1 8 0 0 0 0 11 .0 EDM D 15 DRAKE BEREHOWSKY 3 1 0 1 -2 9 1 0 1 0 5 20.0 EDM L 37 DEAN MCAMMOND 3 1 0 1 -1 2 0 0 0 0 3 33.3 EDM D 24 BRYAN MARCHMENT 3 0 1 1 1 6 0 0 0 0 1 .0 EDM G 30 BOB ESSENSA 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 EDM L 12 *JOE HULBIG 1 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 EDM D 23 *SEAN BROWN 1 0 0 0 -3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 EDM C 19 *BOYD DEVEREAUX 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 EDM D 4 KEVIN LOWE 2 0 0 0 -2 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 EDM C 10 *STEVE KELLY 2 0 0 0 -2 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 EDM R 16 KELLY BUCHBERGER 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 EDM G 31 CURTIS JOSEPH 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 EDM L 28 BILL HUARD 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 EDM D 2 BORIS MIRONOV 3 0 0 0 -2 4 0 0 0 0 8 .0 EDM L 14 MATS LINDGREN 3 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 2 .0 EDM R 25 MIKE GRIER 3 0 0 0 -2 10 0 0 0 0 4 .0 EDM D 5 GREG DE VRIES 3 0 0 0 -2 4 0 0 0 0 1 .0 FLO C 15 DAVE GAGNER 2 3 0 3 2 2 0 1 0 0 4 75.0 FLO D 5 GORD MURPHY 2 0 2 2 2 4 0 0 0 0 4 .0 FLO D 3 PAUL LAUS 2 0 2 2 0 4 0 0 0 0 2 .0 FLO C 44 ROB NIEDERMAYER 1 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 33.3 FLO R 12 JODY HULL 2 1 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 2 50.0 FLO L 11 BILL LINDSAY 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4 25.0 FLO R 27 SCOTT MELLANBY 2 0 1 1 3 2 0 0 0 0 4 .0 FLO C 9 KIRK MULLER 2 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 4 .0 FLO R 19 RADEK DVORAK 2 0 1 1 -1 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 FLO C 22 *STEVE WASHBURN 1 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 FLO R 21 TOM FITZGERALD 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 FLO L 29 JOHAN GARPENLOV 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 FLO R 26 RAY SHEPPARD 2 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 FLO L 97 ESA TIKKANEN 2 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 5 .0 FLO G 34 JOHN VANBIESBROUCK 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 FLO D 24 ROBERT SVEHLA 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 FLO D 55 ED JOVANOVSKI 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .0 FLO C 23 CHRIS WELLS 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 FLO D 7 RHETT WARRENER 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 FLO R 51 DAVID NEMIROVSKY 2 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 5 .0 LOS C 15 JOZEF STUMPEL 3 1 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 50.0 LOS D 3 GARRY GALLEY 3 2 1 3 0 4 2 0 0 0 9 22.2 LOS L 23 CRAIG JOHNSON 3 1 2 3 2 2 0 0 0 0 5 20.0 LOS R 11 BRAD SMYTH 3 1 2 3 1 4 0 0 0 0 5 20.0 LOS C 10 *DONALD MACLEAN 3 1 2 3 2 2 1 0 0 0 3 33.3 LOS L 20 LUC ROBITAILLE 3 2 0 2 -2 0 1 0 0 0 7 28.6 LOS D 5 AKI BERG 2 0 2 2 1 4 0 0 0 0 2 .0 LOS C 26 RAY FERRARO 3 1 0 1 0 10 0 0 0 0 3 33.3 LOS R 27 GLEN MURRAY 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 16.7 LOS D 2 DOUG ZMOLEK 2 0 1 1 -3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 LOS D 28 PHILIPPE BOUCHER 2 0 1 1 0 6 0 0 0 0 2 .0 LOS R 45 SANDY MOGER 3 0 1 1 0 5 0 0 0 0 3 .0 LOS D 14 MATTIAS NORSTROM 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 LOS C 22 IAN LAPERRIERE 3 0 1 1 -2 2 0 0 0 0 4 .0 LOS L 9 VLADIMIR TSYPLAKOV 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 LOS L 17 MATT JOHNSON 1 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 LOS C 12 ROMAN VOPAT 2 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 LOS C 21 *OLLI JOKINEN 2 0 0 0 -3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 LOS D 4 ROB BLAKE 3 0 0 0 -3 0 0 0 0 0 13 .0 LOS G 35 STEPHANE FISET 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 LOS C 44 YANIC PERREAULT 3 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 LOS D 6 SEAN O'DONNELL 3 0 0 0 1 8 0 0 0 0 6 .0 MON R 8 MARK RECCHI 2 3 1 4 1 0 1 0 1 0 8 37.5 MON C 11 SAKU KOIVU 2 0 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 MON L 27 SHAYNE CORSON 2 0 3 3 0 4 0 0 0 0 1 .0 MON R 44 STEPHANE RICHER 2 2 0 2 -1 0 1 0 0 0 4 50.0 MON D 38 VLADIMIR MALAKHOV 2 1 1 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 5 20.0 MON D 22 DAVE MANSON 2 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 4 .0 MON C 24 SCOTT THORNTON 2 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 MON C 12 DARCY TUCKER 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 MON D 48 *FRANCOIS GROLEAU 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 MON D 29 *BRETT CLARK 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 MON L 17 BENOIT BRUNET 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 MON D 43 PATRICE BRISEBOIS 2 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 MON C 25 VINCENT DAMPHOUSSE 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 .0 MON G 35 ANDY MOOG 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 MON D 5 STEPHANE QUINTAL 2 0 0 0 1 9 0 0 0 0 0 .0 MON R 23 TURNER STEVENSON 2 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 .0 MON L 26 MARTIN RUCINSKY 2 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 6 .0 MON R 20 VALERI BURE 2 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 6 .0 MON D 52 CRAIG RIVET 2 0 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 .0 MON C 71 SEBASTIEN BORDELEAU 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 NJD R 21 RANDY MCKAY 2 2 0 2 2 5 0 0 0 0 3 66.7 NJD C 17 PETR SYKORA 2 1 1 2 -1 0 0 0 0 0 3 33.3 NJD R 15 JOHN MACLEAN 2 1 0 1 -3 0 0 0 1 0 6 16.7 NJD L 32 STEVE THOMAS 2 1 0 1 -2 0 1 0 0 0 5 20.0 NJD L 25 VALERI ZELEPUKIN 1 0 1 1 -1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 NJD D 7 VLASTIMIL KROUPA 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 NJD C 93 DOUG GILMOUR 2 0 1 1 -2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 NJD C 16 BOBBY HOLIK 2 0 1 1 2 6 0 0 0 0 4 .0 NJD C 10 DENIS PEDERSON 2 0 1 1 -3 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 NJD L 20 JAY PANDOLFO 2 0 1 1 -1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 NJD C 19 BOB CARPENTER 1 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 NJD D 6 *BRAD BOMBARDIR 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 NJD G 1 MIKE DUNHAM 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 NJD L 33 REID SIMPSON 1 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 NJD R 26 *PATRIK ELIAS 1 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 NJD L 23 DAVE ANDREYCHUK 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 4 .0 NJD D 3 KEN DANEYKO 2 0 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 1 .0 NJD D 24 LYLE ODELEIN 2 0 0 0 -2 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 NJD D 4 SCOTT STEVENS 2 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 6 .0 NJD G 30 MARTIN BRODEUR 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 NJD L 22 SCOTT DANIELS 2 0 0 0 1 10 0 0 0 0 2 .0 NJD D 28 KEVIN DEAN 2 0 0 0 -1 4 0 0 0 0 1 .0 NJD D 27 SCOTT NIEDERMAYER 2 0 0 0 -3 0 0 0 0 0 4 .0 NJD C 13 CLAUDE LAPOINTE 2 2 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 3 66.7 NYI D 34 BRYAN BERARD 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 9 11.1 NYI C 21 ROBERT REICHEL 2 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 NYI D 29 KENNY JONSSON 2 0 2 2 2 4 0 0 0 0 2 .0 NYI C 17 SERGEI NEMCHINOV 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4 25.0 NYI R 44 TODD BERTUZZI 2 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 4 25.0 NYI L 14 TOM CHORSKE 2 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 NYI L 18 MIKE HOUGH 2 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 NYI D 2 RICHARD PILON 2 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 NYI C 39 TRAVIS GREEN 2 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 5 .0 NYI R 16 ZIGMUND PALFFY 2 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 7 .0 NYI L 24 PAUL KRUSE 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 NYI R 48 *WARREN LUHNING 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 NYI C 15 BRYAN SMOLINSKI 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 NYI D 28 DENNIS VASKE 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .0 NYI D 7 SCOTT LACHANCE 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 NYI R 25 MARIUSZ CZERKAWSKI 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 NYI L 33 KEN BELANGER 2 0 0 0 0 14 0 0 0 0 1 .0 NYI D 4 BRYAN MCCABE 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 NYI G 35 TOMMY SALO 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 NYI C 16 PAT LAFONTAINE 2 1 1 2 -1 0 1 0 0 1 6 16.7 NYI D 33 BRUCE DRIVER 2 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 .0 NYI L 9 ADAM GRAVES 2 1 0 1 -1 0 1 0 0 0 7 14.3 NYI L 17 KEVIN STEVENS 2 1 0 1 2 6 0 0 0 1 3 33.3 NYI L 24 NIKLAS SUNDSTROM 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 50.0 NYR C 99 WAYNE GRETZKY 2 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 12 .0 NYR D 2 BRIAN LEETCH 2 0 1 1 -1 2 0 0 0 0 6 .0 NYR D 25 ALEXANDER KARPOVTSEV 2 0 1 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 2 .0 NYR R 27 ALEXEI KOVALEV 2 0 1 1 -1 0 0 0 0 0 7 .0 NYR D 5 ULF SAMUELSSON 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 2 .0 NYR D 29 ERIC CAIRNS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 NYR L 18 BILL BERG 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 NYR D 23 JEFF BEUKEBOOM 2 0 0 0 -2 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 NYR D 26 JEFF FINLEY 2 0 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 .0 NYR R 12 MIKE KEANE 2 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 NYR G 35 MIKE RICHTER 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 NYR C 20 BRIAN SKRUDLAND 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 NYR C 32 MIKE EASTWOOD 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 NYR L 15 DARREN LANGDON 2 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 .0 NYR C 10 *MARC SAVARD 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 OTT C 14 RADEK BONK 3 2 2 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 5 40.0 OTT C 16 SERGEI ZHOLTOK 3 2 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 40.0 OTT R 9 ALEXANDRE DAIGLE 3 2 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 9 22.2 OTT D 29 IGOR KRAVCHUK 3 1 2 3 -1 0 0 1 0 1 7 14.3 OTT L 7 RANDY CUNNEYWORTH 3 0 3 3 1 6 0 0 0 0 6 .0 OTT D 27 JANNE LAUKKANEN 3 1 1 2 1 2 1 0 1 0 5 20.0 OTT D 33 JASON YORK 3 0 2 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 .0 OTT R 10 ANDREAS DACKELL 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 .0 OTT G 31 RON TUGNUTT 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 OTT D 2 LANCE PITLICK 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 OTT D 24 STANISLAV NECKAR 1 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 OTT D 4 SEAN HILL 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 OTT G 1 DAMIAN RHODES 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 OTT D 5 *CHRIS PHILLIPS 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 OTT C 22 SHAUN VAN ALLEN 3 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 8 .0 OTT L 21 DENNIS VIAL 3 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 1 .0 OTT L 15 SHAWN MCEACHERN 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 7 .0 OTT C 25 BRUCE GARDINER 3 0 0 0 -3 4 0 0 0 0 6 .0 OTT C 19 ALEXEI YASHIN 3 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 0 7 .0 OTT D 6 WADE REDDEN 3 0 0 0 -4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 OTT R 18 *MARIAN HOSSA 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 .0 OTT L 20 *MAGNUS ARVEDSSON 3 0 0 0 -4 0 0 0 0 0 5 .0 PHI L 10 JOHN LECLAIR 3 1 3 4 2 2 0 0 0 0 15 6.7 PHI C 88 ERIC LINDROS 3 2 1 3 2 6 0 0 0 0 8 25.0 PHI C 55 CHRIS GRATTON 3 1 2 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 4 25.0 PHI R 9 DAINIUS ZUBRUS 3 1 2 3 2 4 1 0 1 0 7 14.3 PHI R 15 PAT FALLOON 3 2 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 8 25.0 PHI L 17 ROD BRIND'AMOUR 3 1 1 2 -1 0 0 0 0 0 10 10.0 PHI R 20 TRENT KLATT 3 1 1 2 -1 2 0 0 1 0 3 33.3 PHI D 6 CHRIS THERIEN 3 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 .0 PHI C 45 *VACLAV PROSPAL 3 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 PHI D 77 PAUL COFFEY 3 0 1 1 3 4 0 0 0 0 4 .0 PHI L 25 SHJON PODEIN 3 0 1 1 -1 2 0 0 0 0 6 .0 PHI C 32 DANIEL LACROIX 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 PHI G 30 GARTH SNOW 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 PHI R 26 JOHN DRUCE 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 PHI G 27 RON HEXTALL 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 PHI D 24 CHRIS JOSEPH 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 PHI C 29 JOEL OTTO 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 PHI D 22 LUKE RICHARDSON 3 0 0 0 -2 4 0 0 0 0 6 .0 PHI D 28 KJELL SAMUELSSON 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 PHI L 21 DAN KORDIC 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 PHI D 44 JANNE NIINIMAA 3 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 8 .0 PHO C 15 CRAIG JANNEY 3 1 3 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 33.3 PHO C 97 JEREMY ROENICK 3 1 3 4 2 2 0 0 0 0 7 14.3 PHO D 27 TEPPO NUMMINEN 3 2 1 3 3 4 0 0 0 0 5 40.0 PHO R 11 DALLAS DRAKE 3 2 1 3 2 7 0 0 2 0 5 40.0 PHO R 92 RICK TOCCHET 3 1 1 2 3 6 0 0 0 0 9 11.1 PHO R 22 MIKE GARTNER 3 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 .0 PHO C 77 CLIFF RONNING 3 0 2 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 4 .0 PHO C 21 BOB CORKUM 3 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 4 25.0 PHO D 44 NORM MACIVER 3 1 0 1 2 6 0 0 0 0 2 50.0 PHO L 33 JIM MCKENZIE 3 1 0 1 1 7 0 0 0 0 2 50.0 PHO R 19 SHANE DOAN 2 0 1 1 -1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 PHO L 7 KEITH TKACHUK 3 0 1 1 0 8 0 0 0 0 8 .0 PHO C 14 MIKE STAPLETON 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 PHO G 28 JIM WAITE 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 PHO D 2 MURRAY BARON 3 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 3 .0 PHO D 4 GERALD DIDUCK 3 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 7 .0 PHO D 8 JIM JOHNSON 3 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 PHO D 6 JAY MORE 3 0 0 0 -1 6 0 0 0 0 0 .0 PHO L 34 DARRIN SHANNON 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 .0 PHO G 35 NIKOLAI KHABIBULIN 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 PHO R 16 *BRAD ISBISTER 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 PIT R 68 JAROMIR JAGR 3 1 4 5 0 4 1 0 0 0 13 7.7 PIT D 4 KEVIN HATCHER 3 2 1 3 -4 0 2 0 0 1 5 40.0 PIT D 23 FREDRIK OLAUSSON 3 0 3 3 -2 2 0 0 0 0 7 .0 PIT C 29 TYLER WRIGHT 3 2 0 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 5 40.0 PIT C 10 RON FRANCIS 3 1 1 2 -2 0 0 0 1 0 7 14.3 PIT L 16 ED OLCZYK 3 1 1 2 3 9 0 0 0 0 3 33.3 PIT C 82 MARTIN STRAKA 3 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 5 20.0 PIT R 44 ROB BROWN 3 0 2 2 -1 2 0 0 0 0 9 .0 PIT C 38 ANDREAS JOHANSSON 3 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 .0 PIT R 57 *CHRIS FERRARO 2 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 4 25.0 PIT R 95 *ALEXEI MOROZOV 3 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 20.0 PIT C 17 *PETER FERRARO 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 PIT D 2 CHRIS TAMER 3 0 1 1 2 7 0 0 0 0 2 .0 PIT D 11 DARIUS KASPARAITIS 3 0 1 1 1 8 0 0 0 0 7 .0 PIT L 8 GARRY VALK 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 PIT G 31 KEN WREGGET 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 PIT C 14 STU BARNES 1 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 PIT C 15 *ROBERT DOME 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 PIT G 35 TOM BARRASSO 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 PIT C 9 GREG JOHNSON 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 PIT D 71 JIRI SLEGR 3 0 0 0 4 5 0 0 0 0 3 .0 PIT D 5 BRAD WERENKA 3 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 1 .0 PIT L 33 ALEX HICKS 3 0 0 0 -1 21 0 0 0 0 2 .0 SJS L 25 VIKTOR KOZLOV 2 2 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 10 20.0 SJS C 19 *MARCO STURM 1 1 1 2 1 4 0 0 1 0 2 50.0 SJS D 33 MARTY MCSORLEY 2 1 1 2 1 10 0 0 0 0 5 20.0 SJS D 3 DOUG BODGER 2 0 2 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 .0 SJS C 27 *ALEXANDER KOROLYUK 1 1 0 1 -1 2 1 0 0 0 1 100.0 SJS D 2 BILL HOULDER 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 33.3 SJS L 28 SHAWN BURR 2 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 SJS C 22 MURRAY CRAVEN 2 0 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 3 .0 SJS C 9 BERNIE NICHOLLS 2 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .0 SJS R 11 OWEN NOLAN 2 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 7 .0 SJS D 10 MARCUS RAGNARSSON 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 SJS C 16 DODY WOOD 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 SJS R 42 SHEAN DONOVAN 1 0 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 1 .0 SJS D 23 TODD GILL 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 SJS L 21 TONY GRANATO 2 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 5 .0 SJS L 37 STEPHANE MATTEAU 2 0 0 0 -1 4 0 0 0 0 1 .0 SJS C 12 RON SUTTER 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 SJS G 29 MIKE VERNON 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 SJS D 40 MIKE RATHJE 2 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 5 .0 SJS R 62 ANDREI NAZAROV 2 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 SJS C 14 *PATRICK MARLEAU 2 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 STL D 28 STEVE DUCHESNE 3 1 4 5 2 6 1 0 0 0 5 20.0 STL D 2 AL MACINNIS 3 3 0 3 0 2 2 0 0 0 11 27.3 STL R 16 BRETT HULL 3 2 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 17 11.8 STL C 77 PIERRE TURGEON 3 0 3 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 5 .0 STL R 10 JIM CAMPBELL 3 1 1 2 -1 4 0 0 1 0 7 14.3 STL D 44 CHRIS PRONGER 3 0 2 2 1 9 0 0 0 0 3 .0 STL D 4 MARC BERGEVIN 3 1 0 1 -1 7 0 0 0 0 2 50.0 STL R 39 KELLY CHASE 3 1 0 1 1 24 0 0 1 0 1 100.0 STL L 14 GEOFF COURTNALL 3 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 33.3 STL R 20 RUDY POESCHEK 3 0 1 1 0 5 0 0 0 0 2 .0 STL C 9 DARREN TURCOTTE 3 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 STL R 38 PAVOL DEMITRA 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 .0 STL C 37 HARRY YORK 3 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 STL G 29 JAMIE MCLENNAN 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 STL G 31 GRANT FUHR 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 STL R 17 JOE MURPHY 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 9 .0 STL L 18 TONY TWIST 3 0 0 0 1 6 0 0 0 0 1 .0 STL C 22 CRAIG CONROY 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 STL R 33 SCOTT PELLERIN 3 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 STL D 6 *JAMIE RIVERS 3 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 1 .0 TAM R 22 DINO CICCARELLI 3 2 3 5 0 2 1 0 1 0 16 12.5 TAM L 7 ROB ZAMUNER 3 1 2 3 1 2 0 1 0 0 6 16.7 TAM R 20 MIKAEL RENBERG 3 2 0 2 -1 6 1 0 0 0 8 25.0 TAM L 24 JASON WIEMER 3 2 0 2 3 6 0 0 0 0 5 40.0 TAM C 18 DAYMOND LANGKOW 2 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 TAM C 19 BRIAN BRADLEY 3 0 2 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 8 .0 TAM R 29 ALEXANDER SELIVANOV 3 1 0 1 2 8 0 0 0 0 4 25.0 TAM L 34 MIKAEL ANDERSSON 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 TAM D 6 JEFF NORTON 3 0 1 1 -4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 TAM L 15 PAUL YSEBAERT 3 0 1 1 -2 4 0 0 0 0 4 .0 TAM D 44 ROMAN HAMRLIK 3 0 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 11 .0 TAM D 33 YVES RACINE 1 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 TAM L 79 VLADIMIR VUJTEK 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 TAM D 5 IGOR ULANOV 2 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 TAM L 9 JEFF TOMS 2 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 TAM D 8 JAMIE HUSCROFT 3 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 3 .0 TAM G 93 DAREN PUPPA 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 TAM R 21 MICK VUKOTA 3 0 0 0 0 17 0 0 0 0 0 .0 TAM D 14 KARL DYKHUIS 3 0 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 .0 TAM L 28 PATRICK POULIN 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 .0 TAM D 4 CORY CROSS 3 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 TAM R 22 IGOR KOROLEV 2 1 0 1 -2 2 1 0 0 0 5 20.0 TOR L 17 WENDEL CLARK 2 0 1 1 -2 0 0 0 0 0 11 .0 TOR R 20 *MIKE JOHNSON 2 0 1 1 -2 0 0 0 0 0 8 .0 TOR G 30 GLENN HEALY 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 TOR G 29 FELIX POTVIN 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 TOR R 28 TIE DOMI 2 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 .0 TOR L 12 KRIS KING 2 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 TOR L 7 DEREK KING 2 0 0 0 -2 4 0 0 0 0 4 .0 TOR D 34 JAMIE MACOUN 2 0 0 0 -3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 TOR D 72 MATHIEU SCHNEIDER 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 .0 TOR C 13 MATS SUNDIN 2 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 0 6 .0 TOR D 2 ROB ZETTLER 2 0 0 0 -3 4 0 0 0 0 1 .0 TOR C 14 DARBY HENDRICKSON 2 0 0 0 -2 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 TOR D 36 DIMITRI YUSHKEVICH 2 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 3 .0 TOR L 8 TODD WARRINER 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 4 .0 TOR D 25 JASON SMITH 2 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 TOR C 42 *KEVYN ADAMS 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 TOR R 94 SERGEI BEREZIN 2 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 TOR D 24 PER GUSTAFSSON 2 0 0 0 -3 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 TOR C 18 *ALYN MCCAULEY 2 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 VAN R 10 PAVEL BURE 2 2 0 2 3 6 0 0 1 0 14 14.3 VAN D 4 GRANT LEDYARD 2 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 .0 VAN L 19 MARKUS NASLUND 2 0 2 2 3 2 0 0 0 0 4 .0 VAN R 16 TREVOR LINDEN 2 1 0 1 -1 0 1 0 0 0 4 25.0 VAN C 11 MARK MESSIER 2 1 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 100.0 VAN C 24 SCOTT WALKER 2 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 4 25.0 VAN D 44 DAVE BABYCH 2 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 VAN L 23 MARTIN GELINAS 2 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 5 .0 VAN R 26 MIKE SILLINGER 1 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 VAN C 20 *DAVE SCATCHARD 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 VAN D 21 JYRKI LUMME 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 VAN G 1 KIRK MCLEAN 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 VAN D 5 DANA MURZYN 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 .0 VAN R 28 BRIAN NOONAN 2 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .0 VAN L 29 GINO ODJICK 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 VAN L 7 DAVID ROBERTS 2 0 0 0 -2 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 VAN D 25 STEVE STAIOS 2 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 2 .0 VAN L 8 DONALD BRASHEAR 2 0 0 0 -2 7 0 0 0 0 0 .0 VAN R 14 LONNY BOHONOS 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 VAN D 2 *MATTIAS OHLUND 2 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 4 .0 WAS R 12 PETER BONDRA 2 2 2 4 2 2 0 0 1 0 10 20.0 WAS L 44 *RICHARD ZEDNIK 3 3 0 3 3 0 1 0 0 0 11 27.3 WAS D 6 CALLE JOHANSSON 3 1 2 3 3 0 1 0 0 0 9 11.1 WAS C 90 JOE JUNEAU 3 1 2 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 4 25.0 WAS L 22 STEVE KONOWALCHUK 3 1 2 3 4 2 0 0 0 0 3 33.3 WAS C 77 ADAM OATES 3 0 3 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 .0 WAS C 20 MICHAL PIVONKA 3 0 3 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .0 WAS C 8 *JAN BULIS 3 0 3 3 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 .0 WAS D 96 PHIL HOUSLEY 3 1 1 2 3 2 0 1 0 0 9 11.1 WAS C 32 DALE HUNTER 3 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 4 25.0 WAS L 34 *JAROSLAV SVEJKOVSKY 3 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 11 9.1 WAS C 28 *JAN BENDA 3 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .0 WAS L 27 CRAIG BERUBE 3 1 0 1 2 5 0 0 0 0 2 50.0 WAS D 29 JOE REEKIE 3 1 0 1 4 2 0 0 1 0 1 100.0 WAS D 24 MARK TINORDI 3 1 0 1 2 6 0 0 0 0 2 50.0 WAS L 10 KELLY MILLER 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .0 WAS G 30 BILL RANFORD 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 WAS D 3 SYLVAIN COTE 3 0 0 0 2 6 0 0 0 0 6 .0 WAS G 37 OLAF KOLZIG 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 WAS L 17 CHRIS SIMON 3 0 0 0 1 16 0 0 0 0 3 .0 WAS D 19 BRENDAN WITT 3 0 0 0 2 12 0 0 0 0 2 .0 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