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"False, Wrong, Bogus, Incorrect and Bullspit." - Pro Ice Hockey Archives
December 01, 2003
Pro Ice Hockey Blog Archives
« November 2003 |
Main
| January 2004 »
"False, Wrong, Bogus, Incorrect and Bullspit."
From the locker room to the press box, the final days of 2003 find the hockey world in a rather cranky mood.
Maybe They Should Move To Toronto
Down in Miami The coach/GM of the Panthers has a bone to pick with the South Florida media. Rick Dudley wants his young players to ignore all the negative newspaper coverage. "I can't control what's in the press, but I can control what's in the dressing room,'' Dudley tells the Miami Herald.
They Can Always Fire The Coach
Three shorthanded goals against in one game is a pretty good sign that your team is still in a slump. Despite the current reign of error, there will be no changes for the Bruins, at least according to the Boston Herald. "The Bruins' management and coaching staff believe this team is OK the way it is," according to the Herald's Stephen Harris. They sure don't look okay.
The Streak That Wasn't
It's about time somebody had a go at this. Jack Todd of the Montreal Gazette points out the obvious: the advent of the NHL's loser point (when teams gain one point for losing in overtime) has made the numerical winning/undefeated/hot streak practically meaningless. "We keep hearing that our beloved CentreoftheUniverse Leafs had a 16game point streak snapped with a 31 loss to the Isles Saturday," says Hyperbolic Jack. "False, wrong, bogus, incorrect and bullspit." Well, it maybe bogus and bullspit, but it's not false or wrong. Thanks to the loser point, the Maple Leafs really did scrounge at least one point from 16 straight. Otherwise, he makes a worthwhile argument.
No One Ever Said It Would Be Fun
The Dallas StarTelegram reports that exStars and current Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock gets results by being cranky all the time.
Everyone Loves Uncle Bill
For Texas hockey fans who may have lost track, the Fort Worth StarTelegram offers a tinely reminder that the Chicago Blackhawks stink, and will for as long as the creepy Bill Wirtz who has looked old for at least as long as Dick Clark has looked young holds the keys.
05:34 PM #
NHL Daily: The Best Losing Goalie
Florida's goaltender got a real workout on Monday. But then, he gets a real workout every night. The Bruins, meanwhile, dig themselves a little further into their hole. Our NHL Daily page fills you in on the scores, last night's fantasy hockey whiz, injury news, the latest from around the NHL and more.
The Score Sunday:
Senators 3Panthers 2 (OT): Any goalie who can face 45 shots from Ottawa and earn his team a point deserves a raise. Roberto Luongo makes 42 saves, but he can’t make the last one, as Todd White scores the overtime winner for the Senators.
Kings 4Canucks 4: An eventful game. Vancouver gives up a pair of shorthanded goals, but L.A. blows a 41 lead. Cristobal Huet makes 40 saves for the Kings.
Canadiens 4Penguins 1: Sheldon Souray scores his 12th goal. Not only does he lead all NHL defensemen, he has as many goals as Jeff O’Neill, Marian Gaborik and Alexei Kovalev combined.
Rangers 4Bruins 2: Everyone local media, owner, team president is down on the Bruins, who have two wins in 15 games. Losing this one won’t ease the pressure any.
Red Wings 2Blues 1: The St. Louis winning streak is over at nine games (702). Pavel Datsyuk gets a couple of points, as usual, including a shorthanded goal.
Stars 3Hurricanes 1: Two goals and an assist for Jere Lehtinen, who has been very quiet this season.
Coyotes 3Predators 3/Sharks 2Mighty Ducks 1.
Fantasy Hockey Whiz: The Kings' Ziggy Palffy scores a pair against Vancouver. He's the only player in the league to lead his team in goals,assists and plus/minus.
Fantasy Hockey Dog: Panthers' captain Olli Jokinen, who leads the team with 11 goals (and scored 36 last year), has scored just five times in the past 21 games. Linemate Viktor Kozlov has three goals in his past 21.
Rumor Du Jour: A shakeup is in the works in Columbus, with veterans like Geoff Sanderson, Andrew Cassels and Scott Lachance available cheap.
KnowItAll: After polling 42 journalists, The Hockey News has declared Vancouver’s Todd Bertuzzi the best power forward in the NHL.
PlayByPlay:
Atlanta Thrashers' forward Dany Heatley will skate on Tuesday and meet with reporters on Friday. He has not skated since the September 29 car crash that killed teammate Dan Snyder. Heatley, who was driving, has been charged with vehicular homicide, but there are reports the charges could be dropped. Heatley underwent surgery in October on a broken jaw and two torn knee ligaments.
Capitals' center Robert Lang is the NHL Offensive Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, December 21. Lang had four goals and four assists in four games.
Wild goaltender Dwayne Roloson, who posted three consecutive victories, a 2.00 goalsagainst average and .923 save percentage, is the League's Defensive Player of the Week.
Need More? The NHL Quick Fix page is a direct pipeline to all the essential news and info, linking you directly to scores, summaries, game recaps, fantasy hockey news, injury updates, the latest NHL transactions, headlines from around the league and more.
The NHL Quick Fix page has all the hockey intelligence you need.
12:51 AM #
2003 Hockey Quotes of the Year
Brett Hull isn't the only man in the game with something to say. From Paul Kariya to Bill Wirtz to Alpo Suhonen, here's a selection of the year's most interesting and revealing hockey quotes.
11:34 AM #
NHL Weekend: Atlanta Burns
After going scoreless in three games, the Thrashers enjoy a breakout weekend. Ilya Kovalchuk scores big, but Robert Lang stays two steps ahead in the scoring race. But who can tame those wild Maple Leafs? Our NHL Daily page fills you in on the scores, last night's fantasy hockey whiz, injury news, the latest from around the NHL and more.
The Score Sunday:
Thrashers 4Flyers 1: Kovalchuk has a goal and an assist, giving him seven points on the weekend. The Flyers have won once in seven games.
Islanders 5Capitals 4: Washington can’t steer home a 31 lead. But Lang’s two goals maintain his NHL scoring lead, two points ahead of Kovalchuk.
Devils 2Blackhawks 2/Sharks 2Mighty Ducks 1.
The Score Saturday:
Maple Leafs 4Canadiens 2: Mats Sundin scores the gamewinner with 29 seconds left. The Leafs have one loss in 14 games.
Predators 1Red Wings 0: What’s the big deal about playing Detroit? The Predators have defeated the Red Wings three times in three tries this season.
Blues 1Coyotes 1: St. Louis is undefeated in nine December games, and maintains the best winning percentage in the NHL.
Avalanche 3Kings 3: With a hat trick, Joe Sakic has scored Colorado’s last five goals. L.A. remains the best team in an otherwise weak Pacific Division.
Thrashers 7Penguins 4: Five points each for Ilya Kovalchuk and Marc Savard; four points for Slava Kozlov.
Hurricanes 2Bruins 1/Flyers 3Islanders 1/Senators 3Rangers 1/Stars 2Lightning 1/Wild 5Blue Jackets 2/Canucks 3Oilers 0
Fantasy Hockey Whiz: Sakic has nine goals and 11 assist in 12 games. Sundin has at least one point in 23 of Toronto’s last 26 games.
Rumor Du Jour: The alwaysgossiping Larry Brooks of the New York Post says everyone in Dallas is available except Mike Modano, and that the Rangers have a particular interest in bringing Jason Arnott back east.
Lame: The Kings have placed defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky on injured reserve after he suffered a concussion on Friday. Goaltender Roman Cechmanek reaggravated a hip injury on Saturday.
PlayByPlay:
The Philadelphia Flyers have signed center Mike Comrie to a oneyear contract, reported to be worth $1.75million.
Mighty Ducks defenceman Sandis Ozolinsh is out for at least one week with a strained left shoulder.
Atlanta Thrashers defenseman Ivan Majesky has been placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Need More? The NHL Quick Fix page is a direct pipeline to all the essential news and info, linking you directly to scores, summaries, game recaps, fantasy hockey news, injury updates, the latest NHL transactions, headlines from around the league and more.
The NHL Quick Fix page has all the hockey intelligence you need.
11:00 PM #
White Jerseys, Dark Jerseys... Who's Who?
For over 30 years, NHL fans could count on one thing: the good guys always wore white, the bad guys always wore dark. But this season, the league has reversed colors, dressing home teams in dark uniforms and visitors in white. Why? You will be shocked to learn that it all comes down to money. Here's a brief history of the NHL color code.
03:45 PM #
NHL Daily: A Goaltender Breaks Through?
The Flames are road killers, the Stars are road kill, and Giguere finally figures out where the puck is. Our NHL Daily page fills you in on the scores, last night's fantasy hockey whiz, injury news, the latest from around the NHL and more.
The Score:
Mighty Ducks 1Avalanche 0: J.S. Giguere stops 38 shots for his first shutout of the season. The Ducks have won just 5 of Giguere’s 20 starts.
Panthers 1Stars 0: The Stars have been held scoreless three times in the last eight games. They can’t win away from home (3122).
Flames 2Blue Jackets 1: Calgary kills off 13 power plays, scores a shorthanded goal, and finishes an eastern road trip threeforthree.
Devils 5Sabres 2/Red Wings 3 Blackhawks 2/Maple Leafs 2Capitals 2.
Fantasy Hockey Whiz: Columbus left winger Rick Nash is the first player to hit the 20goal mark this season.
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Rumor Du Jour: Much talk that the Sabres are looking to unload Miroslav Satan. Satan is in the midst of one of his worst seasons, with 14 points in 33 games.
Lame: Minnesota Wild defenseman Brad Brown broke his right wrist early during Thursday's 11 tie in Edmonton. He is out of the lineup indefinitely.
Streaking: The Sabres have lost seven straight; the Maple Leafs are 11011.
PlayByPlay:
The Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League have retired Dan Snyder’s #14. The ceremony took place before a game on Friday night. Snyder played four seasons with the junior team, serving as captain for two years. He died October 5 in a car accident in Atlanta, where he played for the Thrashers.
Need More? The NHL Quick Fix page is a direct pipeline to all the essential news and info, linking you directly to scores, summaries, game recaps, fantasy hockey news, injury updates, the latest NHL transactions, headlines from around the league and more.
The NHL Quick Fix page has all the hockey intelligence you need.
05:02 PM #
"The Best Seat In The House... Only Better"
A small number of satellite TV subscribers will be choosing their own camera angles and replays as they watch tomorrow night's NHL action. Bell ExpressVu, a Canadian satellite company, will introduce a new interactive service called Hockey Night in Canada Plus.
Subscribers who own compatible receivers can watch the regular broadcast, but will also have access to:
"AlternateCam" Provides an alternate camera angle with a rinkwide view and action from around the net.
"PlayerCam" Provides isolated coverage of key players.
"Second Look Cam" Shows the game on a 45second delay, so any play can be viewed a second time.
Continuous game highlights.
Uptotheminute ingame statistics, team information and notes.
“Now that we've got the capability, I'm very confident we will continue to drive the innovation,” ExpressVu president Tim McGee tells the Toronto Globe and Mail.
The paper reports that among ExpressVu subscribers, only about 700,000 own the correct receiver for the interactive broadcast. HNIC Plus will be broadcast free of charge for four weeks, after which it becomes a payperview service.
05:05 PM #
NHL Daily: Canadiens' Season Flashes Before Their Eyes
They held their breath in Montreal, awaiting results of the most important xrays of the season. Meanwhile, it’s a big night for fantasy players, as the Canadiens, Lighting, Senators and Flames all hit the fivegoal mark. Our NHL Daily page fills you in on the scores, last night's fantasy hockey whiz, injury news, the latest from around the NHL and more.
The Score:
Canadiens 5Predators 4 (OT): Jose Theodore plays the first period for the Montreal, then leaves with a sore collarbone caused by a shot in the pregame warmup. Xrays prove negative, and Theodore says he’ll be back next game. In his absence, his teammates chip away at several Nashville leads to get the win.
Blues 4Sharks 2: St. Louis’ 43 points in 29 games is the best record in hockey
Devils 3Thrashers 0: Where have all the good times gone? The highscoring Thrashers have been shut out in three straight games.
Lightning 5Flyers 4 (OT): The Flyers outshoot another opponent, 4128. But once again, Jeff Hackett is the secondbest goalie in the game.
Flames 5Bruins 0: The Bruins have won three of 15 games over the past month.
Senators 6Blackhawks 1/Rangers 4Islanders 3/Hurricanes 2Penguins 1/Oilers 1Wild 1/Kings 4Coyotes 4
Fantasy Hockey Whiz: After a hat trick against Nashville, Montreal’s Sheldon Souray leads all NHL defensemen with 11 goals.
Virgin Territory: Ottawa goalie Ray Emery wins his first NHL start; Carolina’s new coach, Pewter Laviolette, wins his first game; and the Devils’ Rob Skrlac, a 27yearold rookie and veteran of 366 minor league games, scores his first NHL goal in his second NHL game.
Rumor Du Jour: Reports from Florida suggest scouts from all over the NHL are sizing up Kristian Huselius. The 25yearold left winger, who always looks like he should score more than he does, was recently scratched from three of six games by the Panthers.
KnowItAll: Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun says the American Hockey League's upcoming experiment in which the league will widen the blue lines and center ice line for several games suggests that the suits running pro hockey want more excitement in the game.
PlayByPlay:
The family of Keith Magnuson says Rob Ramage is not to blame for the car accident that killed the former Blackhawks defenceman. Ramage, another retired player, was driving the car when it crashed near Toronto on Monday. He is charged with impaired driving and dangerous driving. Magnuson’s wife, Cindy, has spoken to Ramage and released a statement offering support.
The Detroit Red Wings have released center Jiri Hudler to play for the Czech Republic at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Finland. Hudler has three points in 12 games this season.
Need More? The NHL Quick Fix page is a direct pipeline to all the essential news and info, linking you directly to scores, summaries, game recaps, fantasy hockey news, injury updates, the latest NHL transactions, headlines from around the league and more.
The NHL Quick Fix page has all the hockey intelligence you need.
12:29 AM #
AHL Will Experiment With The Big Lines
At the NHL's request, the American Hockey League will conduct an experiment using wider blue lines and a wider center line. The hope is that the addition of extra paint widening each line by two feet will open up the game by increasing the size of the neutral zone.
Starting December 27, the AHL will change its lines for eight selected games:
Two feet of blue will be added to the net side of each blue line
One foot of red will be added to each side of the center line.
The blue lines themselves are considered part of the neutral zone, increasing the length of the zone by four feet.
Picture a player carrying the puck out of his own zone. As soon as he reaches the blue line, he can fire a pass to the far edge of the center line. With the extra paint, he has an added three feet to work with: two more feet of blue in his own zone and an extra foot of red at the far side of the center line.
If he makes a pass from blue line to blue line, he has an extra four feet of ice to work with the two feet of blue paint added to the net side of each line.
Still confused? TSN's Bob McKenzie diagrams the "bigger lines" concept. You have register with TSN to watch their video stuff, but it's free.
McKenzie also helpfully points out that there is an easier way to add four feet to the neutral zone: Push each net two feet closer to the end boards, and move the blue lines accordingly. All that room behind the net is just wasted space anyway.
11:21 AM #
NHL Daily: Crowded At The Summit
Detroit is the first NHL team to score 100 goals this season; Curtis Joseph has four wins in five games; and another victoryfromthejawsofdefeat performance lifts the Red Wings into a threeway tie with Toronto and Philadelphia for first place overall. Read on for Wednesday's scores, fantasy hockey updates, injury news, the latest from around the NHL and more.
The Score:
Red Wings 3Sharks 2 (OT): It wouldn’t be a Detroit game without a little show by Brett Hull and Pavel Datsyuk. Hull feeds Datsyuk for the tying goal with 26 seconds left; Brendan Shanahan finishes the job in overtime.
Stars 3Canucks 1: Dallas scores more than one goal for the first time in eight games.
Capitals 2Panthers 2: Jagr sits out with a broken thumbnail. Maxime Ouellet has another decent game for the Caps, with 20 saves.
Wild 3Avalanche 2: Joe Sakic’s two goals and assorted dangerous shifts are not enough for the Avs.
Fantasy Hockey Whiz: Henrik Zetterberg, returning from 21 games off with a broken leg, bags a goal and two assists for Detroit.
Fantasy Hockey Dog: Henrik Sedin is a healthy scratch for the Canucks’ game in Dallas. His brother isn’t doing anything either.
Rumor Du Jour: Barry Melrose at ESPN says an Eric LindrosJaromir Jagr trade makes sense in an ourproblemforyourproblem kind of way. The Rangers can afford Jagr’s longterm deal; Lindros’ contract expires after this season, which suits the suddenly parsimonious Capitals.
Lame: The Devils’ Jamie Langenbrunner, who underwent knee surgery November 29, has reportedly had his return pushed back to earlymid January.
Streaking: Vancouver has piled up points by winning in overtime. But it has now been nine games since they finished an opponent in 60 minutes.
PlayByPlay:
The Philadelphia Flyers trade forward Eric Chouinard to the Minnesota Wild for a fifthround pick in the 2004 NHL entry draft.
Defenseman Teppo Numminen and right wing Aaron Downey return to the Dallas Stars after lengthy injury layoffs. But the Stars place backup goalie Ron Tugnutt on injured reserve with a knee sprain.
Vancouver backup goaltender Johan Hedberg will miss at least 10 days with a fractured left hand.
Vaclav Varada of the Ottawa Senators is out at least four weeks with a left knee injury.
Need More? The NHL Quick Fix page is a direct pipeline to all the essential news and info, linking you directly to scores, summaries, game recaps, fantasy hockey news, injury updates, the latest NHL transactions, headlines from around the league and more.
The NHL Quick Fix page has all the hockey intelligence you need.
12:20 AM #
NHL Daily: Toronto Gets View From The Top
Across Canada, they dream of moments like this. After Tuesday's 30 win over Tampa Bay, the Toronto Maple Leafs are... the best team in the NHL! Actually, they're tied with Philadelphia. And the Flyers haven't played as many games, nor have the near unbeatable St. Louis Blues. But if you bleed blue and white, why quibble over such details? Read on for more scores, fantasy hockey updates, injury news, the latest from around the NHL and more.
The Score:
Maple Leafs 3Lightning 0: Ed Belfour records his third shutout in six games and his fourth of the season.
Islanders 5Devils 4: New York erases a 20 lead and scores two goals in 30 seconds in the third period. That isn't supposed to happen to the Devils.
Flames 3Flyers 2 (OT): What's going on in Calgary? The Flames are six games over .500 and on the move in the West.
Canucks 2Predators 1 (OT): Vancouver goes to overtime for the fifth time in six games. They have three wins and two ties to show for it.
Blues 2Blue Jackets 1 (OT): St. Louis can also play a 65minute game. The Blues have won five straight, three of them in overtime. Keith Tkachuk scores the gamewinner. He has 16 goals, coming within reach of the league leaders.
Bruins 1Canadiens 1/Penguins 2Sabres 1/Capitals 5Thrashers 0/Kings 4Oilers 2
Fantasy Hockey Whiz: Washington's Robert Lang, with two goals and two assists against Atlanta, has 32 points in his last 21 games. Nobody can stop this guy.
Streaking: The Buffalo Sabres have lost six in a row. Scoring nine goals in those six games has not helped.
Lame: Buffalo's Chris Drury suffers a separated shoulder in the loss to Pittsburgh. He's expected to be out a week to 10 days.
PlayByPlay:
Capitals' goaltender Maxime Ouellet picks up his first NHL win in style, stopping 37 shots to shut out Atlanta.
Espen Knutsen's NHL career could be over. The Columbus Blue Jackets have bought out his contract. Knutsen, the only Norwegian in the NHL, has played just 45 games in the last two seasons due to injuries.
Need More? The NHL Quick Fix page is a direct pipeline to all the essential news and info, linking you directly to scores, summaries, game recaps, fantasy hockey news, injury updates, the latest NHL transactions, headlines from around the league and more.
The NHL Quick Fix page has all the hockey intelligence you need.
12:46 AM #
A Curious Trade: Mike Comrie Is A Flyer
Mike Comrie's brief, eventful tenure as an Edmonton Oiler has ended. The player once projected as the team's next great centerman will now try to work out a new contract with Philadelphia. The Flyers acquired Comrie on Tuesday, sending defensive prospect Jeff Woywitka and draft picks to Edmonton. So why did Oilers' GM Kevin Lowe go for this trade instead of a similar deal offered by Anaheim?
04:31 PM #
Drinking and Driving, A Hockey Tradition
Add Keith Magnuson's name to the tragic list that includes Pelle Lindbergh and Steve Chiasson. While Lindbergh and Chiasson died behind the wheel, Magnuson was a passenger in the car that killed him on Monday night.
ExMaple Leaf Rob Ramage was driving when, according to police reports, the car swerved across the road into oncoming traffic, causing a threecar crash. Ramage, who has been charged with impaired driving causing death, carries on an unfortunate hockey tradition.
The accident happened as Magnuson and Ramage were returning to Toronto following the funeral of another retired NHL player, Keith McCreary, in Bolton, Ontario. Ramage suffered a fractured hip and other injuries believed to be minor.
Magnuson, 56, played defense for the Chicago Blackhawks from 1969 to 1980. He was renowned for his willingness to fight anyone, even though he almost always took a beating. He recorded just 139 points, but piled up 1,442 penalty minutes. Above all, Magnuson was a favorite of the Blackhawk faithful. Fans voted him to the Blackhawks' 75th anniversary team in 2000. He is a member of the Chicago Sports Hall of Fame.
There have been numerous car accidents involving highprofile hockey players, with alcohol playing a role in several.
Lindbergh, the Philadelphia Flyers allstar goalie, was drinking on November 10, 1985, before he was killed running his Porsche into a wall in Sommerdale, New Jersey.
Chiasson had been drinking at a Carolina Hurricanes' seasonending party before his truck left the road near Raleigh on May 3, 1999. He died when he was thrown from the vehicle.
Edmonton Oilers' coach Craig MacTavish was playing for the Boston Bruins in 1984, when he crashed his car into another, killing a woman. Alcohol was a factor and MacTavish served a year in jail for vehicular homicide.
There has been an inconclusive debate over how much Tim Horton had to drink after a game in February of 1974. The Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman died that night after rolling his sports car on the highway between Toronto and Buffalo.
01:53 PM #
World Junior Hockey: Team Canada Named, Team USA Changed
Team Canada released six players this morning and announced its roster for the 2004 World Junior Hockey Championship. Meanwhile, Team USA has replaced a couple of injured players, including the man who might have been their numberone goalie.
The final Canadian cuts include Ian White, a standout defenseman from last year's team. Coaches concluded that White had not sufficiently recovered from a fractured ankle suffered in October.
Sydney Crosby has made the 22man Team Canada roster. He becomes the fifth 16yearold to play for Canada at the World Juniors, following Wayne Gretzky, Eric Lindros, Jason Spezza and Jay Bouwmeester.
With several top 19yearolds playing in the NHL, Canada sends a young team to this year's tournament. The lineup includes 13 players who are 18 or under. Only two players return from the group that placed second in 2003. They are goaltender MarcAndre Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins and forward Brent Burns of the Minnesota Wild, both of whom were made available by their NHL teams.
Team USA, named December 8, has been forced to make changes due to injuries. Goaltender Jimmy Howard and defenseman Dylan Reese are out, replaced by Matt Hunwick on defense and Dominic Vicari in net. Howard played in three games at the 2003 World Junior Championship.
The updated roster (view here in .pdf or .doc formats) includes eight returnees from last year's fourthplace team, including defenseman Ryan Suter and forwards Patrick O'Sullivan, Zach Parise and Ryan Kesler.
The 2004 World Junior Hockey Championship takes place December 26 to January 5 in Helsinki and Hameenlinna, Finland.
12:08 PM #
NHL Daily: Maybe They Should Trade Hasek
Joseph is redeemed, Datsyuk is a star and Zamuner is unwanted. Our new NHL Daily page fills you in on the scores, last night's fantasy hockey whiz, injury news, the latest from around the NHL and more.
The Score:
Red Wings 4Panthers 1: Curtis Joseph stops 21 shots for Detroit, making several tough saves. That's three wins in four starts for Joseph since the rest of the Red Wings' goalies went down with injuries. But none of those four opponents are legitimate playoff teams.
Wild 5Coyotes 2: After a lengthy drought, Minnesota is finally scoring again. Two of last night's goals were into an empty net, an easy way to boost the average. Andrew Brunette records three points.
Fantasy Hockey Whiz: Pavel Datsyuk, with two points last night, has seven goals and five assists in his last five games. He's two points ahead of Markus Naslund in the scoring race and tied for second in goals with 18.
Lame: Six weeks later, Mario Lemieux's hip injury is still nowhere near healed. "He's working on it and trying to get better," Penguins' GM Craig Patrick told Associated Press. "If you ask him about it, he says, `Yeah, I'm doing better,' but he's not the happiest of people."
KnowItAll: Frank Dascenzo of the Durham HeraldSun says the situation facing the new coach of the Carolina Hurricanes can be summed up in a single phrase: No Goals, No Glory.
PlayByPlay:
Last night's loss to Minnesota marked the Coyotes' final game at America West Arena, which apparently was a lousy place to watch hockey. The Coyotes move into their spiffy new place December 27, when they return from a road trip.
Former Blackhawk Keith Magnuson was killed in a car accident last night. He was 57. ExLeaf Rob Ramage, who was driving, suffered a broken leg. Magnuson played from 1969 to 1980. He fought a lot, didn't win many, and was a fan favorite.
Left winger Rob Zamuner has cleared waivers in Boston, so the Bruins are likely looking to trade him and his $2million salary.
Need More? The NHL Quick Fix page is a direct pipeline to all the essential news and info, linking you directly to scores, summaries, game recaps, fantasy hockey news, injury updates, the latest NHL transactions, headlines from around the league and more.
The NHL Quick Fix page has all the hockey intelligence you need.
11:10 AM #
Carolina Hurricanes Finally Blame The Coach
Hired in November of 1995, Paul Maurice was the NHL coach with the longest tenure at his current position. He is current no more. The Carolina Hurricanes fired Maurice and two assistants today, a few hours after a 21 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks.
The Hurricanes don't look any worse now than they did last season. But it seems management could no longer resist the lure of the "eject" button.
Peter Laviolette, axed last spring by the New York Islanders, takes over the job. His assistants are Kevin McCarthy, who worked with Maurice, and recently retired Hurricanes' forward Jeff Daniels.
Maurice took over the team when they were still the Hartford Whalers, moving to Carolina with the franchise in 1997. His legacy is the Hurricanes' unlikely trip to the 2002 Stanley Cup Final. After finishing the regular season in 8th place, Carolina knocked off New Jersey, Montreal and Toronto before falling to Detroit in a fivegame championship series.
But the decline was equally sudden and sharp. The team squandered the excitement generated by its unexpected playoff success when it sank to last place in the entire NHL last season.
This year's Hurricanes have a record of 81282, leaving them in 13th place out of 15 Eastern Conference teams.
There was much optimism that a reinforced defense (Bob Boughner, Danny Markov) and a couple of exciting new forwards (Eric Staal, Radim Vrbata) would lead a Carolina revival this season. It obviously hasn't happened.
The team has fared reasonably well on defense. Kevin Weekes, a veteran backup goalie, has been very good as the numberone man. But the Hurricanes can't score at all. Their average of 1.87 goalspergame is the lowest in the league.
Key veterans like Jeff O'Neill (2 goals), Rod Brind'amour (2 goals), Bret Hedican (1 goal) and Ron Francis (minus12) have underachieved. Younger players like Erik Cole and Jaroslav Svoboda have never lived up to the potential they showed during the great 2002 playoff run.
Time to find out if the coach was the problem.
03:08 PM #
NHL Daily Quick Fix: Weekend Wrap
How far can a playoff MVP fall? JeanSebastian Giguere hopes he has seen the limit. The Anaheim goaltender was back in the net on Sunday, trying to salvage a nightmarish month in the midst of a miserable season. Also on the weekend, the Flyers run into a familiar brick wall; the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pavel Datsyuk and Trent Hunter keep pouring it on.
Sunday's Games:
He was pulled in Detroit (4 goals on 24 shots). Two nights later he was pulled in Atlanta (5 goals on 28 shots). So the Anaheim Mighty Ducks let J.S. Giguere watch three games from the bench. Last spring's playoff hero was back in the net on Sunday and looking better (3 goals on 29 shots), but not good enough to beat the Edmonton Oilers. Raffi Torres scores his ninth of the season with just under six minutes left, giving the Oilers a 32 victory.
A pair of struggling teams struggle to a 11 tie. Steve Sullivan scores on a breakaway for Chicago. Sergei Zubov gets a shorthanded goal for Dallas.
The Vancouver Canucks need extra minutes again. Markus Naslund finishes a rush by Todd Bertuzzi to lift the Canucks over the Carolina Hurricanes, 21. With five wins in 12 tries, the Canucks are tied with St. Louis for most overtime victories. Naslund leads the NHL with three OT goals and is tied for the overall NHL scoring lead.
Saturday's Games:
Are the Flyers Stanley Cup contenders? Only if someone else knocks off the Devils. After Saturday's 20 loss, Philadelphia is 021 against New Jersey this season. Martin Brodeur records the shutout on 32 shots. Jersey trails Philadelphia by four points at the top of the Eastern Conference.
With their 10th win in 11 games, the Toronto Maple Leafs move to within a point of the Flyers. Mikael Renberg (2 goals1 assist) and Gary Roberts (1 goal2 assists) drive the Leafs to a 31 win against the New York Rangers. After the game, Rangers' coach Glen Sather singles out Eric Lindros: "I didn't think he was playing very well."
It seems there is no stopping Pavel Datsyuk. He scores twice in Detroit's 52 win over Washington. With 36 points, he finishes the game sitting one ahead of the Capitals' Robert Lang and Vancouver's Markus Naslund in the NHL scoring race.
The best team in the West might be the St. Louis Blues. A 21 win over Los Angeles gives the Blues 39 points. That's one point less than Detroit, but St. Louis has five games in hand.
No comeback for the Thrashers on this night. Atlanta loses for the first time in five games, 40 to the Islanders. Trent Hunter, with his 11th goal, moves into a tie with Vancouver's Jason King for most goals by an NHL rookie.
For the second straight game, goaltender David Aebischer is the best player on the Colorado Avalanche. Aebischer makes 32 saves in Colorado's 11 tie with Calgary. On Thursday, he stopped 37 shots for a 11 tie in Vancouver.
Bruins 3Senators 2/Penguins 5Blue Jackets 3/Canadiens 5Lightning 2/Panthers 2Predators 2/Wild 3Sabres 2/Sharks 2Mighty Ducks 0.
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01:21 PM #
Top 10 Hockey Books for the New Fan
There are an awful lot of hockey books out there. Most of them aren't very good. Here's our pick of ten shinny books that best explain rules, fundamentals and customs, celebrate hockey history and provide plenty of tips and essential knowledge for fans and players.
03:30 PM #
Wounded Stars: Heatley, Forsberg, Kariya Won't Play Anytime Soon
Paul Kariya's sprained wrist, which sounded innocent enough back in October, has now cost him a full quarter of the NHL season. Colorado teammate Peter Forsberg has also missed more games than he has played. Meanwhile, in Atlanta, Dany Heatley continues the arduous process of healing body and spirit.
Kariya, who can't grip a hockey stick with his right hand, describes his status as "weektoweek." The Rocky Mountain News reports that Kariya probably won't play again until 2004.
"When it heals I'll be 100 percent right away," he says. "There's going to be no transition period in terms of getting in shape, and I have the rest of the year to enjoy playing with these guys and making a run at it."
Kariya claims there is no need of surgery to repair the wrist: "If it wasn't making any progress, I'd be discouraged. It's one of those injuries where you just have to give it rest."
The article has ominous undertones. How much of "the rest of the year" will be left when he finally gets back in the lineup? And if surgery is even being mentioned, it raises the possibility remote, but still present that Kariya won't play another game this season.
Forsberg, the reigning NHL scoring champion and MVP, sounds less optimistic than Kariya. "I just have to be patient and make sure this isn't going to be a wholeseason thing," Forsberg says, refering to groin and abdominal problems that have kept him out of 17 games.
The tribulations of Kariya and Forsberg are trivial compared to those of Dany Heatley.
Heatley has unresolved legal issues with the Fulton County district attorney's office, relating to the September 29 car crash that killed teammates Dan Snyder. Prosecutors have yet to decide whether to proceed with charges of vehicular homicide.
On the hockey front, Thrashers' GM Don Waddel tells the Atlanta JournalConstitution that Heatley should begin skating by the end of December. He has been rehabilitating from surgery to repair his right knee, which was damaged in the accident.
That could mean a return to the lineup by the end of February. Whether Heatley will be mentally and emotionally prepared to resume his career at that point is another issue, one that nobody is addressing at the moment.
02:56 PM #
NHL Daily Quick Fix: Brodeur Rules
Philadelphia had the puck, but New Jersey had the goalie. Martin Brodeur stops 37 shots as the Devils and Flyers tie 33. Jeff Hackett makes 18 saves for the Flyers, and almost sabotages his team by letting in a couple of weak ones, including a Scott Niedermayer shot from center ice. Philadelphia is forced to come back twice in the game, down 20 after the first period and 32 in the third. Keith Primeau and Sami Kapanen combine for two of the Flyers' goals. In other Friday games:
The Atlanta Thrashers guarantee excitement at both ends of the rink. After Friday's 63 victory over Pittsbrugh, the Thrashers are the only team in the league to have scored and allowed at least 90 goals. Marc Savard remains Atlanta's hottest hand with a goal and two assists.
Doug Weight's overtime goal gives St. Louis a 32 win over Columbus and leaves the Blue Jackets fuming. Moments before the goal, Keith Tkachuk levels Columbus defenseman Darryl Sydor to set up a 3on1 for the Blues. After the game, even the St. Louis players and coaches admit Tkachuk should have been called for interference. Blue Jacket Rick Nash scores his 19th goal of the season, giving him the league lead.
Jose Theodore stops 45 shots for Montreal. But he can't stop the ones that matter, as the Florida Panthers score three in the third period to beat the Canadiens 42.
Rangers 3Sabres 1/Oilers 3Coyotes 3/Stars 1Blackhawks 0.
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02:11 PM #
NHL Daily Quick Fix: Caps Score For New Guy
If you wanted goals on Thursday, the place to be was Washington. A coaching change did little to improve the Capitals' dreadful defense. But the Washington forwards give new coach Glen Hanlon their stamp of approval by chalking up half a dozen goals in a 65 win over Boston. Eleven players score in the game. Like several other teams that started the season well, Boston has fallen into a lengthy slump, with one win in 10 games. Also on Thursday:
Washington can't stop 'em. Tampa Bay can't score 'em. The Lightning are on a slide because they don't get enough goals. Thursday's 32 loss to Ottawa is the latest example.
Minnesota can't score either. It's big headlines if the Wild manage more than one goal in a game. They don't make headlines on this night, losing 10 to Toronto on Ed Belfour's third shutout and the Maple Leafs' eighth straight road win.
Carolina can't score either (Anyone noticing a pattern here?). Kevin Weekes stops 30 shots, but Shean Donovan's goal gives Calgary a 10 win over the Hurricanes. Donovan has scored the gamewinner in four of Calgary's last five victories.
The goalie of the night is Colorado's David Aebischer. He makes 37 saves the Avalanche are outshot 206 in the third period earning Colorado a 11 tie in Vancouver. Defensemen do the scoring: Ed Jovanovski for the Canucks and Rob Blake for the Avalanche.
A busy finish in Chicago, where Brendan Shanahan ties it for Detroit with 1:08 left, and Mark Bell replies for the Blackhawks 15 seconds into overtime. Chicago wins 43, ending a huge 14game winless streak.
Kings 4Predators 1/Oilers 2Sharks 2.
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01:15 AM #
Want A Trade? It'll Cost You.
The showdown between the Edmonton Oilers and center Mike Comrie has officially turned ugly. After failing to agree to a new contract and demanding a trade, Comrie has been on the sidelines all season. But Edmonton GM Kevin Lowe always insisted the dispute was not personal. Lowe is sticking with that story, but Comrie doesn't see it that way, especially after Lowe demanded a $2.5million payment from Comrie before completing a trade.
The story, now confirmed by both parties, is that Lowe worked out a deal with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks: Comrie for junior prospect Corey Perry and a firstround draft pick. Comrie's agent then hammered out a tentative contract with the Ducks, so the deal was set to go forward.
Not so fast. The Oilers' general manager called his disgruntled hometown hero and told him the deal would be made only if Comrie paid the team $2.5million. As TSN.ca reports, Lowe's cashfortrade gambit is turning into a public relations mess.
"Unethical," says Comrie.
"Insane," growls one Edmonton columnist.
Eric Duhatschek of the Toronto Globe and Mail takes a broader view. He says Edmonton gave Comrie a generous threeyear contract in 2000, based partly on his strong bargaining position and partly on the expectation that he would be around for many years to come. The Oilers must salvage something from their considerable investment in a young hockey player, and they expect Comrie to pay for his refusal to fulfill his half of the bargain.
"Effectively, they've asked Comrie for a partial refund of their acquisition cost," writes Duhatschek, "On the grounds that he delivered only twoandahalf years of services before demanding to go elsewhere and not the decade or or more they were expecting."
05:16 PM #
Canadian Junior Hockey: A Teenage Sweatshop?
Canadian junior hockey is in the news this week for all the wrong reasons. A prominent player agent says players at the highest level of under20 hockey are exploited and mistreated. Gilles Lupien insists that the entire junior hockey system must to be restructured. To begin with, the three Major Junior leagues which form the primary feeder system for the NHL should cut back their schedules and reduce travel time.
03:05 PM #
NHL Daily Quick Fix: Maybe Cujo Can Play For Us After All
When Curtis Joseph was waived through the league last week, it seemed safe to assume he was finished as a Red Wing. That was before Manny Legace and Dominik Hasek landed on the injury list. Cujo is welcomed back with a big effort by his teammates, as Detroit whomps Buffalo 72 on Wednesday. The Red Wings have loads of other injuries as well, so it is left to players like Schneider, Devereaux and Hudler to fill the net. Pavel Datsyuk leads the team with two goals and an assist. Joseph stops 23 shots. In other Wednesday games:
Big Goalie #1: The Dallas Stars outshoot Phoenix 4018. But a classic Sean Burke performance leads the Coyotes to a 21 victory.
Big Goalie #2: Fred Brathwaite of the Blue Jackets turns away 40 shots and comes within 1:08 of a shutout. But a late goal by Sami Kapanen salvages a 11 tie for the Philadelphia Flyers in Columbus.
Big Goalie #3: Garth Snow is perfect for 60 minutes, stopping 33 shots. But his New York Islander teammates cannot score against New Jersey. In overtime, Patrik Elias finally sifts one through Snow, giving the Devils a 10 win.
Serious goaltending in Florida as well, where Andrew Raycroft of the Bruins and Roberto Luongo of the Panthers put on a show. The game ends in a 11 draw after Boston's Ted Donato ties it on a beautiful shorthanded breakway goal.
A wild one in Atlanta, where neither the Thrashers nor the L.A. Kings can hold a lead. The Kings' Joe Corvo scores with 5 seconds left to tie the game. But Atlanta's Marc Savard sends the crowd home happy by converting the rebound and giving the Thrashers the 43 win in OT.
Anaheim gets off to a poor start, giving up the first two goals to the San Jose Sharks. But the Mighty Ducks chip away, with one in the second and two in the third, to steal a 32 win.
Saku Koivu tips a poor clearing attempt to Jan Bulis for the gamewinner with about six minutes left, as the Canadiens continue their current roll with a 21 victory against the Rangers. Montreal has just two losses in its last nine games.
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01:16 AM #
Living The NHL Dream... Sort Of
Chris Levesque was at the University of British Columbia library, cramming for a geography exam, when a friend tracked him down yesterday. The Vancouver Canucks were on the phone, looking for a goalie for their game against Pittsburgh. "Yeah, right," figured Chris, a thirdstring goaltender with the UBC varsity team.
No joke, as it turned out. Canucks' starter Dan Cloutier pulled a groin in the morning skate, so Johan Hedberg took over for the game against the Penguins. But that left the team with no backup. Their minor league goaltenders were all on the east coast, several time zones away. There was no way one of them could make it to Vancouver in time for a 7:08 pm puck drop.
So began the search that ended with Chris Levesque in a Vancouver Canucks uniform for one night.
"All the guys were really friendly, introduced themselves, as if I don't know who they are," he told reporters after the game.
According to Slam Sports, it was straight back home and back to the books after Chris Levesque's brush with the NHL.
The day after his Canucks' debut, Chris told his story to the CBC Radio program As It Happens.
07:22 PM #
So Long Bruce: Capitals Replace The Coach
No real surprise that the Washington Capitals fired head coach Bruce Cassidy today. The Capitals have big stars, a big payroll and they stink. No coach survives that situation. It's a wonder Cassidy lasted as long as he did.
Glen Hanlon is the new man behind the bench. Hanlon joined the Caps as an assistant coach last year. He previously coached Washington's AHL affiliate in Portland. This is his first job in charge of an NHL team.
Cassidy was in a tough spot from the beginning of this season, as the Capitals iced perhaps the thinnest defense in the NHL. It did not help when the team traded captain Steve Konowalchuk for a big winger who can't get out of his own way (Bates Battaglia).
But the coach's fate was likely sealed by that fatal affliction: the unhappy superstar. Washington's $11million man, Jaromir Jagr, has picked up his play recently, and now sits with 30 points in 28 games. But he complained about his ice time, sniped at Cassidy in the press, and talked a good deal about the possibility of a trade to the Rangers.
“I heard I have to earn ice time. I thought I earned it," Jagr told the Washington Times in October. "I haven't talked to Bruce. He's in a higher place than me. I don't have a right to go to the coach and say, 'Can I talk to you?' He should go to the players and ask, but maybe he doesn't need us to know. Maybe he knows everything."
Cassidy probably lost the rest of the team last week, when he suggested that family problems were no excuse for poor play. Some of the Capitals took offense, and the coach later apologized for the remarks.
Cassidy took over the team in June of 2002. Last year he coached the Capitals to a respectable record of 392986. But the season ended on a sour note when they blew a 20 series lead in the opening round of the playoffs, losing to Tampa Bay in six games.
He leaves Washington after managing just eight victories in 28 games this season. The Capitals are currently tied with Pittsburgh as the worst team in the NHL.
12:25 PM #
NHL Daily Quick Fix: The Curse of Alex Stojanov
The Penguins did not need another reminder that they gave up on Markus Naslund too soon. Naslund served notice anyway, scoring all four goals as Vancouver defeated Pittsburgh 43 in overtime on Tuesday. The spree vaults him to the top of the NHL scoring race. Pittsburgh took Naslund in the first round of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. But he played just 25 NHL games in three seasons before being traded to Vancouver for Alex Stojanov in 1996. Stojanov promptly disappeared off the NHL radar. Naslund is on track for his fourth straight 40goal season. Rounding out the other Tuesday games:
Joe Nieuwendyk forces overtime by scoring a shorthanded goal with 17 seconds left in the third. But Chris Pronger scores on the first shift of extra time to give St. Louis the 32 win in Toronto. The Leafs winning streak ends at eight games. The Blues have the best winning percentage in the West.
Minnesota remains one of the NHL's best defensive teams. But it's hard to earn points if you don't score. For the first time in 7 games, the Wild manage more than a single goal, beating Calgary 21.
After charging out to the best start in franchise history, the Tampa Bay Lightning have looked no better than average over the last couple of weeks. Trent Hunter's threepoint night helps the New York Islanders to a 52 win against Tampa. With 16 points, Hunter is tied with Vancouver's Jason King and Boston's Patrice Bergeron as the top rookie scorer.
Marty Murray scores a pair as Carolina hands Edmonton another loss, 32. The Oilers have a win and a tie to show for their last eight games. After misisng over a month with a hip injury, Tommy Salo returns to the Edmonton net, making 22 saves.
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09:58 AM #
A Rock and Roll Kind of Game
Why is hockey associated with so much bad music? Blame the meathead who runs the sound system at your local rink. These days, the arena soundtrack is the last refuge of cheesy metal hits and mouldy disco relics. You must dig a little deeper to find the truly meaningful union of puck and tune. Here's our list of the Top Nine Hockey Songs. What makes a classic hockey song? Hard to say, because great songs about hockey do not always qualify as great songs by any other standard (musical, for example).
08:20 PM #
Brett Hull Left Speechless!
Well, not quite. But The Man With The Shot fumbled for words to put his latest milestone into perspective. After scoring last night's gamewinner against the Los Angeles Kings, Hull trails only Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky on the list of greatest lamplighters in NHL history.
Hull scored his 732nd career goal in overtime, giving the Detroit Red Wings a 32 win over L.A. It was a classic Brett Hull finish a precise onetimer on a crossice feed from defenseman Mathieu Schneider moving him past Marcel Dionne and into third place on the alltime scoring list.
Gretzky leads the career scoresheet with 894 goals. Howe is second with 801.
Gretzky's mark is out of reach. But closing the 69goal gap to catch Gordie is a definite possibility for Hull. At the age of 39, hockey's biggest loudmouth shows no signs of slowing down. Number 732 was also Hull's 16th goal this season. Only Ilya Kovalchuk and Rick Nash have more. Neither of them were old enough for preschool when Hull played his first NHL game back in 1986.
"I'm dumbfounded," he told reporters after receiving congratulations from Howe, who attended last night's game. "I'm not at a loss for words very often, but I don't know how to explain it. I just wanted one day to play in the league, give it a shot, see what I could do."
The Detroit Free Press has further details on the big night at Joe Louis Arena.
01:19 PM #
NHL Daily Quick Fix: Flyers Pull One From The Fire
The Montreal Canadiens almost beat the Philadelphia Flyers at their own game on Monday, doggedly forechecking and backchecking their way to a 21 lead. But late goals by Marcus Ragnarsson and John LeClair spoil the evening for Montreal, as the Flyers come away with a 32 win in a game they should have lost. Jeff Hackett makes 36 saves for Philadelphia; Mathieu Garon stops 28 for the Habs. LeClair has 30 goals in 32 games against Montreal since the Canadiens traded him to Philadelphia in 1995.
With a single shot, Brett Hull won the game and secured a new place in the pantheon of great scorers. Hull's overtime goal lifts Detroit to a 32 victory over Los Angeles. It is also the 732nd goal of his career, moving him past Marcel Dionne and into third place on the alltime scoresheet. He now trails only Wayne Gretzky (894) and Gordie Howe (801). The Kings earn a point by rallying from a 20 deficit in the final 10 minutes of the third period.
The Bruins were trying for just their second win in eight games. The Senators were hoping to rebound from Saturday's demoralizing loss to New Jersey. Neither gets the big victory they are looking for, as Ottawa and Boston play to a 33 tie.
Andrei Nikolishin's unassisted goal snuffs out a possible third period comeback by Washington, helping wrap up a 41 win for the Colorado Avalanche. Joe Sakic leads Colorado with a threepoint night.
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11:41 PM #
MarcAndre Fleury Belongs With His Junior Hockey Peers
MarcAndre Fleury deserves a break from the role of teenaged saviour. Pittsburgh Penguins’ fans might not like it, but sending him away will benefit the NHL's youngest goaltending star and his team.
04:43 PM #
Penguins Send Their Best Player To Europe For A Month
MarcAndre Fleury is on his way back to junior hockey, at least for a few weeks. The Pittsburgh Penguins have released their rookie goaltender to play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Helsinki, Finland.
"He's expected to be the man," Pittsburgh GM Craig Patrick said in a statement released by the team. "He's going to benefit an awful lot from the pressure."
The junior training camp begins December 11, and the tournament concludes January 5, effectively removing Fleury from the Pittsburgh lineup for a month. He stopped 38 of 42 shots in his last start, Saturday's 43 loss to Edmonton. He might play against Vancouver on Wednesday before reporting to Team Canada.
Routinely facing over 30 shots per game, Fleury was one of the league's top goaltenders in the early days of the season. But his performance has sagged badly since the beginning of November, with 34 goals against in his last 10 appearances.
Given that he is the Penguins' best player and only remaining box office draw, there has been considerable debate in Pittsburgh over Fleury's status. Some say the Penguins owe it to their fans to keep the star goaltender around all season. Others suggest Fleury needs a break from all the losing. NHL Players sent to the World Junior event often return to their junior league teams for the balance of the season once the tournament is over, putting their pro careers on hold until the following season. But that won't be the case with Fleury. "He'll be back with us when the world championships are over," says Patrick.
Fleury is one of several NHL rookies eligible to participate in the tournament, which is restricted to players under the age of 20. National teams would love to add players like Boston's Patrice Bergeron, Carolina's Eric Staal, Minnesota's Brent Burns (all from Canada), L.A.'s Dustin Brown (USA) and Washington's Alexander Semin (Russia). But it is expected that few, if any, of them will be released.
Update, Dec. 10: The Minnesota Wild have announced that forward Brent Burns will join Canada for the World Junior Championship. Burns has appeared in 15 games for the Wild this season.
09:17 PM #
NHL Daily Quick Fix: Weekend Wrap
It's getting ugly in Dallas. After a brief surge of life in late November, the Stars have lost four straight and are in the midst of a disastorous road trip. On Sunday, the Stars are held scoreless for the second time in three games, losing 40 to Anaheim. The Dallas power play is DOA. They can't win on the road. Goaltender Marty Turco looks like a desperate man, and not in a complimentary way. At the other end, backup goalie Martin Gerber earns the shutout for Anaheim. Rounding out Saturday and Sunday:
Sunday's Games:
Any second thoughts in Pittsburgh? After announcing that MarcAndre Fleury will join the Canadian junior team, the Penguins watch their other goalie, Sebastian Caron, get shelled in a 61 loss to Calgary. The hottest scorer in the NHL, Shean Donovan, leads the Flames with a hat trick.
The Tampa Bay Lightning went to New York to get back on track. Saturday's victory in Buffalo ended a sixgame winless streak. They follow it with a 32 comeback win over the Rangers less than 24 hours later. Martin St. Louis breaks out of his scoring slump with a goal and two assists on the weekend. Vincent Lecavalier records an assist in each game.
Chicago throws 39 shots at Brian Boucher, but can only manage a 22 tie against Phoenix. Kyle Calder scores his 9th and 10th of the season for the Blackhawks. All the scoring in this game comes on the power play, including Shane Doan's tying goal with 1:07 left. The 'Hawks haven't won since November 7.
Saturday's Games:
How do you define crushing defeat? Guarding a 10 lead for 57 minutes at home against a serious rival, only to give up a pair of goals in the final 97 seconds... That might qualify. A couple of mistakes by Ottawa gives the New Jersey Devils an inspiring 21 victory on Saturday. Daniel Alfredsson scores early for Ottawa; Senators' mistakes and a little luck allow Brian Gionta and Scott Niedermayer to count the late goals for Jersey.
Make it 8 straight for the Maple Leafs. Toronto gets goals from sources both expected (Roberts, Sundin, Stajan) and unexpected (Marchment, Domi) in a convincing 52 win over Detroit.
The Predators' winning streak is over at 6 games. The Blues' third line Mark Rycroft, Peter Cajanek and Mike Danton produces 3 goals as St. Louis defeats Nashville 41.
For the second straight game, a late goal costs Minnesota a point. Trevor Linden scores with 2:52 left as Vancouver gains a 11 tie with the Wild. It has been six games since Minnesota managed more than a single goal.
Also having trouble scoring are the Dallas Stars, who lose their third straight, 21 to San Jose. Last year's Western Conference leaders currently rank 22nd in the league in goalspergame.
Facing a wide open net in overtime, Joe Thorton shoots wide. So the Bruins settle for a 11 tie against Philadelphia. Jeff Hackett makes 38 saves for the Flyers; Andrew Raycroft stops 22 for Boston.
The Kings run up the score on Washington, erasing an early 20 deficit to hand the Capitals a 73 whacking. Michael Cammalleri and Ziggy Palffy score twice each.
With a goal and an assist from Michael Ryder, the Montreal Canadiens beat Carolina 31 to go undefeated in 5.
Avalanche 5Blue Jackets 1/Oilers 4Penguins 3/Thrashers 4Panthers 3 (OT)/Islanders 5Blackhawks 2/Lightning 3Sabres 1.
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07:13 PM #
NHL Daily Quick Fix: Sitting Ducks
Whatever happened to the Anaheim Might Ducks? The defense is awful, they're an easy mark on the road, and J.S. Giguere looks like a fire hydrant in net. On Friday, Giguere gives up 5 goals on 28 shots. He's replaced for the second straight game, and the Ducks lose 62 to Atlanta. Marc Savard has two goals and an assist for the Thrashers; rookie Joffrey Lupul scores both Anaheim goals. The Ducks have one win in nine games, and don't look particularly bothered about getting the next one. We're about to find out what kind of coach Mike Babcock is. Elsewhere on Friday's schedule:
The final line change of the game costs the Minnesota Wild in Calgary. With all hands headed for the bench, the Wild are virtually defenseless when Oleg Saprykin and Jarome Iginla burst in on a 2on1. Iginla pots the rebound with 23 seconds left to give the Flames a 21 victory. Calgary had tied the game earlier in the third period on a goal by the suddenly unstoppable Shean Donovan. With 8 goals this season, Donovan will surely threaten his previous career high of 13.
The Hurricanes and Canadiens are among the lowest scoring teams in the game, so a 11 draw comes as no surprise. Kevyn Adams scores a shorthanded goal for Carolina in the first; Mike Ribiero ties it for Montreal in the third. The Canadiens' are four games without a loss, keeping them in the middle of the pack in the East.
Philadelphia holds off a strong effort by the Phoenix Coyotes to hang on for a 32 victory. The Flyers' power play makes the difference again, with John Leclair scoring the winning goal. It's the Coyotes' first loss on what has been a good road trip.
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11:58 PM #
The Real NHL Standings?
ESPN.com addresses a pertinent question in its December 2 NHL Power Rankings: Why use an imperfect and often misleading method of calculating the NHL standings?
An ESPN.com reader asks: "How come no newspaper or web site I know of lists standings by percentage of possible points earned? You don't have to be a math weenie to get the idea."
In other words, why not rank NHL teams by determining how many points a team has earned out of the total points available so far this season? The current formula of simply adding up total points fails to account for the league's unbalanced schedule.
In today's standings, for example, Atlanta holds a slim onepoint lead over Tampa Bay in the Southeast Division. But the Thrashers have played 27 games, the Lightning only 22. That's the equivalent of nearly a twoweek head start for Allanta!
If the Lightning and Thrashers continue to earn points at their current rates, Tampa will be well ahead when the final tally is made in April.
You could argue that, given their current slump, any projections based on Tampa Bay's quick start are highly suspect. The Thrashers, on the other hand, have their points in the bank. So such season projections are not perfect.
But the statistic could be listed as a winning percentage, which would be easily understandable and useful in sorting out who sits where on any given day of the season.
If you're interested in checking out the "projected" standings, which account for disparities in the number of games played by each team, check out Zorak's site.
A big assist to Tom Benjamin at Canucks Corner NHL Weblog for this posting.
12:38 PM #
NHL Daily Quick Fix: Leafs Alive!
It's only been a couple of weeks since the sports writers of Toronto were dismissing the Maple Leafs as old and unmotivated, badly in need of a new coach and an overhaul. And that was before Alex Mogilny and Gary Roberts went down with injuries. But the Leafs have surprised them all by reeling off a winning streak that stands at 7 games after Thursday's 60 trashing of Boston. Ed Belfour makes 25 saves for Toronto, while Darcy Tucker and Joe Nieuwendyk score 2 goals each. The Bruins have one victory to show for their last 6 appearances. Elsewhere on Thursday:
Detroit mounts a huge third period comeback, climbing from a 30 hole to gain a 44 tie in St. Louis. Dominik Hasek returns to the Red Wings' net for the first time in almost a month, stopping 14 of 18 shots. Chris Pronger leads the scorers with two goals and an assist.
Martin Prusek and Jason Spezza are leading the resurgence of the Ottawa Senators. With a 41 win in Tampa Bay, Prusek has allowed just 2 goals in 3 starts, as starting goalie Patrick Lalime recovers from the flu. Spezza scores twice against the Lightning, giving him 5 goals in 4 games. But the most consistent Senator remains Daniel Alfredsson, with points in 19 of his 24 games this season. The Lightning are winless in 6.
Jarome Iginla scores a pair as Calgary gets a big road victory, 41 in Vancouver. Iginla has 3 goals in his last 2 games, but the hottest Flame remains Shean Donovan, with 5 goals in 4 games. Vancouver captain Markus Naslund leaves early with a groin problem.
Mike Milbury threatened changes if a better New York Islanders team didn't show up for Thursday's game against the Rangers. Of course, everyone knows that the GM himsel
