The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.

January 31, 2011

The Hockey News - Jan-31-11

<div class="byline">BY KEN CAMPBELL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-01578/9508705-1-eng-US/f0046-012.jpg" title="f0046-01" width="282" height="498"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>T</span>he fantasy draft</b>&nbsp;the NHL All-Star Game is being &ldquo;powered&rdquo; by the good people at Cisco. The skills competition would not exist if not for the corporate benevolence of Honda and the All-Star Game itself is being presented by Discover.</p><p>So, since we&rsquo;re being all innovative and groundbreaking here, let&rsquo;s add a third team and make it an all-star tournament brought to you by Slap Chop or the K-Tel Mini Pops. There are a number of players who weren&rsquo;t selected to the game who are having outstanding seasons in their own right &ndash; certainly a lot better than the one Patrik Elias is having. The third squad will be a rag-tag bunch sponsored by 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, which is fitting since they represent the ASG&rsquo;s scrap heap.</p><p><b>FIRST LINE</b>&nbsp;<i>Henrik Zetterberg&ndash;Pavel Datsyuk&ndash;Chris Stewart</i>: Thanks, but we&rsquo;ll take the best two-way center in the world flanked by the best twoway left winger in the world and one of the NHL&rsquo;s best developing power forwards, even if two of them were out with broken hands.</p><p>Both Datsyuk and Stewart should be back in the lineup by all-star weekend and luck  ily for Datsyuk, nobody hits in the all-star game, so it&rsquo;s unlikely he&rsquo;ll break his hand again. Fortunately for Stew art, nobody fights in theall-star game, so the possibility HENRIK ZETTERBERG that he&rsquo;ll re-break his hand bashing it into somebody&rsquo;s helmet is minimal. At the time the players were named, Zetterberg was the highest-scoring player to be omitted.</p><blockquote class="pullQuote"><b>&ldquo;Third team represents the NHL&rsquo;s scrap heap</b></blockquote><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-02367/9508698-1-eng-US/f0046-022.jpg" title="f0046-02" width="1127" height="866"><figcaption class="caption-body">HENRIK ZETTERBERG <span class="photo-credit">(CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>SECOND LINE</b>&nbsp;<i>Andrew Ladd&ndash;Nicklas Backstrom&ndash;Teemu Se</i>&nbsp;&nbsp;<i>lanne</i>: Hey, if they can have a 40-year-old defenseman in Nicklas Lidstrom, we can have a 40-year-old winger in Selanne, who continues to defy age with both his quickness and productivity. Ladd might be the most improved player in the NHL over the past couple of seasons and, given the chance as he has in Atlanta, can be an offensive force. As for Backstrom, he&rsquo;s way off his 100-point pace of a year ago, but he remains one of the league&rsquo;s most talented playmakers.</p><p><b>THIRD LINE</b>&nbsp;<i>John Tavares&ndash;Mike Richards&ndash;Marian Hossa</i>: We love the skill and versatility of our third line. Tavares has been moved from center to left wing because we&rsquo;re pretty jammed up at that spot and while a whole host of other young players have been drawing praise, not enough credit has been given to Tavares for doing what he has done with such a bad team. Richards and Hossa give us tremendous two-way play and very timely offense. And in the rare event we get called for a penalty, we&rsquo;ll have two of the best penalty-killers in the league.</p><p><b>FOURTH LINE</b>&nbsp;<i>Milan Lucic&ndash;Brandon Dubinsky&ndash;Todd Bertuzzi</i>: Boy is this line going to grind you down. But the great thing about it is that all three can produce offensively. Lucic has slowed down of late, but is still on pace for a 30-goal season. Where would the Rangers be without (Don&rsquo;t Call Me Steve) Dubinsky&rsquo;s contributions this season? And we think Bertuzzi deserves some credit for quietly &ndash; and we&rsquo;re keeping our fingers crossed on that &ndash; assembling a terrific season.</p><p><b>FIRST DEFENSE PAIRING</b>&nbsp;<i>Keith Yandle-Lubomir Visnovsky</i>: Has anyone in the league had a better under-the-radar season than Visnovsky? At only 5-foot-10, he gets under the radar a little more easily than, say, Zdeno Chara. But he&rsquo;s anchoring Anaheim&rsquo;s power play and playing almost 25 minutes a game. Normally we wouldn&rsquo;t pair him with another offensive guy in Yandle, but this is the all-star game after all.</p><p><b>SECOND &lsquo;D&rsquo; PAIRING</b>&nbsp;<i>Alex Edler-Jack Johnson</i>: Edler has emerged as the best defenseman on a loaded Canucks team and we like Johnson&rsquo;s flair and rambunctiousness. Edler can take care of the back end when Johnson goes on an offensive rush and Johnson gives us a secret weapon if the game goes to a shootout.</p><p><b>THIRD</b>&nbsp;<b>&lsquo;D&rsquo; PAIRING</b>&nbsp;<i>Victor Hedman-Brian Rafalski</i>: Hedman is more than just our token defenseman from the Eastern Conference. The Lightning have been delighted with the progress he has made in his second season. Rafalski continues to be a reliable offensive producer with a great head for the game. Perhaps nobody noticed, but he was on pace for a career-high 65 points.</p><p><b>GOALIES</b>&nbsp;<i>Ondrej Pavelec, Pekka Rinne and Jimmy Howard</i>: We have absolutely no issue with the goalies who were selected, but the quality of goaltending in the NHL right now is as good a reason as any to select a third team&hellip;and maybe a fourth&hellip;and a fifth. Pavelec recovered from a bizarre collapse in the first game of the season to be the most surprising puckstopper in the league. Rinne has not been rewarded with a bevy of wins on a Nashville team that has trouble scoring, but has been outstanding. And all Howard has done this season is lead the league in wins.</p><p>CAN&rsquo;T GET ENOUGH CAMPBELL? CLICK ON <a href="http://THN.com">THN.COM</a> FOR KEN&rsquo;S EXCLUSIVE BLOG<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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IN THIS ISSUE

The Best of the Rest

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-012168/9506021-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="907" height="580"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JAMIE HODGSON/THN)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>There are two schools of thought</b> on the collective intelligence quotient of goaltenders.</p><p>One says they&rsquo;re typically bright, analytical types who see the game from a unique vantage point and, as such, make keen commentators. Tune into a game and invariably a former stopper is explaining nuances. From Darren Pang to Glenn Healy; Kevin Weekes to Kelly Hrudey; Daryl Reaugh to John Garrett; netminders saturate our screens (and radios).</p><p>Detractors argue goalies are dopes by nature; that no clear-thinking individual would volunteer to stand in front of 100 mph slapshots, get run over by crease-crashing wingers and take the brunt of the blame when things go wrong.</p><p>But what to make of the fact so few goalies become NHL head coaches?</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re too smart for that,&rdquo; Pang joked.</p><p>Or did he? As we were analyzing all things netminder for this, our goalie issue, we discovered just one of the 30 men who run benches in today&rsquo;s NHL was a stopper at a competitive level &ndash; Montreal&rsquo;s Jacques Martin. That number had been two until the Isles asked Scott Gordon to take a powder. For those of you scoring at home, one of 30 is three percent. Goalies comprise 10 percent of active rosters and, if you ask them, about 50 percent of the league&rsquo;s smarts.</p><p>Historically, they haven&rsquo;t fared much better. We could only come up with seven goalies of note in the modern era who&rsquo;d gone on to coach at least one season and none who&rsquo;d won a Stanley Cup behind the bench. The cream of the class is Emile Francis, a 388-game winner with the Rangers and Blues, followed by Gerry Cheevers, Eddie Johnston, Ron Low, Kevin Constantine, Glen Hanlon and Gordon.</p><p>And that&rsquo;s it. Perhaps the fact more of their membership has ascended to executive levels tells the tale. John Davidson, Jim Rutherford, Ken Holland and Garth Snow represent the brethren well in the upper ranks.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;d rather be on the management side,&rdquo; Pang said. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a great deal of pressure being a goalie. I threw up before every game. There was a feeling (at the end of my career) of, &lsquo;take a deep breath, what can I do to parlay that personality I have without being stressed out?&rsquo; &rdquo;</p><p>You can&rsquo;t fault a guy for wanting job security. And to have the ability to fire the incompetent coach or trade the sieve stopper when his team is in the dumps.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-031482/9506014-1-eng-US/f0004-032.jpg" title="f0004-03" width="414" height="222"></div><h2><b>LISTEN UP!</b></h2><p><b>THE HOCKEY NEWS RADIO SHOW</b></p><p>&nbsp;<b>FRIDAYS 3-4 EST XM 204</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-021841/9506007-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="168" height="64"></div><p><b>NEXT</b>&nbsp;<b>ISSUE</b> FEBRUARY 14, 2011</p><p><b>CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TO SUBSCRIBE:</b> <a href="http://THN.com">thn.com</a></p><p><b>CONTACT US:</b> <a href="mailto:editorial@thehockeynews.com">editorial@thehockeynews.com</a><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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The Great Crease Caper

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-03723/9507896-1-eng-US/f0036-032.jpg" title="f0036-03" width="242" height="566"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MIIKKA KIPRUSOFF</b> <span class="photo-credit">(BRAD WATSON/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Miikka Kiprusoff</b></p><p><i>255 wins</i></p><p><b>Niklas Backstrom</b></p><p><i>132 wins</i></p><p><b>Vesa Toskala</b></p><p><i>129 wins</i></p><p><b>Kari Lehtonen</b></p><p><i>118 wins</i></p><p><b>Antero Niittymaki</b></p><p><i>95 wins</i></p><p><b>Pekka Rinne</b></p><p><i>75 wins</i></p><p><b>Pasi Nurminen</b></p><p><i>48 wins</i></p><p><b>42 Lehtonen&rsquo;s average games played in his five injuryplagued years as a starter</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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FINE Finnish

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-031016/9506138-1-eng-US/f0005-032.jpg" title="f0005-03" width="476" height="522"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(ABELIMAGES/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-04624/9506145-1-eng-US/f0005-042.jpg" title="f0005-04" width="95" height="94"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p><b>Tim Thomas 30%</b></p><p>Ryan Miller 17%</p><p>Henrik Lundqvist 13%</p><p>Roberto Luongo 13%</p><p>Carey Price 10%</p><p>Marc-Andre Fleury 5%</p><p>Pekka Rinne 5%</p><p>Jonathan Quick 3%</p><p>Dwayne Roloson 2%</p><p>Tomas Vokoun 2%</p><p><b>Vote on polls from everything top to bottom in the world of hockey at <a href="http://thehockynews.com">thehockynews.com</a></b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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POLLRESULTS

<div class="byline">PHOTOGRAPH BY JESSICA HAYDAHL</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-012143/9505976-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>And How!</b></h2><p><b>Daniel Sedin&rsquo;s gimme was gone in a flash thanks to a five-star snag from Wings puckstopper Jimmy Howard.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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THEBIGPICTURE

<h2><b>Magnificent Snub</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>M</span>y top five list of people who would make your 100 People of Power and Influence in hockey would definitely be Gary Bettman, Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky.</p><p>But, according to The Hockey News, Lemieux isn&rsquo;t one of them. Puzzling, isn&rsquo;t it? Last year, Lemieux was ranked 31, but this year, Twitter superstar Paul Bissonnette beat out Mario the Magnificent.</p><p>Maybe my sense of hockey is so far fetched that I consider saving a team and building a new arena more important than having more than 27,000 Twitter followers. I&rsquo;m going to go out on a limb and say that if Lemieux had a Twitter account, he would have millions of followers.</p><p>THN must have extraordinary standards to make the cut. I guess these days being a No. 1 draft pick, winning two Stanley Cups as a player, battling Hodgkin&rsquo;s Disease, saving a team from bank-ruptcy, building a new arena and winning another Stanley Cup as an owner makes you unworthy of a top 100 spot.</p><p><i>Lindsay Ward, Pittsburgh</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-021560/9506076-1-eng-US/f0005-022.jpg" title="f0005-02" width="458" height="623"></div><h2><b>Ninety Too Long</b></h2><p>The 100 people of power feature is the most ridiculous feature you have all year.</p><p>Except for the first four or five, many of the picks were absurd, such as Matt Cooke being selected 27th overall ahead of Wayne Gretzky.</p><p>This solely based on a cheap shot he delivered to the head of Marc Savard? And how did you determine that Steve Yzerman has more influence than any other GM except Ken Holland, even though Yzerman is in his maiden season in that role? Stick with a top 10 and this list will have more credibility.</p><p><i>Helen Slater, New York</i></p><h2><b>Over Cook&rsquo;d</b></h2><p>What is wrong with you guys? Matt Cooke the No. 27 person of power in hockey? Just for a cheap-shot hit?</p><p>Why not just put in Sean Avery at No. 28 and Mike Richards at No. 29 if you&rsquo;re going to count cheap shots as power or influence? Carrie Underwood and Hilary Duff have more power than Cooke.</p><p>Maybe you guys have taken too many cheap hits to the head.</p><p><i>Jeff Markarian, Lake Zurich, Ill.</i></p><h2><b>Capital Idea</b></h2><p>With the Senators once again looking like they&rsquo;ll miss the playoffs, there&rsquo;s talk about firing coach Cory Clouston.</p><p>Since Ottawa&rsquo;s run to the final in 2007, they haven&rsquo;t been the same team and, in an attempt to get back to form, they&rsquo;ve gotten rid of players and coaches. Maybe they should replace GM Bryan Murray. I have nothing against him, but he&rsquo;s not getting the job done and I&rsquo;d like to see what Ottawa could do with a new GM.</p><p><i>Eric Post, Arnprior, Ont.</i></p><p><b>Submit your letter at: <a href="http://THN.COM/LETTERS">thn.com/letters</a></b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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THN INBOX

<div class="byline">Louis-Pierre Smith Lacroix, Quebec City, Que.</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-012140/9506107-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg" title="f0005-01" width="986" height="1155"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES FOR NHL)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>D</span>o individual awards and trophies mean anything in the NHL? I am wondering because so many people rave about how Sidney Crosby is better than Alex Ovechkin, yet after their five first seasons, Ovechkin&rsquo;s won nine and Crosby four (one he shares with Steven Stamkos).</b></p><p><b>Even Mario Lemieux had fewer than Ovechkin after his first five seasons (six; eight if the Rocket Richard Trophy had existed back then).</b></p><p><b>Ovechkin already has more than future Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom&rsquo;s seven.</b></p><p><b>So is this all vainglory?</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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MANTLE CLAIM

<div class="byline">&#x2013; KEN CAMPBELL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-012395/9506190-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="689" height="859"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>HENRIK KARLSSON</b> <span class="photo-credit">(PAUL BERESWILL/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-04616/9506204-1-eng-US/f0006-042.jpg" title="f0006-04" width="57" height="57"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-03960/9506197-1-eng-US/f0006-032.jpg" title="f0006-03" width="223" height="240"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>W</span>ell, here&rsquo;s a</b> switch. Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators, all 6-foot-7 of him on skates, could have actually made his goalie pads bigger this season under the NHL&rsquo;s new rules governing goaltending equipment.</p><p>But he chose to keep them the size they were (38 inches, the former maximum) after trying some about an inch longer in training camp. The league is measuring goaltending equipment based on anatomically proportional fit, which is how Rinne could have gone longer.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-05484/9506183-1-eng-US/f0006-052.jpg" title="f0006-05" width="122" height="139"></div><p>&ldquo;There were a few guys who had the opportunity to go up in length if they wanted to,&rdquo; said NHL goaltending consultant Kay Whitmore, a.k.a. &lsquo;The Goalie Police,&rsquo; &ldquo;but they found their movement was good the way it was and they were adequately protected.&rdquo;</p><p>It certainly hasn&rsquo;t hurt Rinne, nor his brethren around the league this season. If the NHL was trying to increase scoring with the new pad requirements, it has failed because there has been virtually no effect. Through mid-January, teams were scoring 5.53 goals per game, which is precisely where scoring was at the end of last season. And goalies had produced a total of 92 shutouts through 653 games, which put them on a NHL-record pace of 172 this season.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-021621/9506176-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="1033" height="967"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DON&rsquo;T SUPERSIZE ME Pekka Rinne could have opted for longer pads, but chose to stick with the status quo.</b> <span class="photo-credit">(FREDERICK BREEDON/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>So then, as much as the NHL has done to level the playing field and close up loopholes that closed five-holes, it&rsquo;s clear the league still hasn&rsquo;t gone far enough. &ldquo;If you talk to general managers who played the position, they&rsquo;ll say, &lsquo;Good job, but it really is hard to tell and we probably need to go lower,&rdquo; Whitmore said. &ldquo;I honestly believe there is room for that, but you&rsquo;re also dealing with million dollar athletes.&rdquo;</p><p>Beginning this season, the league instituted a new rule governing leg pads based on measurements from the floor to the center of the knee and the center of the knee to the pelvis. The length of the individual goalie&rsquo;s pads is determined by adding the floor-to-knee measurement and 55 percent of the knee-to-pelvis measurement, plus a four-inch allowance for the height of the skate.</p><p>But the league also mandated that any new pads a goalie uses must be shipped to the NHL&rsquo;s office for Whitmore to measure first. The league still conducts random measurements without notice and those found in violation are suspended two games and their teams fined $25,000.</p><p>But here&rsquo;s the real kicker: The equipment manager also receives a $1,000 fine if a goalie is caught. That&rsquo;s a significant chunk of salary for guys who make just a small fraction of what the players earn.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s funny, out of all those fines and suspensions, that $1,000 to the equipment manager seems to be big one,&rdquo; Whitmore said. &ldquo;It might as well be a million bucks to those guys. I speak at the equipment managers&rsquo; meetings every year and they say, &lsquo;Kay, this is brutal. Can you get rid of it?&rsquo; And I say, &lsquo;I really feel for you guys and I really don&rsquo;t want to take that from you, but if it keeps you in line, it&rsquo;s kind of serving it&rsquo;s purpose.&rsquo; &ldquo;</p><p>The league has yet to levy a fine so far this season, even though Whitmore is preparing for the day when a high-profile goalie receives a two-game suspension for trying to skirt the rules. But so far it seems the threat of more drastic action has been an effective deterrent.</p><p>There are a lot of GMs who think the pads could go down to 45 percent on the second measurement, but that&rsquo;s unlikely to happen any time soon. The league will more likely focus more efforts on blockers and trappers, as well as upper-body equipment.</p><p><b>6,000</b> Games played in franchise history by the Toronto Maple Leafs, a milestone reached Jan. 15 against Calgary.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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Size Matters for Goalies

<div class="byline">By Charlie Teljeur</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0007-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-012136/9506235-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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The Instigator

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-021447/9506266-1-eng-US/f0007-022.jpg" title="f0007-02" width="259" height="354"></div><h2><b>+PLUS</b></h2><h3><b>KESLER KILLS IT</b></h3><p class="dropcap"><i><span>S</span>edins may get most of the fame, but</i>&nbsp;<b><i>Ryan Kesler</i></b>&nbsp;<i>has been a two-way horse for the Canucks this season and is on target for 45 goals.</i></p><h2><b>&ndash;MINUS</b></h2><h3><b>STRUGGLING SHARKS</b></h3><p><i>Shaky goaltending and a dearth of offense from the big boys have the Sharks in danger of missing the post-season for the first time since 2003.</i></p><h2><b>+PLUS</b></h2><h3><b>RISE OF THE SOUTH</b></h3><p><i>Often referred to as the &lsquo;Southleast&rsquo; Division in past years, it&rsquo;s conceivable four Southeast teams will crack the playoffs.</i></p><h2><b>&ndash;MINUS</b></h2><h3><b>ONE AND DONE</b></h3><p><i>Isles&rsquo; points percentage when giving up the first goal was an ugly .115, worst in the NHL.</i><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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PLUS MINUS

<div class="byline">BY DENIS GIBBONS</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0008-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-012285/9506304-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>THUG LIFE Chris Simon is piling up the points and penalty minutes for Vityaz Chekhov.</b> <span class="photo-credit">(NORMUNDS BRICS)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>I</span>n English</b>, the club nick-name Vityaz means valiant warrior. And the Kontinental League entry from the town of Chekhov, Russia, is doing its share to live up to that moniker.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-021739/9506311-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="120" height="131"></div><p>The team slogan, which comes from the film <i>Alexander Nevski</i>, reads: &ldquo;Who comes to us with the sword shall perish by the sword.&rdquo;</p><p>Hanging on to its KHL membership by just a thread, Vityaz Chekhov has been involved in two bench-clearing brawls with Avangard Omsk in two seasons and has been severely reprimanded and fined as a result of the circumstances surrounding the heart-related death of New York Rangers first round pick Alexei Cherepanov in October 2008 &ndash; two ambulances left the arena before the game ended.</p><p>Former NHLers Josh Gratton and Darcy Verot reportedly were interrogated by the police after the second Omsk brawl. But Chris Simon, another North American transplant, showed no regrets. &ldquo;This is hockey, guys,&rdquo; he told the website <i><a href="http://sportbox.ru">sportbox.ru</a></i>. &ldquo;We hate (Avangard) with pride. We will always show emotions in matches against this opponent. This is real fighting spirit!&rdquo;</p><p>Gratton, Verot and Simon ranked 1-2-3 in KHL penalty minutes. Verot was averaging nearly 11 PIM per game, just as he did last season. Former Columbus farmhand Brandon Sugden sat sixth with 94 PIM while averaging fewer than four minutes per game in just nine contests. Russian-born Chekhov winger Ivan Larin rounded out the top 10 with 72 PIM, in two games and five total shifts.</p><p>Andrei Nazarov, once a pugilist of note in the NHL, coaches the team, but insists the club has not been influenced by his brawling career. &ldquo;The owners want to see the team play tough, physical hockey,&rdquo; Nazarov said. And the fans appear to agree. Attendance at the 3,300-seat Chekhov Arena, the league&rsquo;s smallest, ranges from 2,500 to capacity.</p><p>The first Vityaz-Avangard brawl occurred Jan. 9, 2010, after Verot shot the puck at an Avangard player. The game was cancelled after 3:39 of play.</p><p>Following the brawl, which resulted in a record 840 PIM, the club was warned it would be expelled from the league in the event of another occurrence.</p><p>Vityaz, 22nd in the 23-team KHL through early January, staged another premeditated attack against first-place Avangard in December 2010, incredibly, after only six seconds of play. But that game was completed with Omsk winning 3-2. Gratton was given a 15-game suspension; Verot 12 games. Czech national team members Martin Skoula and Roman Cervenka, who both play for Omsk, were hospitalized afterward.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p>Omsk GM Anatoly Bardin told newspaper <i>Sport-Express</i> that legal action against Gratton and Verot was a possibility and called for Vityaz&rsquo;s banishment from the league. But the club does have some promising young talent, as demonstrated by 19-year-old Artemy Panarin, who scored twice (including the winner) in Russia&rsquo;s third-period, five-goal outburst during the World Junior Championship gold medal game against Canada.</p><p>Panarin, who plays on the first line, proved his gold medal effort was no fluke when he scored another game-winner in a shootout as Vityaz upset SKA St. Petersburg 5-4 in early January. &ldquo;He is really fast, he has good hands and he loves hockey,&rdquo; Nazarov said. &ldquo;He has the potential to make the national team.&rdquo;</p><p>Vityaz went on a run of four wins in five games in January and, although it has almost no chance of making the playoffs, had started to show some civility on the ice. &ldquo;I asked the guys to start working a little harder at practice and we&rsquo;ve been able to put some wins together,&rdquo; Nazarov said.</p><p><b>1,207</b>&nbsp;<b>Chekhov&rsquo;s total team PIM, 45 percent more than the next most</b>-<b>penalized team</b></p><h2><b>THE VIDEO GAME SAID What!?</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-031226/9506297-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg" title="f0008-03" width="328" height="385"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JANSONS MEDIA)</span></figcaption></div><blockquote class="pullQuote"><b><i>&ldquo;We here in the Phoenix Coyotes organization take trading seriously. It seems you aren&rsquo;t. You are not even close to offering us fair value for what you are asking for.</i></b><br><b>&ndash; RESPONSE FROM THE EA SPORTS NHL11 VIRTUAL GM OF THE PHOENIX COYOTES WHEN OFFERED NEW YORK RANGERS DEFENSEMAN MICHAL ROZSIVAL IN EXCHANGE FOR LEFT WINGER WOJTEK WOLSKI</b></blockquote><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0008-01

Vityaz Villians

<div class="byline">&#x2013; RYAN KENNEDY</div><p class="dropcap"><span>F</span>orecasting franchise goalies is notoriously difficult for NHL teams, but the following players are giving their teams something  to smile about in the early going. Players must have been drafted in order to be eligible for the list.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-012053/9506412-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg" title="f0009-01" width="171" height="197"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JACOB MARKSTROM</b> <span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="image-inline"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-021430/9506405-1-eng-US/f0009-022.jpg" title="f0009-02" width="35" height="24"></span><p><b>1. JACOB MARKSTROM</b> ROCHESTER AMERICANS - AHL <b>DRAFTED</b> 31st overall by Florida in 2008</p><p><b><i>Playing for a weak Amerks squad, the big Swede is still standing tall.</i></b></p><span class="image-inline"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-03882/9506398-1-eng-US/f0009-032.jpg" title="f0009-03" width="35" height="23"></span><p><b>2. JAKE ALLEN</b> PEORIA RIVERMEN - AHL <b>DRAFTED</b> 34th overall by St. Louis in 2008</p><p><b><i>Rookie pro has some of the best stats in the American League including five shutouts.</i></b></p><span class="image-inline"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-04668/9506391-1-eng-US/f0009-042.jpg" title="f0009-04" width="35" height="24"></span><p><b>3. BRADEN HOLTBY</b> HERSHEY BEARS - AHL <b>DRAFTED</b> 93rd overall by Washington in 2008</p><p><b><i>Latest in a string of great young Caps goalies; already has NHL experience.</i></b></p><span class="image-inline"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-05503/9506384-1-eng-US/f0009-052.jpg" title="f0009-05" width="35" height="23"></span><p><b>4. MARK VISENTIN</b> NIAGARA ICEDOGS - OHL <b>DRAFTED</b> 27th overall by Phoenix in 2010</p><p><b><i>Best stats in the &lsquo;O&rsquo; and really only let in one bad goal in that WJC gold medal game.</i></b></p><span class="image-inline"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-06407/9506377-1-eng-US/f0009-062.jpg" title="f0009-06" width="35" height="24"></span><p><b>5. MARTIN JONES</b> MANCHESTER MONARCHS - AHL <b>SIGNED</b> as a free agent by Los Angeles in 2008</p><p><b><i>Right up there with Allen in AHL stats; has consistently overachieved (see pg. 40).</i></b></p><span class="image-inline"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-07350/9506370-1-eng-US/f0009-072.jpg" title="f0009-07" width="35" height="23"></span><p><b>6. BRAD THIESSEN</b> WB - SCRANTON PENGUINS - AHL <b>SIGNED</b> as a free agent by Pittsburgh in 2009</p><p><b><i>Former Northeastern star now holding down the fort for the Baby Pens.</i></b></p><span class="image-inline"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-08309/9506363-1-eng-US/f0009-082.jpg" title="f0009-08" width="35" height="23"></span><p><b>7. DARCY KUEMPER</b> RED DEER REBELS - WHL <b>DRAFTED</b> 161st overall by Minnesota in 2009</p><p><b><i>Topped the Western League in GAA (1.88) save pct. (.930) and shutouts (seven).</i></b></p><span class="image-inline"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-09292/9506356-1-eng-US/f0009-092.jpg" title="f0009-09" width="35" height="24"></span><p><b>8. CALVIN PICKARD</b> SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS - WHL <b>DRAFTED</b> 49th overall by Colorado in 2010</p><p><b><i>Has saved more shots than any major goalie in North America &ndash; including the NHL.</i></b></p><span class="image-inline"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-10269/9506349-1-eng-US/f0009-102.jpg" title="f0009-10" width="35" height="23"></span><p><b>9. PETR MRAZEK</b> OTTAWA 67&rsquo;S - OHL <b>DRAFTED</b> 141st overall by Detroit in 2010</p><p><b><i>Politics kept him out of world juniors, but Czech star can steal games</i></b></p><span class="image-inline"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-11234/9506342-1-eng-US/f0009-112.jpg" title="f0009-11" width="35" height="24"></span><p><b>10. SAM BRITTAIN</b> DENVER UNIVERSITY - WCHA <b>DRAFTED</b> 92nd overall by Florida in 2010</p><p><b><i>Big Pioneers stopper is way ahead of schedule as a freshman (see pg. 41).</i></b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0009-01

Future Watch

<div class="byline">&#x2013; ADAM PROTEAU</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-012257/9506457-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg" title="f0010-01" width="586" height="391"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-021646/9506450-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="1528" height="814"></div><h2><b>Picture THIS</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><b><span>G</span>ary Bettman wasn&rsquo;t</b> too bullish on the NHL hosting an outdoor game in California when asked recently, but maybe that&rsquo;s because the locale isn&rsquo;t south <i>enough</i>. On Jan. 9, Mexico City hosted an outdoor game in Zocalo Square between the Mexican and Bulgarian under-20 teams as part of the Division III World Junior Championship. Mexico won 8-0 thanks to four goals from Christian Smithers.</p><p><b>As a young hockey-loving</b> man with physical challenges, Kyle Cicerella has grown accustomed to proving himself on and off the ice. But a decadeold story in The Hockey News opened doors for him and helped him stay close to hockey, albeit from a different perspective.</p><p>First profiled by former THN writer Mark Brender in 1999, Cicerella overcame significant problems with his legs to play goalie for the NHL alumni at an oldtimers&rsquo; game. Since then, he has gone on to continue his athletic endeavors &ndash; impressively, representing Canada on a basketball court &ndash; and is beginning a professional sports journalism career in Toronto, covering the American League Marlies for the Leafs&rsquo; flagship radio station, AM 640.</p><p>Cicerella remembers how hesitant he was to talk with Brender about his condition (known as proximal femoral focal deficiency, a birth condition that stunted the development of his femur and left him with very short legs). &ldquo;It was pretty unreal when Mark&rsquo;s story came out, because it opened up a lot of opportunities for me,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I was 15 at the time and when I originally got the call about it, I kind of didn&rsquo;t want to do it, because I didn&rsquo;t want to shed light on my disability. But my dad said to give it a chance and it turned out to be one of the best things I ever did. It&rsquo;s probably a big reason why I&rsquo;m doing what I&rsquo;m doing today.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-031052/9506443-1-eng-US/f0010-032.jpg" title="f0010-03" width="726" height="988"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>LOOKING BACK Kyle Cicerella on NHL Oldtimers ice in 1999 with trainers Jimmy Lunau and Jamie Menard.</b></figcaption></div><p>A ligament tear in his right ankle forced Cicerella  out of hockey a year after THN&rsquo;s story; he turned his attention to wheelchair basketball and had immediate success, qualifying for the Canadian team and traveling the world before going back to school to study journalism. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s kind of nice how everything has come around 10 years later,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Hockey is still my passion.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0010-01

Living the Dream

<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-04730/9506691-1-eng-US/f0010-042.jpg" title="f0010-04" width="141" height="75"></div><p>NY RANGERS</p><p><b>$7,750,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-05531/9506684-1-eng-US/f0010-052.jpg" title="f0010-05" width="141" height="74"></div><p> TORONTO</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$7,350,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-06397/9506677-1-eng-US/f0010-062.jpg" title="f0010-06" width="141" height="75"></div><p>MINNESOTA</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$7,100,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-07280/9506670-1-eng-US/f0010-072.jpg" title="f0010-07" width="141" height="74"></div><p> BUFFALO</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$6,900,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-08206/9506663-1-eng-US/f0010-082.jpg" title="f0010-08" width="141" height="75"></div><p> FLORIDA</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$6,900,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-09158/9506656-1-eng-US/f0010-092.jpg" title="f0010-09" width="141" height="75"></div><p> CAROLINA</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$6,825,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-10132/9506649-1-eng-US/f0010-102.jpg" title="f0010-10" width="141" height="74"></div><p>NEW JERSEY</p><p><b>$6,700,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-11105/9506642-1-eng-US/f0010-112.jpg" title="f0010-11" width="141" height="75"></div><p>CALGARY</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$6,333,333</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-1283/9506635-1-eng-US/f0010-122.jpg" title="f0010-12" width="141" height="74"></div><p> BOSTON</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$6,250,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-1360/9506628-1-eng-US/f0010-132.jpg" title="f0010-13" width="141" height="75"></div><p> VANCOUVER</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$6,233,333</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-1448/9506621-1-eng-US/f0010-142.jpg" title="f0010-14" width="141" height="74"></div><p> PITTSBURGH</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$5,600,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-1542/9506614-1-eng-US/f0010-152.jpg" title="f0010-15" width="141" height="75"></div><p> NY ISLANDERS</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$5,391,666</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-1628/9506607-1-eng-US/f0010-162.jpg" title="f0010-16" width="141" height="75"></div><p> PHOENIX</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$5,250,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-1723/9506600-1-eng-US/f0010-172.jpg" title="f0010-17" width="141" height="74"></div><p>ST. LOUIS</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$5,050,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-1819/9506593-1-eng-US/f0010-182.jpg" title="f0010-18" width="141" height="75"></div><p> ANAHEIM</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$5,035,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-1915/9506586-1-eng-US/f0010-192.jpg" title="f0010-19" width="141" height="74"></div><p> OTTAWA</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$4,650,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-2017/9506579-1-eng-US/f0010-202.jpg" title="f0010-20" width="141" height="75"></div><p> EDMONTON</p><p><b>$4,550,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-2113/9506572-1-eng-US/f0010-212.jpg" title="f0010-21" width="141" height="74"></div><p> NASHVILLE</p><p><b>$4,275,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-2213/9506565-1-eng-US/f0010-222.jpg" title="f0010-22" width="141" height="75"></div><p> DALLAS</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$4,200,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-2310/9506558-1-eng-US/f0010-232.jpg" title="f0010-23" width="141" height="75"></div><p>TAMPA BAY</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$4,000,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-247/9506551-1-eng-US/f0010-242.jpg" title="f0010-24" width="141" height="74"></div><p> SAN JOSE</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$4,000,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-257/9506544-1-eng-US/f0010-252.jpg" title="f0010-25" width="141" height="75"></div><p> MONTREAL</p><p><b>$3,750,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-265/9506537-1-eng-US/f0010-262.jpg" title="f0010-26" width="141" height="74"></div><p>COLORADO</p><p><b>$3,062,500</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-275/9506530-1-eng-US/f0010-272.jpg" title="f0010-27" width="141" height="75"></div><p> ATLANTA</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$3,000,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-285/9506523-1-eng-US/f0010-282.jpg" title="f0010-28" width="141" height="75"></div><p> PHILADELPHIA</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$2,675,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-295/9506516-1-eng-US/f0010-292.jpg" title="f0010-29" width="141" height="74"></div><p> LOS ANGELES</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$2,643,333</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-304/9506509-1-eng-US/f0010-302.jpg" title="f0010-30" width="141" height="75"></div><p>DETROIT</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$2,133,333</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-314/9506502-1-eng-US/f0010-312.jpg" title="f0010-31" width="141" height="74"></div><p> COLUMBUS</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$2,105,500</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-324/9506495-1-eng-US/f0010-322.jpg" title="f0010-32" width="142" height="75"></div><p> CHICAGO</p><p><b>$2,100,000</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-334/9506488-1-eng-US/f0010-332.jpg" title="f0010-33" width="142" height="74"></div><p> WASHINGTON</p><p>&nbsp;<b>$1,643,334</b></p><p><b>*ALL TEAMS&rsquo; TOP TWO GOALIES</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0010-04

CREASE Cash

<div class="byline">BY MACKENZIE LIDDELL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-021379/9506729-1-eng-US/f0011-022.jpg" title="f0011-02" width="611" height="564"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>TYLER TOFFOLI OTTAWA 67&rsquo;S OHL</b> <span class="photo-credit">(AARON BELL/OHL IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Quebec League has a reputation for being the most wide open of the major junior loops. But this year the Ontario League has by far the highest goals-per-game average.</p><p>OHL</p><p><b>7.21</b></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-05540/9506764-1-eng-US/f0011-052.jpg" title="f0011-05" width="142" height="75"></div><p> QMJHL</p><p>&nbsp;<b>6.76</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-06456/9506757-1-eng-US/f0011-062.jpg" title="f0011-06" width="142" height="75"></div><p>WHL</p><p><b>6.61</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-07408/9506750-1-eng-US/f0011-072.jpg" title="f0011-07" width="142" height="74"></div><p> NHL</p><p><b>5.53</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-08367/9506743-1-eng-US/f0011-082.jpg" title="f0011-08" width="142" height="75"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-04698/9506736-1-eng-US/f0011-042.jpg" title="f0011-04" width="194" height="193"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-011903/9506722-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg" title="f0011-01" width="412" height="617"></div><p><b>520</b>&nbsp;<b>On Jan. 13, Oklahoma City defenseman Bryan Helmer scored two goals and an assist to reach 520 career AHL points. That pushed him past John Slaney into first all-time in league history among blueliners. Helmer had 122 goals and 398 assists in 986 games.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0011-02

CHL Numbers

<p class="dropcap"><span>L</span>ike a fresh face behind bars, these first-year fist-chuckers, with league PIM rank and age, are fighting for respect and racking up the sin-bin mins. Combined, the sextet had 43 points, Kelly led them with 19.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-09346/9506802-1-eng-US/f0011-092.jpg" title="f0011-09" width="459" height="656"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DEREK MATHERS PETERBOROUGH PETES OHL</b></figcaption></div><p>OHL</p><p><b>1. DEREK MATHERS, 17,</b> PETERBOROUGH <b>108</b></p><p>QMJHL</p><p><b>2. JASON KELLY,18,</b> ROUYN-NORANDA <b>110</b></p><p><b>3. GABRIEL VERPAELST, 17,</b> BAIE-COMEAU <b>102</b></p><p> WHL</p><p>&nbsp;<b>2. DARREN KRAMER, 19,</b> SPOKANE</p><p><b>3. JACOB DOTY, 17,</b> SEATTLE <b>162 130</b></p><p>&nbsp;<b>4. WES VANNIEUWENHUIZEN, 18,</b> VANCOUVER <b>127</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-10314/9506795-1-eng-US/f0011-102.jpg" title="f0011-10" width="231" height="209"></div><p><b>1,000</b>&nbsp;<b>Worcester Sharks coach Roy Sommer worked his 1,000th American League game Jan. 14. He&rsquo;s just the fourth AHL coach to do so.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0011-09

PIMs

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-03924/9506868-1-eng-US/f0011-032.jpg" title="f0011-03" width="625" height="776"></div><p><b>Think</b>&nbsp;<b>a workhorse</b> goalie is a Stanley Cup must? Think again. The past five Cup winners have averaged 42 games played.</p><p>39</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-11283/9506861-1-eng-US/f0011-112.jpg" title="f0011-11" width="142" height="75"></div><p> NIEMI</p><p>2010</p><p>62</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-12253/9506854-1-eng-US/f0011-122.jpg" title="f0011-12" width="142" height="75"></div><p>FLEURY</p><p>2009</p><p>43</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-13201/9506847-1-eng-US/f0011-132.jpg" title="f0011-13" width="142" height="74"></div><p> OSGOOD</p><p>2008</p><p>56</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-14156/9506840-1-eng-US/f0011-142.jpg" title="f0011-14" width="142" height="75"></div><p> GIGUERE</p><p>2007</p><p>28</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-15128/9506833-1-eng-US/f0011-152.jpg" title="f0011-15" width="142" height="75"></div><p>WARD</p><p>2006<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0011-03

Games? We Don’t Need No Stinking Games!

<div class="byline">BY RYAN DIXON</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-031110/9506927-1-eng-US/f0012-032.jpg" title="f0012-03" width="523" height="528"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-012203/9506934-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="185" height="320"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>P</span></b><b>icking up his</b> figurative lunch box and making a renewed commitment to his craft under circumstances that may have caused some to recoil has served Carey Price extremely well. So has keeping the perspective that, no matter how tough things get, a lunch box is never literally part of his day.</p><p>To say Price has a endured some ups and downs over three-plus seasons with the Montreal Canadiens would be like saying Habs fans are sort of passionate about their hockey or that Price&rsquo;s home province of British Columbia houses a few notable hills. The expectations that come with being a fifth overall pick, a world junior hero and the youngest player ever to be named American League playoff MVP created an environment where, when the storybook ending didn&rsquo;t materialize mere pages after the fairy tale had begun, the downside of playing in a hockey-mad market reared its jeering head.</p><p>With that in mind, how could a player not, from time to time, contemplate how much easier life would be with a simple geographical adjustment?</p><p>&ldquo;I guess that crossed my mind,&rdquo; Price said, &ldquo;but the bigger thought was things could always be worse. I could be getting up at five in the morning with my lunch box, going out to work in the bush.&rdquo;</p><p>The notion of Price playing somewhere other than Montreal crept up a few times, but it never seemed more tangible than last June, when the Canadiens decided to move one of their talented young goalies. On one hand you had Price, a 6-foot-3, 219-pound man with athletic genes that would probably allow him to not just stop, but slamdunk a puck. At the other end of the spectrum you had 5-foot-11 Jaroslav Halak, a ninth-rounder and ECHL alumnus from a country not known for producing netminders.</p><p>While Price and his pedigree were parked on the bench last spring, the Canadiens rode Halak&rsquo;s Slovakian shoulders &ndash; not to mention quick feet &ndash; all the way to the Eastern Conference final, their deepest post-season run since winning the Cup in 1993.</p><p>Anybody not languishing in a poutine-induced coma knows Montreal has been in search of that stud goalie since Patrick Roy brazenly rode out of town 15 years ago (true, Jose Theodore earned a Hart Trophy with the team, but he never got the Habs near a Stanley Cup), so there was no way it could send packing the little guy who matched St. Patrick&rsquo;s big-game heroics, right?</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-021729/9506920-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="1190" height="1720"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>THE RIGHT CHOICE</b> Debate swirled when Carey Price was again anointed Montreal&rsquo;s No. 1. <span class="photo-credit">(FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Halak&rsquo;s trade to St. Louis answered that question.</p><p>&ldquo;Looking back at it, it&rsquo;s easy to say now, but I thought that was the right decision,&rdquo; said Habs blueliner Josh Gorges.</p><p>Part of his rationale involves the fact both goalies were due for new contracts and Price presently makes an annual salary of $2.75 million, $1 million less than the Blues are currently paying Halak.</p><p>But no GM worth his salt sends away a goalie he genuinely believes can be his team&rsquo;s rock for 10 years over a million bucks. GM Pierre Gauthier&rsquo;s decision to cut ties with Halak and put Price back at the epicenter of the organization is about banking on the fact that all the success Price had prior to the NHL can be mimicked at the top level; just not in the time frame some would prefer.</p><p>&ldquo;I think looking down the road, you can&rsquo;t take away what Jaro did and he was excellent for us,&rdquo; Gorges said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a great guy and was a great goalie for us. But I think down the road, Price has the potential to be a better goaltender. I think a lot of the players on our team knew that and obviously management and the goalie coaches and whoever else&rsquo;s (advice was considered) felt the same way.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-021358/9506913-1-eng-US/f0013-022.jpg" title="f0013-02" width="2390" height="1254"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>LONE WOLF</b> Price has a brashness to his personality that hasn&rsquo;t always ingratiated him to Habs fans. <span class="photo-credit">(RICHARD WOLOWICZ/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;The easy thing to do would be to complain and bitch; when it&rsquo;s not going your way, blame it on everybody else. But he took the high road, he just came to work<br>&ndash; JOSH GORGES</blockquote><p>Halak&rsquo;s magical play and the team&rsquo;s subsequent unlikely rise triggered some intense emotions in Montreal fans, but it also awoke something inside Price. Always known as a talent-rich goalie with a cool head, the temperature of his blood may finally have risen a degree or two, though Price waited for the right time to turn himself loose.</p><p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;re sitting there watching him light it up; that&rsquo;s supposed to be your net,&rdquo; said Kevin Weekes, former NHL goalie and current <i>Hockey Night in Canada</i> analyst. &ldquo;I love the way he handled himself at that time, I love the way he interacted with Jaro and supported him and I love the responsibility he took in the off-season to put in the work to get where he needed to be so he could play at the level he&rsquo;s capable of.&rdquo;</p><p>Added Gorges: &ldquo;You would never be able to tell it was tough on him because when the switch happened, you didn&rsquo;t hear him pout, you didn&rsquo;t hear him complain. He was very mature about the way he handled things. He went about his business every day, he did his job, he worked hard in practice.</p><p>&ldquo;The easy thing to do would be to complain and bitch; when it&rsquo;s not going your way, blame it on everybody else. But he took the high road, he just came to work. More than the games he played in his first three years, I think the games he didn&rsquo;t play, he learned more. Watching and having it eat away at him, which I&rsquo;m sure it did, probably just made him that much hungrier in the summer.&rdquo;</p><p>Price said he knew his best option was to be a good team soldier, sit back and wait for his chance. When word came down that management was maintainingng a long-standing policy of placing him at the top of its goalie charts, the 23-year-old took it to heart.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-03984/9506906-1-eng-US/f0013-032.jpg" title="f0013-03" width="1218" height="870"></div><p>&ldquo;It was a good feeling,&rdquo; Price said, &ldquo;definitely, seeing the organization put that faith in you.&rdquo;</p><p>It also shouldn&rsquo;t have been a new feeling. After winning world junior gold with Canada in 2007, then driving Hamilton to a Calder Cup as a 19-year-old later that spring, most people assumed Price would stay in the minors and build on the total of two AHL regular season games he had at that point. Instead, he was hand-picked by then-GM Bob Gainey to make the Canadiens out of camp for the 2007-08 season, one in which he earned all-rookie team honors. Gainey further demonstrated his faith in Price when he moved veteran Cristobal Huet at the trade deadline later that season, handing the starting job on a team that finished with the most points in the East to a 20-year-old kid.</p><p>The Habs flamed out in the second round that year, but the hard times didn&rsquo;t really hit until halfway though the next campaign, Montreal&rsquo;s disastrous centennial season.</p><p>Results were matching the high expectations generated by the previous year&rsquo;s point total for a while in 2008-09 as the Habs, on Dec. 30 of 2008, sat fourth in the East with a 21-9-6 record, thanks in large part to Price&rsquo;s personal 16-4-5 mark. A high-ankle sprain put him on the shelf for a few weeks, but he returned to action Jan. 20. He went 7-12-5 with an .891 save percentage down the stretch as the Canadiens barely clung to the final playoff spot. Then the bottom fell out as Montreal was easily brushed aside by Boston in four straight games and Price, using a move first patented by Roy, gave fans the mock salute after an easy save in the final game of the series.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-012175/9506899-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg" title="f0014-01" width="2436" height="1634"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MIX MASTER</b> Price employs a style that oozes confidence and meshes smooth flow with a big body.<span class="photo-credit">(RICHARD WOLOWICZ/GETTY IMAGES; FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Though he was usurped last season by Halak and had a less-than-satisfactory 13-20-5 record, Price probably wasn&rsquo;t as bad as people might believe. His save percentage was a respectable .912 and while he was obviously outplayed by his counterpart, by season&rsquo;s end Halak was playing better than the vast majority of goalies in the league, not just the other one on his team.</p><p>This year, Price will play in the All-Star Game and is unquestionably Montreal&rsquo;s MVP, the main reason a team that struggles mightily to score goals has any legit playoff aspiration. The seed that was planted watching someone else do the job he always believed he could perform has sparked a more combative approach, beginning in practice and carrying over to games. Initially lauded for his serene composition, Price has embraced the idea that while goaltending is largely about structure and routine, it&rsquo;s not the sporting equivalent of knocking down a six-foot putt in golf; there&rsquo;s room, and need, for a little fire.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s fighting for every loose puck, he&rsquo;s fighting to see rebounds and see around guys and maybe you didn&rsquo;t see that his first year or two,&rdquo; said Gorges, who now has to watch Price from the press box after being sidelined for the season with a knee injury. &ldquo;I think that started last year. When Halak took over he really concentrated on practice and practising with our goalie coach Pierre Groulx. I think they have a great relationship together and his practice habits this year have been much better. Not to say they were bad before, but with the maturity he&rsquo;s gained, you see him battling for those pucks in practice. You do that stuff in practice and it&rsquo;s going to pay off in the game, it just becomes a natural reaction.&rdquo;</p><p>To illustrate the different modes of Price&rsquo;s game, Weekes invoked a couple of names, the first belonging to an old Vancouver Canuck.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s almost as though he has a tendency when he&rsquo;s not playing as well to be a like a butterfly, bigger, modern version of Kirk McLean,&rdquo; Weekes said. &ldquo;Very smooth, very efficient, a lot of smooth flow in his game, but not that (mentality of), &lsquo;Give me that puck, I want to make that save.&rsquo; &rdquo;</p><p>This year, Weekes sees more from Price that reminds him of someone the Habs goalie might earn a Vezina nomination along with.</p><p>&ldquo;Even when they&rsquo;re horsing around (in practice), he&rsquo;ll challenge guys,&rdquo; Weekes said. &ldquo;He gets a little bit more of the Tim Thomas in his game where that&rsquo;s concerned and I think that serves him really well, because if you&rsquo;re that big and that skilled and that technical and you add that to your game, it&rsquo;s a pretty formidable package.&rdquo;</p><blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;It&rsquo;s pretty electric in there. It&rsquo;s an awesome time when you win. I&rsquo;m pretty sure in any sport there&rsquo;s not a whole lot of other better places to win than here<br>&ndash; CAREY PRICE</blockquote><p>Price&rsquo;s on-ice approach might be morphing a bit, but the attitude of Montreal&rsquo;s most extreme fans won&rsquo;t.</p><p>Barry Morgan, host of <i>The Habs Show</i> on CJAD 800 AM, witnessed the shock and anger over the Halak trade. The sentiment didn come necessarily because the Canadiens moved him as opposed to Price, but because they dealt him more than a week before the draft and failed to drum up the kind of market that would have yielded a much better return than forwards Lars Eller and Ian Schultz for a guy who was coming off a playoff performance for the ages. That&rsquo;s likely why angst quickly turned to boos after Price let in one bad goal in the first period of the first pre-season game of the year.</p><p>&ldquo;Basically Price was in a position where he had to win the fans over again and he&rsquo;s done that remarkably well,&rdquo; Morgan said.</p><p>But as much as things have, by and large, gone smoothly this year, inevitable challenges lay ahead. The Canadiens are a middle-of-the-pack team that relies heavily on its goalie for success and, when results don&rsquo;t come, fingers get pointed fast. Price says everything that&rsquo;s gone on though his career in Montreal, regardless of whether it was a positive or negative experience, has benefited him in some way. It&rsquo;s also hammered home the reality that, in addition to goalie pads and a mask, staying safe and sane in Montreal requires additional protection.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s been pretty fun,&rdquo; Price said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had a lot of good experiences here and a lot of bad ones. I think that&rsquo;s definitely helped me over the past three years to kind of develop a shell.&rdquo;</p><p>As a close friend of Price&rsquo;s, Gorges knows it hasn&rsquo;t been all roses for his buddy thus far and acknowledges there probably were times when throwing in the towel was tempting. Maybe that emerging, internal battler simply wouldn&rsquo;t let him.</p><p>&ldquo;As much as it&rsquo;s crossed his mind, which I&rsquo;m sure it would cross anybody&rsquo;s, it was never really a thought for him to go anywhere else,&rdquo; Gorges said. &ldquo;I think he really likes being here and he wants to win here. I know that from talking to him first-hand.&rdquo;</p><p>That becomes clear when talking to the young netminder.</p><p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;re always going to come to the rink and have a full building that&rsquo;s awesome and it&rsquo;s pretty electric in there,&rdquo; Price said of playing in Montreal. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s an awesome time when you win. I&rsquo;m pretty sure in any sport there&rsquo;s not a whole lot of other better places to win than here.&rdquo;</p><p>CAREY PRICE 12 <b>|</b> THE NEW GUYS 16 <b>|</b> TOP 30 18 <b>|</b> DEATH OF THE CANADIAN GOALIE? 20 <b>|</b> MARTIN BRODEUR 22</p><p><b>PRICE 73</b> PACE FOR GAMES-PLAYED THIS SEASON; HIS PREVIOUS HIGH IS 52</p><p><b>PRICE</b>&nbsp;<b>39</b> PACE FOR WINS IN 2010-11; HIS PREVIOUS HIGH IS 24</p><p><b>PRICE</b>&nbsp;<b>0</b> SHUTOUTS IN 2009-10; HE ALREADY HAS 4 THIS SEASON<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0012-03

Working Over Time

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0015-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-011912/9506993-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>PATRICK ROY</b> <span class="photo-credit">(HHOF IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>TOP 10 WINS IN POST-ROY ERA</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-021352/9506986-1-eng-US/f0015-022.jpg" title="f0015-02" width="225" height="169"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-03942/9506979-1-eng-US/f0015-032.jpg" title="f0015-03" width="441" height="406"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>CRISTOBAL HUET</b> <span class="photo-credit">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-04701/9506972-1-eng-US/f0015-042.jpg" title="f0015-04" width="442" height="406"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>TOMAS VOKOUN</b> <span class="photo-credit">(DENIS BRODEUR/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h3><b>THE DEBUT TIMELINE WITH GAMES PLAYED</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-05490/9506965-1-eng-US/f0015-052.jpg" title="f0015-05" width="920" height="444"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0015-01

<div class="byline">BY RYAN KENNEDY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0016-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-011945/9507052-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-031093/9507059-1-eng-US/f0016-032.jpg" title="f0016-03" width="133" height="237"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>SERGEI BOBROVSKY</b></h2><p><b>NUMBER</b>&nbsp;35</p><p><b>AGE</b> 22</p><p><b>HEIGHT</b> 6-2</p><p><b>WEIGHT</b> 190</p><p><b>CATCHES</b> LEFT</p><p><b>P</b><b>hiladelphia Flyers</b> netminder Sergei Bobrovsky has been the talk of the NHL for most of the first half of the season. The out-of-nowhere sensation has put up top-20 numbers in wins, save percentage and goals-against average and showed enough in a short amount of time that the Flyers were comfortable waiving veteran Michael Leighton.</p><p>With high expectations in a city notoriously starved for a savior in net, you&rsquo;d think the pressure would be on &lsquo;SpongeBob,&rsquo; (you have to admit, he does soak up those pucks), but the fact his first language is Russian may be helping matters. &ldquo;In July we had a rookie camp and he speaks a lot more English now than he did then,&rdquo; said goalie coach Jeff Reese. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s very good now and it&rsquo;s going to get better. A bigger concern was his interaction with his defensemen on the ice. He wants to talk to them, he wants to communicate better.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-021493/9507045-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="483" height="488"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LEN REDKOLES/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Which may be one of Bobrovsky&rsquo;s bigger projects as time goes on. Still acclimating himself to NHL rinks, the Flyers would like him to be more aggressive playing the puck and knowing when to come out from the crease. Other than that, it&rsquo;s been all smiles. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s very athletic,&rdquo; Reese said. &ldquo;He has decent size and really tracks the puck well when he&rsquo;s on his game. He&rsquo;s very flexible, very good down low, technically he was very good and he has great hockey sense.&rdquo;</p><p>But getting to know Bobrovsky personally is still a work in progress, even if teaching him technical lessons has worked. &ldquo;I can act out things that I want him to do,&rdquo; Reese said, &ldquo;but I&rsquo;d like to have a sit-down conversation with him about his family; it would be nice to do that.&rdquo;</p><p>Bobrovsky, 22, recently had his family over from Russia, which certainly helped alleviate some of the pressures of NHL life, but language barrier or not, it would be folly to think he doesn&rsquo;t know what&rsquo;s going on in the worlds of media and fandom. &ldquo;He knows there was enough of a buzz when he started,&rdquo; said Chico Resch, an analyst for the MSG Network and former Flyers goalie himself. &ldquo;We start carrying out that platter so quickly, because it&rsquo;s fun.&rdquo;</p><p>That the city is Philly, where they still carry a torch for Ron Hextall, only ups the excitement. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re desperate to crown a king goalie, no question,&rdquo; Resch said. &ldquo;But what has helped him is the emergence of Brian Boucher.&rdquo;</p><p>Indeed, it&rsquo;s not a one-goalie show in Philadelphia and Bobrovsky has had a veteran beside him to take some of the weight. But unlike Boucher, Bobrovsky was a mystery to his own goalie coach before coming across.</p><p>&ldquo;I saw some tape from last year and that was it,&rdquo; Reese said. &ldquo;Our scouts deserve a lot of credit. He was pretty far north of Moscow and I don&rsquo;t know if his team was very good. He was facing a lot of shots and not winning too much. I don&rsquo;t know if he got looked at too much.&rdquo;</p><p>Fortunately for the faithful, the Flyers looked at Bobrovsky just enough and now he&rsquo;s paying them back for doing their homework.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-011700/9507038-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="730" height="635"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JEFF GROSS/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>NUMBER</b>&nbsp;50</p><p><b>AGE</b> 26</p><p><b>HEIGHT</b> 6-2</p><p><b>WEIGHT</b> 200</p><p><b>CATCHES</b> LEFT</p><h2><b>Corey Crawford</b></h2><p><b>It&rsquo;s been</b> a long road for Chicago&rsquo;s Corey Crawford, but this year the Blackhawks netminder has broken through.</p><p>At 26, he&rsquo;s an old rookie, but after losing last year&rsquo;s backup job to Antti Niemi, Crawford has come in and usurped starter Marty Turco, much the same way Niemi muscled out Cristobal Huet. &ldquo;I always want to be on the ice,&rdquo; Crawford said. &ldquo;The more ice time I get, the better.&rdquo;</p><p>Though Crawford and Turco are friendly competitors, the youngster is revelling in his NHL opportunity this season. Chicago may not be far from AHL Rockford geographically, but it&rsquo;s a world away in terms of lifestyle. &ldquo;It was quite a jump,&rdquo; he said.</p><p>And even though Crawford has been waiting for this day, it&rsquo;s still been a whirlwind and he spends what little free time he has relaxing or running errands. A big fan of the TV show <i>Curb Your Enthusiasm</i>, he also plays board games such as Yahtzee! and cribbage on team flights with Jonathan Toews and Brian Campbell. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know if he&rsquo;s cheating,&rdquo; Crawford said of Campbell, &ldquo;but I can&rsquo;t seem to beat that guy.&rdquo;</p><p>NHL shooters are making the same claim about Crawford lately.</p><p><b>255</b>&nbsp;AHL GAMES PLAYED BEFORE BECOMING AN NHL REGULAR</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-021303/9507031-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg" title="f0017-02" width="625" height="658"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JOHN RUSSELL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>&nbsp;<b>NUMBER</b> 39</p><p><b>AGE</b> 22</p><p><b>HEIGHT</b> 6-6</p><p><b>WEIGHT</b> 205</p><p><b>CATCHES</b> LEFT</p><h2><b>Anders Lindback</b></h2><p><b>For</b>&nbsp;<b>those</b> who say hockey and Nashville don&rsquo;t mix, consider for your perusal Anders Lindback.</p><p>The Preds rookie loves to play guitar when he&rsquo;s not donning the pads and has found his musical world expanded in his new home. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a little more into bluegrass and country, some blues right now,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s not very big in Sweden at all, so it&rsquo;s new to me. I&rsquo;m really enjoying Nashville.&rdquo;</p><p>Lindback, who is afflicted with a rare arthritic-like malady known as Adult Still&rsquo;s disease, takes an injection each morning, but it doesn&rsquo;t affect his play.</p><p>The 6-foot-6 freshman ripped off an impressive 10-3-2 record in the first half of the season, largely when starter Pekka Rinne was shelved with a knee injury. And even though Rinne is a Finn, the two don&rsquo;t let regional rivalries affect them. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re on each other for some things, but we&rsquo;re good friends,&rdquo; Lindback said.</p><p>The Pred with a reason to complain? Lindback&rsquo;s road roommate, defenseman Shane O&rsquo;Brien. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s taken really good care of me,&rdquo; Lindback said. &ldquo;But he&rsquo;s having a little trouble because sometimes I sleep-talk in Swedish.&rdquo;</p><p>And that&rsquo;s not music to anyone&rsquo;s ears.</p><p><b>17</b>&nbsp;TOTAL GOALS ALLOWED IN NINE STARTS WHILE RINNE WAS INJURED</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-03931/9507024-1-eng-US/f0017-032.jpg" title="f0017-03" width="650" height="661"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>NUMBER</b>&nbsp;31</p><p><b>AGE</b>&nbsp;23</p><p><b>WEIGHT</b> 220</p><p><b>CATCHES</b> LEFT</p><h2><b>Ondrej Pavelec</b></h2><p>To say Atlanta&rsquo;s Ondrej Pavelec is a rink rat kind of undersells the point. As a 15-year-old in the Czech Republic, Pavelec once suited up for consecutive practices with Kladno&rsquo;s midget, junior and men&rsquo;s teams. &ldquo;He was on the ice for six hours,&rdquo; said his agent, Allan Walsh.</p><p>That same summer, Pavelec had attended a European camp Walsh put together for prospects. The goalies were Marc-Andre Fleury, Jaroslav Halak and Pavelec.</p><p>Current Vancouver Canucks goalie coach Roland Melanson was part of the staff. &ldquo;After 10 days,&rdquo; Walsh said, &ldquo;Rollie said to me, &lsquo;that Pavelec kid is going to be one helluva goalie.&rsquo; &rdquo;</p><p>A film buff who pretty much knows every movie coming out and (legally) downloads flicks by the ton for team flights, Pavelec has settled in to his own and things are easier than last season when the Atlanta had Kari Lehtonen and Johan Hedberg, too.</p><p>&ldquo;The interaction between the three wasn&rsquo;t an issue,&rdquo; Walsh said. &ldquo;The issue was the amount of time you get in net in practice.&rdquo;</p><p>A fainting spell in the season opener put Pavelec in the headlines, but his stellar play has kept him there since.</p><p><b>0.96</b>&nbsp;DROP IN GOALS-AGAINST AVERAGE FROM 2009-10</p><p><b>MEET THE SURPRISE GUYS</b> FOUR GOALIES WHO&rsquo;VE MADE FABULOUS FIRST IMPRESSIONS</p><p><b>BOBROVSKY 99</b> GAMES PLAYED IN THE KHL/RSL BEFORE JOINING THE FLYERS<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0016-01

From Russia With Glove

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-04683/9507104-1-eng-US/f0017-042.jpg" title="f0017-04" width="554" height="1285"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>NIKOLAI KHABIBULIN</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-07300/9507111-1-eng-US/f0017-072.jpg" title="f0017-07" width="133" height="237"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-05479/9507097-1-eng-US/f0017-052.jpg" title="f0017-05" width="446" height="685"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-06369/9507090-1-eng-US/f0017-062.jpg" title="f0017-06" width="482" height="578"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0017-04

THESTATS

<div class="byline">BY KEN CAMPBELL</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0018-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-011824/9507142-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(STEVE BABINEAU/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03988/9507149-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg" title="f0018-03" width="133" height="237"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>T</span></b><b>he day we speak,</b> Tim Thomas is digging himself out of another blizzard that has hit the eastern seaboard. The snowbanks are higher than he is and he can&rsquo;t find anywhere to throw the white stuff. He pulls out the snowblower to clear the walk, fully cognizant of how badly using that particular piece of equipment turned out for Joe Sakic a couple years ago. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not shovelling anymore,&rdquo; Thomas said. &ldquo;We have too many games coming up.&rdquo;</p><p>You&rsquo;d figure a guy who pulls down $5 million a year would have someone to do that sort of thing, but Thomas has never been known to do things the easy way.</p><p>Just look at his ascent back to the status as the best goalie in the NHL, which he is. After winning the Vezina Trophy in 2008-09, Thomas struggled all last season with a hip injury that required off-season surgery. Not only did he lose the starting job for the U.S. Olympic team to Ryan Miller, who also took the Norris, but he lost the starting job on his own team.</p><p>But this season, a healthy Thomas is a shoo-in for his second Vezina if his second half even comes close to resembling his first. Through mid-January, he led the league in save percentage, shut-outs and goals-against average. In fact, Thomas feels as though he&rsquo;s playing better this season than he did when he won his first Vezina two years ago.</p><p>&ldquo;At times I think I&rsquo;m playing as well as I&rsquo;ve played in my career,&rdquo; Thomas said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been pretty consistent, but at other times it&rsquo;s more on the level of my Vezina year.&rdquo;</p><p>Wary of dissing his current teammates, Thomas points out that in 2008-09 the Bruins were a powerhouse team that almost won the Presidents&rsquo; Trophy. The difference this year is Thomas has had to work harder for his wins.</p><p>&ldquo;(Two years ago), a lot of games were not easy, but there have been a few more difficult games in terms of shots and scoring chances this year,&rdquo; Thomas said.</p><p>It wasn&rsquo;t as though Thomas fell from grace last season, but the hip injury combined with the fine play of rookie Tuukka Rask conspired to push him to the background. Thomas&rsquo;s development as a technical goalie is a constant work in progress, but the healthy hip has allowed him to move around the crease much more and be more economical.</p><p>But a hallmark of Thomas&rsquo; game will always be the athleticism and determination that doesn&rsquo;t allow him to ever give up on a shot, even if it makes him look less than conventional.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m constantly working on my technique,&rdquo; Thomas said, &ldquo;but sometimes the game is so fast and so out of control, I just have to throw it out the window.&rdquo;</p><p><b>THOMAS</b>&nbsp;<b>17</b> WINS IN 2009-10, AS OF MID-JANUARY HE ALREADY HAD 20<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0018-01

No Snow Job in Boston

<p>1. <b>Tim Thomas</b> Bos (17)</p><p>2. <b>Jonas Hiller</b> Ana (19)</p><p>3. <b>Carey Price</b> Mtl (NR)</p><p>4. <b>Ondrej Pavelec</b> Atl (25)</p><p>5. <b>Henrik Lundqvist</b> NYR (10)</p><p>6. <b>Pekka Rinne</b> Nsh (23)</p><p>7. <b>Cam Ward</b> Car (30)</p><p>8. <b>Jonathan Quick</b> LA (7)</p><p>9. <b>Tomas Vokoun</b> Fla (4)</p><p>10. <b>Roberto Luongo</b> Van (8)</p><p>11. <b>Marc-Andre Fleury</b> Pit (11)</p><p>12. <b>Semyon Varlamov</b> Wsh (NR)</p><p>13. <b>Ryan Miller</b> Buf (1)</p><p>14. <b>Jaroslav Halak</b> StL (12)</p><p>15. <b>Jimmy Howard</b> Det (16)</p><p>16. <b>Ilya Bryzgalov</b> Phx (6)</p><p>17. <b>Kari Lehtonen</b> Dal (NR)</p><p>18. <b>Corey Crawford</b> Chi (NR)</p><p>19. <b>Dwayne Roloson</b> TB (NR)</p><p>20. <b>Anders Lindback</b> Nsh (NR)</p><p>21. <b>Tuukka Rask</b> Bos (14)</p><p>22. <b>Niklas Backstrom</b> Min (24)</p><p>23. <b>Brian Boucher</b> Phi (NR)</p><p>24. <b>Sergei Bobrovsky</b> Phi (NR)</p><p>25. <b>Miikka Kiprusoff</b> Cgy (5)</p><p>26. <b>Michal Neuvirth</b> Wsh (NR)</p><p>27. <b>Cory Schneider</b> Van (NR)</p><p>28. <b>Jose Theodore</b> Min (29)</p><p>29. <b>Andrew Raycroft</b> Dal (NR)</p><p>30. <b>Brent Johnson</b> Pit (NR)<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

THETOP30

<div class="byline">BY KEN CAMPBELL</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0019-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-011616/9507225-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BETTER DAYS</b> Phoenix pick Mark Visentin couldn&rsquo;t steer Canada to gold at the world juniors this year. <span class="photo-credit">(RICK STEWART/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-03836/9507232-1-eng-US/f0019-032.jpg" title="f0019-03" width="133" height="237"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>A</span>ll right, if we&rsquo;re going</b> to delve into an in-themoment, knee-jerk reaction here, the least we can do is offer some perspective. So here goes. The 1992 Canadian team at the World Junior Championship pinned its goaltending hopes on Trevor Kidd and Mike Fountain. Among those left home were Martin Brodeur and Chris Osgood. You might have heard of the latter two, since they were the starting goalie for five Stanley Cup-winning teams and have more than 1,000 NHL wins between them.</p><p>So to point to Canada&rsquo;s shortcomings in the crease in the past couple of WJC&rsquo;s as a point of reference for sounding the alarm about the state of keeping in Canada might be a bit extreme, perhaps even a case of piling on. There are bound to be plenty of potentially great Canadian NHL goalies who haven&rsquo;t yet been discovered.</p><p>But it is starting to stick out a little isn&rsquo;t it? The country that once produced 80 percent of the goaltenders in the NHL now lays claim to fewer than half. There&rsquo;s a good chance a non-Canadian will win the Vezina Trophy for a third straight year, which would give Canada just five of the past 17 best goaltender trophies. No Canadian stopper has been named top goalie at the World Championship since Sean Burke in &rsquo;03, just three have been named top goalie at the WJC in the past 12 years and one in six under-18 world championships.</p><p>Meanwhile, the NHL&rsquo;s goaltending elite this season is almost completely bereft of Canadians. Of the 30 No. 1 goaltenders in the NHL this year, just nine are from Canada, but 18 of the 30 backups are Canucks. Non-Canadians led in all statistical categories at mid-season and when it comes to save percentage, the most telling statistic for individual goaltending performance, there was just one Canadian in the top 10; Cam Ward in eighth. In the Central Scouting Bureau&rsquo;s rankings for the upcoming draft, there is just one Canadian among the top six rated goaltenders.</p><p>And that, of course, comes on the heels of another silver medal in the WJC that had some pointing their fingers directly at goaltending. Canada displayed a penchant for allowing soft goals early in almost every game and No. 1 man Olivier Roy was pulled after Canada lost 6-5 in a shootout prior to the medal round. He was replaced by Phoenix firstrounder Mark Visentin, who allowed five goals in Canada&rsquo;s third-period meltdown to Russia in the gold medal game.</p><p>In the past two gold medal games at the WJC, Canada has given up 11 goals &ndash; seven in third periods &ndash; and received less-than-stellar goaltending in the ultimate game. In both cases, the goalie who started the tournament as the No. 1 man finished as the backup.</p><p>Is it a portent of things to come for Canada? Is there a crease crisis north of the 49th parallel? It depends on who you ask, but one thing is clear: Canada is simply not getting the goaltending to which it was once accustomed, either at the NHL or international levels.</p><p>&ldquo;I think that&rsquo;s probably fair to say,&rdquo; said Tampa Bay Lightning director of amateur scouting Al Murray, who was Hockey Canada&rsquo;s head scout from 2007 to 2010. &ldquo;I think the last three world juniors we&rsquo;ve had good goaltending, but I don&rsquo;t know that we&rsquo;ve had goaltending that has stolen us any games.&rdquo;</p><p>It wouldn&rsquo;t be so pronounced if Canada had not always prided itself on producing outstanding stoppers. A little more than a decade ago, the national psyche in Canada was in a state of fragility over the dearth of skill players in red and white. In fact, many of Canada&rsquo;s triumphs on the international stage came only <i>because</i> of its goaltending. But the reverse seems to be true now. Canada is producing dynamic offensive talent at a prodigious rate and much of its success has come in spite of, not because of, its goaltending.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-021215/9507218-1-eng-US/f0019-022.jpg" title="f0019-02" width="483" height="488"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>CAM WARD</b> <span class="photo-credit">(ELSA/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;Canada has never really had that lull and there is a bit of a lull right now,&rdquo; said former NHL goalie Tim Bernhardt, the director of amateur scouting for the Dallas Stars. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know how long it will last, but I truly believe this is cyclical. For many years, goaltending was the Achilles heel for Sweden and now they&rsquo;ve produced some really good goaltenders in the past five years. The Finns had a real run on them, but they haven&rsquo;t had any really great ones for the past four or five years.&rdquo;</p><p>Former NHL goalie Ron Tugnutt, who was the goaltending consultant for Canada&rsquo;s WJC team, doesn&rsquo;t think there is a crisis in Canada&rsquo;s goaltending ranks and said both Roy and Visentin will prove as much in the future.</p><p>&ldquo;The Russian goaltending was not that strong, but yet they won,&rdquo; Tugnutt said. &ldquo;If you were to ask me if either one of those Russian goalies (Igor Bobkov and Dmitri Shikin) is going to go farther professionally than the two on our team, I would say not a chance. (Robin) Lehner (of Sweden) did not have a good tournament, but he&rsquo;s in the NHL right now.&rdquo;</p><p>There are many in the hockey world who believe this trend is simply explained. These things go in ebbs and flows and right now Canada is in a low cycle for goaltending. That will change, just as it did with skill players and defensemen.</p><blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;People used to laugh at us when we would do plyometrics and lift weights and run sprints to become more explosive<br>&ndash; Kevin Weekes</blockquote><p>There are others, though, who will point out that this trend didn&rsquo;t just develop overnight and that perhaps Canada has been a little too complacent in its development. Hockey Canada has a program of excellence for goalies and brings the best under-17 and under-20 goalies in for an intense summer camp, but <i>Hockey Night in Canada</i> analyst and former NHL goalie Kevin Weekes claims Canada is capable of much better and points to his hometown as a prime example.</p><p>&ldquo;Look at the GTHL (Greater Toronto Hockey League),&rdquo; Weekes said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the best minor hockey association in the world, but I&rsquo;m the last guy who played in the GTHL from start to finish who has had an extended career in the NHL. When you look at all the teams and all the organizations and the 125-plus rinks we have here, that&rsquo;s pretty profound. I was born in 1975.&rdquo;</p><p>Other countries, Weekes said, have been further ahead of the curve on developing goaltenders than Canada has. Indeed, Sweden and Finland in particular have begun to pay much more attention to their goaltending issues.</p><p>Both countries are attempting to implement a system that would have every team at every level from atoms to professionals have a goaltending coach. In Sweden, there are 45 development camps a year held for young players, with a heavy emphasis placed on goaltenders.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll give you an example,&rdquo; said Arto Sieppi, an executive with the Finnish Ice Hockey Federation. &ldquo;My son is going to be 10 (in February) and even his team has a goaltending coach through our hockey club. Once we started getting dedicated goalie coaches, then you got the goalies, then the role models and all of a sudden everybody wanted to go in the net. That is the start of the cycle.&rdquo;</p><p>Having a goalie coach allows netminders to have a portion of the practice devoted just to them while the skaters are off doing other drills. It also provides a systematic, practice-based approach.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-011577/9507211-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg" title="f0020-01" width="1029" height="1176"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>IN AND OUT</b> Olivier Roy lost his starter&rsquo;s job for Canada after a rocky game against Sweden. <span class="photo-credit">(TOM SZCZERBOWSKI/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;They have goalie-specific practices and they do goalie-specific practices in the off-season,&rdquo; Weekes said. &ldquo;When I was younger, a lot of people used to laugh at us when we would do plyometrics and lift weights and run sprints to become more explosive. All those things are at the core of the off-ice conditioning program for Finland and Sweden for their goaltending. There were only a handful of us doing those things and people were making fun of us.&rdquo;</p><p>The fact that Canada is home to 27 of 60 goalies in the NHL is pretty much in line with the percentage of skaters Canada produces at the NHL level, so perhaps there&rsquo;s little reason for concern. And it&rsquo;s not as though Canada has suffered on the world stage. It&rsquo;s recent appearance in the gold medal game at the WJC was its 10th straight and it came one disastrous third period away from being the reigning Olympic, world junior and under-17 champions.</p><p>&ldquo;Why does it seem like goaltending is a question mark?&rdquo; said Brad Pascall, vice-president and director of operations for national teams for Hockey Canada. &ldquo;You can&rsquo;t really pinpoint it. If we were finishing fourth, fifth, sixth at the world juniors, it would worry me more than it does. At the end of the day, the goalies are providing the support that&rsquo;s necessary to get us to the gold medal game and sometimes win the gold medal. I wouldn&rsquo;t say it&rsquo;s a crisis, but it&rsquo;s something we will continue to try to enhance.&rdquo;</p><p>And while Canada has enjoyed a number of huge advantages recently with the WJC being either in Canada or Canadian border cities five of the past seven years &ndash; with next year&rsquo;s tournament set for Edmonton and Calgary &ndash; that also comes with some incredible pressure and scrutiny for the goaltenders. For example, Jack Campbell of the United States can come into the gold medal game of the WJC in relief, the way he did in 2010, and not feel the weight of the world on his shoulders.</p><p>It&rsquo;s quite a different scenario for Canadian teenagers. After the loss to Sweden in this year&rsquo;s world juniors, the debate instantly turned to whether or not coach Dave Cameron would change goalies.</p><p>&ldquo;I watched the four kids who were trying to make the team this year and I was like, &lsquo;All four of these guys are better goalies than this, what&rsquo;s wrong with these guys?&rsquo; and it&rsquo;s all because of the pressure,&rdquo; Tugnutt said. &ldquo;Then you get to the world juniors and there&rsquo;s only one medal to win and that&rsquo;s gold. These guys are experiencing pressure they&rsquo;ve never experienced in their lives. Jake Allen is a good goalie. He&rsquo;s lighting it up in the American League and he&rsquo;s going to be a long-time NHL guy. But his first taste of handling pressure like that was extremely difficult.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-011277/9507204-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg" title="f0021-01" width="1033" height="717"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BOUNCE BACK</b> Jake Allen has been huge in Peoria, erasing memories of failure at the world juniors. <span class="photo-credit">(RICHARD WOLOWICZ/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>It doesn&rsquo;t seem to have bothered him a year later. In fact, Allen and Martin Jones are easily the best goaltenders in the AHL this season. Co-incidentally, Jones replaced Allen in the gold medal game in 2010 after Allen allowed five goals in two-plus periods of play.</p><p>Daniel Altshuller, a draft pick of the Belleville Bulls and goalie for the Nepean Raiders Jr. A team, was lights-out at the recent World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, going 5-0-0 with a .924 save percentage and 1.66 goals-against average, leading Ontario to the gold medal.</p><p>The point is, of all the positions in the game, goaltenders are most difficult to project. One who struggles at one level could easily emerge as a superstar as a pro. Aside from Brodeur and Osgood, Patrick Roy was also cut from the Canadian world junior team and was a third round pick. Conversely, players such as Jimmy Waite, Stephane Fiset and Manny Legace were being touted as future superstars for leading Canada to WJC gold medals, but none found lasting success as a No. 1 goalie in the NHL.</p><p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t know who the great ones are going to be,&rdquo; Bernhardt said, &ldquo;until they become great.&rdquo;</p><p>There will be future greats from Canada to be sure. And it&rsquo;s not as though the level of goaltending in Canada requires another navel-gazing hockey summit.</p><p>But one thing is for sure &ndash; the days of Canada&rsquo;s unfettered dominance in the blue paint have come to an end.</p><p><b>VEZINAS</b>&nbsp;<b>5</b> VEZINAS CLAIMED BY CANADIAN GOALIES IN THE PAST 16 SEASONS</p><p><b>STARTERS</b>&nbsp;<b>9</b> NHL No. 1&rsquo;s who are Canadian<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0019-01

Goalies Gone Mild

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-03805/9507270-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="483" height="486"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-04594/9507284-1-eng-US/f0022-042.jpg" title="f0022-04" width="185" height="320"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-011465/9507277-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="194" height="229"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>I</span>N THIS</b>&nbsp;uncharacteristic washout of a season for the New Jersey Devils, some people argue Martin Brodeur&rsquo;s sterling reputation has taken a notable hit. As I&rsquo;ll explain below, that&rsquo;s debatable. But what isn&rsquo;t in question is that the guaranteed Hall of Fame goalie has played like anything but one this year. As the Devils plummeted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, Brodeur won just one game in November, one game in December and didn&rsquo;t start three of the first four games in January. In 29 games, he had been pulled as many times (six) as he had wins. He is on pace to finish the season with 11 wins, an .887 save percentage and a 3.05 goals-against average. All those projections &ndash; which would be even worse were it not for three of his six wins coming by shutout &ndash; represent career lows by a significant margin: his previous injuryfree season lows are 19 wins, a .902 save percentage (both coming in his sophomore season) and a 2.57 GAA.</p><p>But people coming out of the woodwork with sharpened knives to carve Brodeur are making a mistake.</p><p>To begin with, we&rsquo;re talking about a Calder Trophy winner; a three-time Stanley Cup champion; a two-time Olympic gold medalist; a three-time first team all-star and a four-time secondteamer; and the all-time leader in career wins and shutouts.</p><p>Secondly, the guy will turn 39 years old in May and has played 70 or more regular season games in 12 of the past 14 seasons. In fact, if you remove his injury-plagued 2008-09 campaign, Brodeur has averaged 73 games each year during that span.</p><p>He and the Devils will miss the playoffs this year, but they&rsquo;d made it in 13 consecutive seasons prior to that and 15 of 16 since Brodeur joined the team full time. Brodeur averaged 12 playoff games in each of those 15 years. If you&rsquo;re no good at math, that&rsquo;s 180 extra games played, in addition to the 1,100-plus regular season contests he&rsquo;s appeared in for an average of 85 games a year over the course of nearly a decade-and-a-half.</p><p>That&rsquo;s astonishing, not to mention a testament to Brodeur&rsquo;s natural ability that he didn&rsquo;t break down sooner.</p><p>Moreover, for as good as New Jersey GM Lou Lamoriello was in creating an organization that won three Cups, he has of late moved away from the strength that was his collection of premium  blueliners. The result of that change is a Devils defense corps that begs to have an &lsquo;e&rsquo; attached to the end of it, one that offers Brodeur as much protection as a paper mache jockstrap.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-021080/9507263-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="1660" height="1641"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DEPTHS OF HELL Martin Brodeur is on pace to set career-low marks in every major statistical category.</b> <span class="photo-credit">(GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>There is another aspect of Brodeur&rsquo;s legacy that can&rsquo;t be quantified: loyalty. He took a significant hometown discount to stay in New Jersey, even as his defensemen moved on via free agency or retired. And after all of New Jersey&rsquo;s woes this year, he hasn&rsquo;t demanded a trade and is willing to be dealt if it would help the organization.</p><p>Contrast that attitude with someone like Dominik Hasek, who didn&rsquo;t think twice about re-inserting himself into Detroit&rsquo;s already-crowded goal situation with Curtis Joseph and Manny Legace in 2003.</p><p>Now, you can say Brodeur&rsquo;s drop in play this year confirms the numbers he posted in his glory years were inflated by a superior blueline and a suffocating defense-first team strategy. But you could say that about any player.</p><p>Would Wayne Gretzky have been as productive if he hadn&rsquo;t played alongside, among others, Mark Messier, Paul Coffey and Jari Kurri? Would Mario Lemieux have dominated to the degree he did without Jaromir Jagr, Ron Francis and Kevin Stevens?</p><p>You know the answer, just like you know Brodeur&rsquo;s legend won&rsquo;t be tarnished at all by this season.</p><p>When you&rsquo;ve been a raging bull over your competition for years as Brodeur has, you&rsquo;re allowed a few clunker fights to let you know the end is near.</p><p><b>BRODEUR 18</b> LOSSES TIED HIM FOR MOST IN THE NHL THROUGH EARLY JANUARY</p><p>WANT MORE PROTEAU? READ ADAM&rsquo;S BLOG ONLY ON <b><a href="http://thehockeynews.com">THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM</a></b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0022-03

Legacy Intact

<div class="byline">BY RYAN WHIRTY</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>ore than</b> seven years before Willie O&rsquo;Ree famously broke the NHL&rsquo;s color line with the Boston Bruins, Nova Scotia native Art Dorrington blazed a less well-known trail of his own.</p><p>Sixty seasons ago, in November 1950, Dorrington became the first black player to sign an NHL contract when he inked a minor league deal with the Rangers.</p><p>When he debuted for the Atlantic City Seagulls of the Eastern Amateur League a few days later, he again entered history as the first black player to take the ice professionally in the U.S.</p><p>Although there were some rough spots &ndash; when the team traveled to Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, he couldn&rsquo;t stay at the same hotel as his teammates &ndash; Dorrington says, looking back, his experience as a trailblazer went smoothly. Not only was he generally accepted by the city, fans and his teammates, he led the Gulls to the Eastern League title that season.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-011296/9507315-1-eng-US/f0031-012.jpg" title="f0031-01" width="521" height="1055"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ART DORRINGTON</b> <span class="photo-credit">(FPG/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;It was great at the time,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I enjoyed it. I have a lot of good memories about it.&rdquo;</p><p>Although Dorrington posted three 30-goal seasons for three different SHL teams, a badly broken leg cut his career short. But while his playing days ended prematurely, Dorrington didn&rsquo;t stop making an impact.</p><p>He returned to Atlantic City, where he has become a living legend and a vibrant part of the community. He founded the Art Dorrington Ice Hockey Foundation, an effort sponsored by the NHL&rsquo;s Hockey is for Everyone initiative, that provides educational and athletic opportunities to hundreds of inner-city and lower-income youths in the Atlantic City area. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re doing very good,&rdquo; Dorrington said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve had a very good response from the community. We have a lot of support.&rdquo;</p><p>Dorrington says while much still needs to be done to bring cultural diversity to the game, progress is steadily being made. &ldquo;It has changed quite a bit,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not at all where it should be, but it&rsquo;s coming along.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0031-01

Breaking the Barrier

<div class="byline">BY DAMIAN CRISTODERO</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0032-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-03687/9507346-1-eng-US/f0032-032.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">DWAYNE ROLOSON <span class="photo-credit">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-011390/9507360-1-eng-US/f0032-012.jpg" title="f0032-01" width="77" height="89"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-02936/9507353-1-eng-US/f0032-022.jpg" title="f0032-02" width="195" height="130"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>F</span></b>or Dwayne Roloson, age is only a number. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s one of those things, you&rsquo;re stamped and that&rsquo;s your birthday, it&rsquo;s irrelevant,&rdquo; the Tampa Bay goaltender said.</p><p>Well, not completely, especially when the Lightning is counting on the 41-year-old from Simcoe, Ont., to carry them to their first playoff run in four years. And especially considering Roloson is the NHL&rsquo;s second-oldest player behind only 43-year-old Mark Recchi.</p><p>But when pressed about how he has handled the wear-and-tear of a 17-year pro career, Roloson offered this: &ldquo;I remember when I was in high school, on Sunday morning&rsquo;s I always went and skated with my teachers. There was a gentleman who was a retired teacher and he was skating at 90. He&rsquo;s playing defense and was one of the better defensemen out there. To him, age was just a number. He&rsquo;s out there having fun.&rdquo;</p><p>Roloson&rsquo;s move to the Lightning has been a combination of good times and stress. Acquired Jan. 1 from the Islanders for defenseman prospect Ty Wishart, Roloson relishes the opportunity to join a playoff race after experiencing the doldrums of New York, where his good work was, at times, the only thing separating the team from total embarrassment.</p><p>But the situation was awkward as the egos of fellow goalies Mike Smith and Dan Ellis clearly were bruised. Smith went as far as to call GM Steve Yzerman&rsquo;s decision to bring in Roloson &ldquo;a little disappointing.&rdquo; And while Roloson seemed to fit in quite fine &ndash; he stole victories over the Capitals and Senators in two of his first three games &ndash; he acknowledged how tough it is for all involved, including himself. &ldquo;The thing is, we&rsquo;re all a team,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It doesn&rsquo;t matter if I&rsquo;m playing or not playing. We have to do whatever we can to help the team win&hellip;I try to control things I can control.&rdquo;</p><p>Which brings us back to that age thing. Regardless of how &ldquo;irrelevant&rdquo; Roloson believes it is, he has taken steps to beat back its effects with stretching, lifting weights, occasional pilates, even eye exercises.</p><p>&ldquo;We still do strength training and stuff, but a lot less pounding,&rdquo; Roloson said. &ldquo;It&lsquo;s something we started way back when. We load when we had to, but we did a lot of weird, goofy things that prevent a lot of the little injuries and strengthen up all these other muscles you have to use to protect your body from getting hurt.&rdquo;</p><p>He also keeps his game current. &ldquo;He didn&rsquo;t fall back on what it was like when he first broke in or what it was like five years ago,&rdquo; said former NHL goalie and current TV analyst Darren Pang. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s adapted to the changes in his game.&rdquo;</p><p>Most notably, Roloson has developed a hybrid style between stand-up and butterfly. He also worked hard to get on the edges of his skates to improve his side-toside. &ldquo;On shots from the outside, he doesn&rsquo;t just go down and block them,&rdquo; Pang said. &ldquo;He sees pucks come into his body and that&rsquo;s why you see he catches a lot of pucks.</p><p>&ldquo;He has a great grasp of controlling the rebounds and he just doesn&rsquo;t go down and say, &lsquo;OK, there&rsquo;s a nine percent chance that is going to go over my glove, so I&rsquo;ll take that chance.&rsquo; He sees the puck come off the stick of the shooter and he reacts accordingly.&rdquo;</p><p>Tampa goalie consultant Frantz Jean says Roloson sets an &ldquo;amazing&rdquo; example for younger players. At 41, he remains uber-competitive and &ldquo;works as hard as anybody&rdquo;</p><p>That&rsquo;s because he&rsquo;s ready to clean up some unfinished business. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been to the (Stanley Cup) final twice and lost,&rdquo; Roloson said of 2006 with Edmonton and 1999 with Buffalo. &ldquo;Hopefully, the third time is a charm.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0032-03

Fountain of Youth

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-04521/9507391-1-eng-US/f0032-042.jpg" title="f0032-04" width="242" height="501"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JOHNNY BOWER</b> <span class="photo-credit">(PICTORIAL PARADE/HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Moe Roberts</b></p><p><i>&rsquo;51-52, 45 yrs</i></p><p><b>Johnny Bower</b></p><p><i>&rsquo;69-70, 45 yrs</i></p><p><b>Jacques Plante</b></p><p><i>&rsquo;72-73, 44 yrs</i></p><p><b>Gump Worsley</b></p><p><i>&rsquo;73-74, 44 yrs</i></p><p><b>Dominik Hasek</b></p><p><i>&rsquo;07-08, 43 yrs</i></p><p><b>Ed Johnston</b></p><p><i>&rsquo;77-78, 42 yrs</i></p><p><b>Hugh Lehman</b></p><p><i>&rsquo;27-28, 42 yrs</i></p><p><b>Ed Belfour</b></p><p><i>&rsquo;06-07, 41 yrs</i></p><p><b>Curtis Joseph</b></p><p><i>&rsquo;08-09, 41 yrs</i></p><p><b>George Hainsworth</b></p><p><i>&rsquo;36-37, 41 yrs</i></p><p><b>.933 Roloson&rsquo;s SP in 2003-04, which led the NHL and won him the Roger Crozier Award</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0032-04

TENURED Tenders

<div class="byline">&#x2013; ROB ROSSI</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-06404/9507492-1-eng-US/f0033-062.jpg" title="f0033-06" width="657" height="783"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MARC-ANDRE FLEURY</b> <span class="photo-credit">(FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-011239/9507534-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg" title="f0033-01" width="196" height="130"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-02852/9507527-1-eng-US/f0033-022.jpg" title="f0033-02" width="195" height="130"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-03671/9507520-1-eng-US/f0033-032.jpg" title="f0033-03" width="196" height="130"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-04546/9507513-1-eng-US/f0033-042.jpg" title="f0033-04" width="195" height="130"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-05462/9507506-1-eng-US/f0033-052.jpg" title="f0033-05" width="196" height="130"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-04576/9507499-1-eng-US/f0036-042.jpg" title="f0036-04" width="77" height="89"></div><p><b>H</b>is teammates say the best quality about goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is his attitude.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s always the same smiling, happy guy,&rdquo; forward Max Talbot said. &ldquo;I think he&rsquo;ll always be that way.&rdquo;</p><p>The lesser known side of Fleury, according to Sidney Crosby, is his fierce competitive nature. When he struggled to open the year and was losing starts to No. 2 Brent Johnson, Fleury had to focus that competitiveness into productive practices. Only by showing strong on off-days could he regain his gig, which he did.</p><p>Against Tampa Bay Nov. 12, he allowed just a goal and, including that game, went 18-5-2 through early January. &ldquo;With him it&rsquo;s always about confidence and once he got it back, he&rsquo;s been that guy we&rsquo;ve seen before,&rdquo; said defenseman Brooks Orpik. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s giving us a chance to win any game lately.&rdquo; Fleury swears he didn&rsquo;t change anything from October to November. &ldquo;I just started stopping more pucks,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s my job.&rdquo;</p><p>The inconsistency Fleury has shown over the years has led to criticism &ndash; even in Pittsburgh, where his brilliance was a huge factor in the 2009 Stanley Cup win. Those problems look to have disappeared, as they did in the &rsquo;08 and &rsquo;09 playoffs.</p><p>Fleury has yet to have a stellar regular season, but the Pens believe in him. &ldquo;Big games, nobody wins them all,&rdquo; Talbot said. &ldquo;Our guy wins most of them, though. That is why we believe in him, trust in him even when everybody else wants to run him out of town.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>FOR THE RECORD</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-07339/9507485-1-eng-US/f0033-072.jpg" title="f0033-07" width="753" height="602"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-12147/9507478-1-eng-US/f0033-122.jpg" title="f0033-12" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>D-man <b>Anton Volchenkov</b> missed the Devils&rsquo; Jan. 9 game to travel home to Russia and attend the funeral of his 57-year-old father, Alexei. The elder Volchenkov was a blueliner for the powerful Soviet Red Army team in the 1970s and early 1980s and represented his country in the Canada-Russia &ldquo;Super Series&rdquo; in 1975.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-08273/9507471-1-eng-US/f0033-082.jpg" title="f0033-08" width="753" height="602"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-13122/9507464-1-eng-US/f0033-132.jpg" title="f0033-13" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(GERRY THOMAS/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>With the trading of James Wisniewski and the injury to Mark Streit, <b>Andrew Mac-Donald</b> has become the Isles&rsquo; most dependable blueliner. MacDonald, 24, missed the season&rsquo;s first 15 games due to a fractured hand, but has rebounded to lead all Islanders defensemen in average time on ice per game (22:48).</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-09220/9507457-1-eng-US/f0033-092.jpg" title="f0033-09" width="753" height="601"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-14103/9507450-1-eng-US/f0033-142.jpg" title="f0033-14" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Brian</b>&nbsp;<b>Boyle</b> raised eyebrows this season with his goal-scoring breakout, but he&rsquo;s impressing in other areas as well. The 26-year-old, who, with 14 goals this year, already tripled his previous career high of four in one season, was a plus-8 through the Rangers&rsquo; first 44 games. In his prior four pro seasons, he was never a plus player.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-10187/9507443-1-eng-US/f0033-102.jpg" title="f0033-10" width="753" height="601"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1585/9507436-1-eng-US/f0033-152.jpg" title="f0033-15" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(ABELIMAGES/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Daniel</b>&nbsp;<b>Briere</b> was puzzled as to why only one member of the East-leading Flyers &ndash; Claude Giroux &ndash; was named to the All-Star Game. It is easy to see why Briere wanted to participate: representing the Sabres in 2007, he posted a goal and four assists and was named MVP, winning himself a new car in the process.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-11165/9507429-1-eng-US/f0033-112.jpg" title="f0033-11" width="753" height="601"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1675/9507422-1-eng-US/f0033-162.jpg" title="f0033-16" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(GREGORY SHAMUS/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>In his first 36 games as a Penguin, blueliner <b>Zbynek Michalek</b> had amassed 75 blocked shots, putting him on pace for 152 (in a projected 73 games). That&rsquo;s remarkably close to the 156 he had in 72 games with Phoenix last season, but nowhere close to the 271 he had in 81 games with the Coyotes in 2008-09.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0033-06

Back on Track

<div class="byline">&#x2013; BRUCE GARRIOCH</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-06465/9507635-1-eng-US/f0034-062.jpg" title="f0034-06" width="658" height="735"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ROBIN LEHNER</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-17136/9507677-1-eng-US/f0034-172.jpg" title="f0034-17" width="77" height="89"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-011406/9507670-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg" title="f0034-01" width="195" height="129"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-02974/9507663-1-eng-US/f0034-022.jpg" title="f0034-02" width="197" height="132"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-03775/9507656-1-eng-US/f0034-032.jpg" title="f0034-03" width="195" height="130"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-04626/9507649-1-eng-US/f0034-042.jpg" title="f0034-04" width="188" height="130"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-05516/9507642-1-eng-US/f0034-052.jpg" title="f0034-05" width="195" height="130"></div><p><b>R</b>obin Lehner won&rsquo;t back down from any challenge.</p><p>The Ottawa Senators top prospect in net was supposed to be the goalie of the future, but with the club floundering and outside of a playoff spot odds are good his chance could come now.</p><p>While he was supposed to spend the year with the club&rsquo;s American League affiliate in Binghamton, the 19-year-old Lehner could be thrust into the top job in Ottawa with Brian Elliott struggling and Pascal Leclaire injured. &ldquo;I feel good,&rdquo; said Lehner, who suited up for Team Sweden at the World Junior Championship in Buffalo. &ldquo;I feel better than the last time I was (in Ottawa) and I feel like I&rsquo;ve made progress. I feel like I&rsquo;m at the peak of what I&rsquo;ve been lately. Whatever the organization chooses to do, I don&rsquo;t think any of the options are bad. I&rsquo;ve been a No. 2 or 3 goalie all my life and I&rsquo;m pretty good so far.&rdquo;</p><p>Lehner is not cocky. He is confident. He earned notoriety at the WJC after he let the refs have it following a blown icing that resulted in a goal in a 4-3 semi-final overtime loss to Russia. &ldquo;(F------) refs,&rdquo; Lehner said. &ldquo;You call icing and put your arms up and I slide into the posts and wait for a call and all of a sudden they call it off? That&rsquo;s not the way it works&hellip;not the last time I checked the rule book, at least.&rdquo;</p><p>No shrinking violet, Lehner meant what he said. &ldquo;I regret dropping that word because it was a lot of frustration involved. I 100 percent stand for what I meant.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>FOR THE RECORD</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-07400/9507628-1-eng-US/f0034-072.jpg" title="f0034-07" width="753" height="602"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-12215/9507621-1-eng-US/f0034-122.jpg" title="f0034-12" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The Boston Bruins forward crew &ndash; thought by many to be the strength of the team prior to the season &ndash; was not producing at an elite level. <b>Patrice Bergeron</b> was on pace to lead the B&rsquo;s in scoring with about 62 points, while Milan Lucic, who had 15 goals in 27 games to start the year, scored just one in his next 14 contests.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-08345/9507614-1-eng-US/f0034-082.jpg" title="f0034-08" width="753" height="602"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-13190/9507607-1-eng-US/f0034-132.jpg" title="f0034-13" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(GERRY THOMAS/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>It doesn&rsquo;t take long to figure out which Northeast opponent <b>Drew Stafford</b> prefers to play against. Of the 14 goals the 25-year-old had through 27 games, seven had come at the expense of the Boston Bruins. Despite being on track for a career high in goals, Stafford had yet to find the net against any other divisional foe.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-09287/9507600-1-eng-US/f0034-092.jpg" title="f0034-09" width="753" height="601"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-14174/9507593-1-eng-US/f0034-142.jpg" title="f0034-14" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(COURTESY OF AVANGARD OMSK)</span></figcaption></div><p>This year has been all about Carey for Montreal, but what about Karri? Acquired from Tampa last summer, <b>Karri Ramo</b> has posted a 25-6-3 record, 1.94 GAA and .928 save percentage for Avangard of the KHL. The 24-year-old Finn was 11-21-10 over parts of three seasons with Tampa before bolting for Russia in 2009-10.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-10258/9507586-1-eng-US/f0034-102.jpg" title="f0034-10" width="753" height="601"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-15160/9507579-1-eng-US/f0034-152.jpg" title="f0034-15" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The Sens weren&rsquo;t doing much better than anyone at the season&rsquo;s halfway point, but they did have the best team faceoff proficiency in the Northeast Division at 50.7 percent. The injured Jason Spezza led the club at 56.4 percent, followed by Jesse Winchester&rsquo;s 52.5 mark and <b>Chris Kelly&rsquo;s</b> 50.8. Boston was second at 50.1.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-11232/9507572-1-eng-US/f0034-112.jpg" title="f0034-11" width="753" height="601"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-16156/9507565-1-eng-US/f0034-162.jpg" title="f0034-16" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The line of Mikhail Grabovski between <b>Nikolai Kulemin</b> and Clarke MacArthur has been Toronto&rsquo;s best all year. Kulemin had already equalled his career-best 16 goals, Grabovski was on pace for a big-time career high of 34 goals while MacArthur was tracking a 69-point season; his previous best was 35.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0034-06

Lehner in Fast Lane

<div class="byline">&#x2013; LUKE DECOCK</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-06485/9507778-1-eng-US/f0035-062.jpg" title="f0035-06" width="657" height="803"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>CAM WARD</b> <span class="photo-credit">(GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-011310/9507820-1-eng-US/f0035-012.jpg" title="f0035-01" width="196" height="130"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-02927/9507813-1-eng-US/f0035-022.jpg" title="f0035-02" width="195" height="130"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-03768/9507806-1-eng-US/f0035-032.jpg" title="f0035-03" width="196" height="130"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-04630/9507799-1-eng-US/f0035-042.jpg" title="f0035-04" width="191" height="130"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-05537/9507792-1-eng-US/f0035-052.jpg" title="f0035-05" width="196" height="130"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-1791/9507785-1-eng-US/f0035-172.jpg" title="f0035-17" width="77" height="89"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>C</span></b>am Ward is almost embarrassed to admit the secret summer workout plan that helped catapult him to what his coach described as the best hockey of his career. &ldquo;As cheesy as it may sound, Pilates really did work for me,&rdquo; the Carolina Hurricanes goalie said.</p><p>Well, at least it wasn&rsquo;t Jazzercise.</p><p>It&rsquo;s not that Ward hasn&rsquo;t worked hard in the off-season before &ndash; in 2008, he lost 25 pounds &ndash; but he spent last summer working on a very specific goal: Improving his core strength in an attempt to stop the back problems that threatened to hamper a promising career.</p><p>&ldquo;As I&rsquo;ve matured as a player, I&rsquo;ve taken my summers a lot more seriously than I have in years past,&rdquo; Ward said. &ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s about finding what works for you. I was able to get into a really good routine that I enjoyed. It&rsquo;s about taking care of certain areas more than others. It&rsquo;s no secret that I had some back issues before and I wanted to take care of that.&rdquo;</p><p>Ward&rsquo;s back hasn&rsquo;t bothered him this season &ndash; he&rsquo;s played a lot &ndash; but he has bothered opposition shooters, giving up two or fewer goals in eight of his 12 December appearances.</p><p>Ward, 26, is better equipped now than he has ever been to handle a heavy workload. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve always talked about consistency and I feel like this season I&rsquo;m really able to focus in on each and every night and give our team a chance to win,&rdquo; Ward said. &ldquo;I feel like I&rsquo;m seeing the puck really well. I&rsquo;m feeling better than I&rsquo;ve felt in a long time.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>FOR THE RECORD</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-07415/9507771-1-eng-US/f0035-072.jpg" title="f0035-07" width="753" height="602"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-12194/9507764-1-eng-US/f0035-122.jpg" title="f0035-12" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(SCOTT CUNNINGHAM/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Dustin Byfuglien</b> and <b>Tobias Enstrom</b>, with 41 and 38 points (two ahead of Andrew Ladd&rsquo;s 36), were surely on pace to become the first pair of NHL defensemen to finish 1-2 in their team&rsquo;s scoring race. Only two other teams &ndash; Nashville with Shea Weber and Phoenix with Keith Yandle &ndash; have a D-man leading the way.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-08357/9507757-1-eng-US/f0035-082.jpg" title="f0035-08" width="753" height="602"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-13167/9507750-1-eng-US/f0035-132.jpg" title="f0035-13" width="327" height="551"></div><p>No word on whether Canes&rsquo; mascot <b>Stormy</b> was there, but about 30 business leaders, as well as hotel and restaurant workers, took a refresher course in etiquette and customer care prior to All-Star weekend. Organizers hope a little southern hospitality will go a long way towards encouraging repeat visits from patrons.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-09309/9507743-1-eng-US/f0035-092.jpg" title="f0035-09" width="753" height="601"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-14144/9507736-1-eng-US/f0035-142.jpg" title="f0035-14" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(RICHARD WOLOWICZ/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The Panthers lost points to a disputed goal for the third time this year when a <b>Bryan Mc-Cabe</b> marker Jan. 5 was disallowed and not reviewed in time, despite being lodged in the net. Earlier this year, two goals the NHL admitted should have been disallowed, a kicked-in puck and a goalie interference non-call, cost the Cats.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-10266/9507729-1-eng-US/f0035-102.jpg" title="f0035-10" width="753" height="601"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-15126/9507722-1-eng-US/f0035-152.jpg" title="f0035-15" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(DAVE SANDFORD/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>GM <b>Steve Yzerman</b> announced he won&rsquo;t trade any of the team&rsquo;s first, second or third round draft picks in 2011 or &rsquo;12. Tampa has a number of good prospects in the system, but there will be pressure to improve the team for a playoff run. With few chips to play other than juniors and picks, Yzerman&rsquo;s mettle will be tested.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-11225/9507715-1-eng-US/f0035-112.jpg" title="f0035-11" width="753" height="601"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-16114/9507708-1-eng-US/f0035-162.jpg" title="f0035-16" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(GERRY THOMAS/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Again battling for a division crown, the Caps had won their fair share of games the hard way. Home to snipers such as <b>Alexander Semin</b>, the team led the league in winning percentage when falling behind first and was second when outshot, but was just 17th when grabbing a 1-0 lead and 18th when it outshot its opponents.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0035-06

Prepared Daily

<div class="byline">BY MIKE HEIKA</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0036-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-011306/9507851-1-eng-US/f0036-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">KARI LEHTONEN <span class="photo-credit">(GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-05489/9507865-1-eng-US/f0036-052.jpg" title="f0036-05" width="77" height="89"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-02877/9507858-1-eng-US/f0036-022.jpg" title="f0036-02" width="195" height="131"></div><p><b>K</b>ari Lehtonen fully admits he&rsquo;s a different player than he was with the Atlanta Thrashers.</p><p>&ldquo;You get older, you get smarter,&rdquo; the Dallas Stars goalie said with a shrug.</p><p>That&rsquo;s exactly what Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk was betting on when he traded for Lehtonen last February.</p><p>Rolling the dice on the oft-injured netminder was a risk for the GM&rsquo;s first big move. Yes, Nieuwendyk knew he was probably going to move in a direction away from Marty Turco. Yes, he knew he wanted one of those big goalies who were starting to dominate the NHL. Yes, Lehtonen fit into the &ldquo;bargain&rdquo; contract that Nieuwendyk needed with his team&rsquo;s ownership issue in complete flux.</p><p>But, seriously, Kari Lehtonen? Isn&rsquo;t he out of shape? Isn&rsquo;t he a tough guy to motivate? Isn&rsquo;t he always hurt? &ldquo;I played against Kari when I was in Florida and I was just so impressed with him when he was healthy,&rdquo; Nieuwendyk said. &ldquo;We did some research and we just felt we could help him with staying healthy. We knew his back surgeries worked for him and we knew he just needed some work.&rdquo;</p><p>So Nieuwendyk pulled the trigger on a trade and then signed Lehtonen to a three-year deal that averages $3.55 million. It was a leap of faith and the kind of commitment Lehtonen needed to see. Mix in some off-season work from strength and conditioning coach J.J. McQueen and goalie coach Mike Valley and Lehtonen knew pretty quickly he was going to have plenty of help in Dallas. &ldquo;They had a good plan and they very much want me to succeed and you do get motivated when you feel that,&rdquo; the Finn said. &ldquo;I probably didn&rsquo;t think I needed a fresh start, but sometimes it&rsquo;s a good thing for you.&rdquo;</p><p>Lehtonen, 27, is clearly a better goalie than he has been in the recent past. He&rsquo;s putting up careerhigh numbers and is on pace for 60-plus games. And he says he feels great. The Stars had one hiccup in December when Lehtonen&rsquo;s back started to tighten up, but they gave him four games off and he came back better than ever.</p><p>Lehtonen built his core strength in the off-season and stays on a meticulous stretching routine during the season. That&rsquo;s allowed his natural talent to show off. He is a simple goalie who tries to stay large in the butterfly and keep his movements efficient. &ldquo;What we stress as much as anything is simply puck awareness, consistency and economy of movement,&rdquo; Valley said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s such a great athlete with tremendous reflexes that he just needs to be in position and let his skills take over.&rdquo;</p><p>Lehtonen and partner Andrew Raycroft are quite the change-up from Marty Turco. While Turco liked to play the puck and keep plays alive, Lehtonen and Raycroft don&rsquo;t mind staying put, letting the defense do the job and slowing things down at times. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a different pace, because Turks is the only goalie I&rsquo;ve really known here&hellip;but I think we&rsquo;re adapting,&rdquo; said defenseman Trevor Daley. &ldquo;He lets the defensemen handle the puck and I think that&rsquo;s actually helped us.&rdquo;</p><p>The Stars&rsquo; young defense has risen to the challenge, but coaches also believe they have felt a great deal of calm from Lehtonen&rsquo;s ability to clean up mistakes. &ldquo;If you watched him all season, it&rsquo;s really difficult to pick out very many bad goals,&rdquo; said Stars coach Marc Crawford. &ldquo;He gives this team a tremendous amount of confidence and that&rsquo;s something you can see 160 feet up ice. That&rsquo;s a pretty good accomplishment for any goalie.&rdquo;</p><p>One maybe even Lehtonen was unaware he possessed. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a long season, so we have work to do,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But, yeah, so far, so good.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0036-01

Solid to the Core

<div class="byline">&#x2013; MACKENZIE LIDDELL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-06444/9507997-1-eng-US/f0037-062.jpg" title="f0037-06" width="657" height="801"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JAROSLAV HALAK</b> <span class="photo-credit">(DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-011166/9508039-1-eng-US/f0037-012.jpg" title="f0037-01" width="196" height="130"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-02813/9508032-1-eng-US/f0037-022.jpg" title="f0037-02" width="195" height="130"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-03651/9508025-1-eng-US/f0037-032.jpg" title="f0037-03" width="196" height="130"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-04556/9508018-1-eng-US/f0037-042.jpg" title="f0037-04" width="195" height="130"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-05502/9508011-1-eng-US/f0037-052.jpg" title="f0037-05" width="194" height="130"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-1778/9508004-1-eng-US/f0037-172.jpg" title="f0037-17" width="77" height="89"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>J</span></b>aroslav Halak was revered in Montreal after leading the Canadiens on a surprising journey to the Eastern Conference final last season. If early returns prove true, a long playoff drive and mass adoration under The Arch is not out of the question, either.</p><p>Despite Halak&rsquo;s heroics in the 2010 playoffs, Montreal Canadiens GM Pierre Gauthier traded his hero to the Blues for prospects Lars Eller and Ian Schultz, opting to go forward with the younger, bigger Carey Price between the pipes.</p><p>While Price has been fantastic for the Habs, Halak has been a breath of fresh air in St. Louis, where a long-term solution in goal has been a never-ending hunt. &ldquo;Jaro&rsquo;s the kind of guy that can steal a game for you and come up with 45 saves,&rdquo; said Blues right winger Matt D&rsquo;Agostini. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s been huge for us this year.&rdquo;</p><p>In 33 starts, Halak had a 2.54 goals-against average, a .910 save percentage and four shutouts.</p><p>While he&rsquo;s not the most vocal guy in the room, his quiet presence and solid positioning in the crease has drawn the praise of teammates.</p><p>&ldquo;I was a little taken aback when training camp started with how little he actually had to move in the net, said center Jay McClement. &ldquo;But he was always there to make the save.&rdquo;</p><p>Although there&rsquo;s still a lot of hockey to play, the Blues are banking on Halak&rsquo;s ability to orchestrate the same sweet play from last season&rsquo;s playoff march in his new location this season.</p><h2><b>FOR THE RECORD</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-07379/9507990-1-eng-US/f0037-072.jpg" title="f0037-07" width="753" height="602"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-12140/9507983-1-eng-US/f0037-122.jpg" title="f0037-12" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Chicago&rsquo;s playoff hopes will hinge on its road play and very likely the performance of <b>Corey Crawford</b>. The Hawks play 20 of their final 32 games away from the United Center, including 17 in February and March. Luckily, Crawford&rsquo;s save percentage is about 20 points higher in visiting rinks (.928) than it is at home.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-08293/9507976-1-eng-US/f0037-082.jpg" title="f0037-08" width="753" height="602"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-13125/9507969-1-eng-US/f0037-132.jpg" title="f0037-13" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(KEVIN C. COX/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>When Columbus put left winger Ethan Moreau on injured reserve in early January, the call to replace him went to rookie <b>Matt Calvert</b> instead of Nikita Filatov. The high-profile Russian, who was sent to Springfield in December, was playing to mixed reviews in the AHL. Calvert, 21, scored a goal in his second NHL game.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-09237/9507962-1-eng-US/f0037-092.jpg" title="f0037-09" width="753" height="601"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-14114/9507955-1-eng-US/f0037-142.jpg" title="f0037-14" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Propelled by a 19-points-in-14-games stretch, <b>Nicklas Lidstrom</b> vaulted to the top of the D-man scoring leaderboard and Norris Trophy favorite discussion. The Wings need the 40-year-old to come up large as they deal with long-term injuries to Pavel Datsyuk, Brad Stuart, Dan Cleary, Chris Osgood and Mike Modano.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-10199/9507948-1-eng-US/f0037-102.jpg" title="f0037-10" width="753" height="601"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-1598/9507941-1-eng-US/f0037-152.jpg" title="f0037-15" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>It&rsquo;s still early, but through the mid-point of the season <b>Barry Trotz</b> merits strong consideration for coach of the year. His team has survived injuries to key offensive performers and didn&rsquo;t have a scorer among the NHL&rsquo;s top 100. Still, the club is typically better than the sum of its parts and well-positioned to qualify for the playoffs.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-11163/9507934-1-eng-US/f0037-112.jpg" title="f0037-11" width="753" height="601"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-1686/9507927-1-eng-US/f0037-162.jpg" title="f0037-16" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(DAVE REGINEK/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Center <b>Phil McRae</b>, who earned a January recall from Peoria, may be an NHL rookie, but he&rsquo;s pretty familiar with The Show. His dad, Basil, played 576 NHL games, 112 of which were in St. Louis, and Phil lived this past summer at the home of former Blues great Keith Tkachuk. McRae had 11 goals in 37 AHL games this season.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0037-06

New Home, Same Goal

<div class="byline">&#x2013; KEVIN WOODLEY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-011265/9508140-1-eng-US/f0038-012.jpg" title="f0038-01" width="658" height="813"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ROBERTO LUONGO</b> <span class="photo-credit">(RICH LAM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-1792/9508182-1-eng-US/f0038-172.jpg" title="f0038-17" width="77" height="89"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-02868/9508175-1-eng-US/f0038-022.jpg" title="f0038-02" width="196" height="130"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-03698/9508168-1-eng-US/f0038-032.jpg" title="f0038-03" width="196" height="131"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-04566/9508161-1-eng-US/f0038-042.jpg" title="f0038-04" width="197" height="130"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-05458/9508154-1-eng-US/f0038-052.jpg" title="f0038-05" width="196" height="131"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-06391/9508147-1-eng-US/f0038-062.jpg" title="f0038-06" width="195" height="130"></div><p><b>R</b>oberto Luongo&rsquo;s season started as it always does. Slowly.</p><p>Never known as Secretariat out of the gates, Luongo&rsquo;s annual turtle derby lasted longer as he adjusted to &ldquo;significant&rdquo; changes with new goalie coach Roland Melanson.</p><p>In theory they made sense: playing deeper shortens movements and rebound recoveries. But how did that help if more initial shots went in?</p><p>The pointed questions picked up after Luongo was pulled from a 7-1 Nov. 20 loss to a scuffling Chicago team. Coach Alain Vigneault assured all the short-term pain was expected, but promised a payoff by playoffs. Clearly, it arrived early.</p><p>The NHL&rsquo;s second star in December, Luongo was even better to start January. In his first 15 starts of a franchise-record run that began two games after the loss to Chicago, Luongo was 12-1-2 with a .938 save percentage and 1.77 goals-against average. More importantly, Luongo agreed he is more under control: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m feeling really comfortable right now.&rdquo;</p><p>Luongo stays over his knees more &ndash; and is on his belly less &ndash; on second chances and is now adding new tactics around the net, an area his defense also protects better. Perhaps most significant, he isn&rsquo;t thrown off by days off as he no longer commits so aggressively to his reads.</p><p>And with rookie Cory Schneider playing well as the No. 2, Luongo won&rsquo;t be overworked by the playoffs.</p><p>And that is how Roberto Luongo 2.0 will ultimately be judged: postseason success.</p><h2><b>FOR THE RECORD</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-07329/9508133-1-eng-US/f0038-072.jpg" title="f0038-07" width="753" height="602"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-12156/9508126-1-eng-US/f0038-122.jpg" title="f0038-12" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>David Moss</b> is Calgary&rsquo;s most versatile forward. The left-hand shot plays both wings and was used for a stretch centering the fourth line with Tim Jackman and Tom Kostopoulos. That unit erupted for seven goals and 13 points in a four-game stretch. Moss, who played some center in university, was just 45.1 percent on faceoffs, however.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-08267/9508119-1-eng-US/f0038-082.jpg" title="f0038-08" width="753" height="602"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-13142/9508112-1-eng-US/f0038-132.jpg" title="f0038-13" width="327" height="551"></div><p>By the time <b>Matt Duchene</b> turned 20 Jan. 16, he led the franchise in points by a teenager (42 goals and 98 points with two more games to go as a teen.) That bests his idol&rsquo;s mark set more than 20 years ago. Joe Sakic had 23 goals and 62 points as a teen. Ryan O&rsquo;Reilly already tops the list of games played as a pre-20 player.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-09229/9508105-1-eng-US/f0038-092.jpg" title="f0038-09" width="753" height="601"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-14130/9508098-1-eng-US/f0038-142.jpg" title="f0038-14" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(PHILLIP MACCALLUM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The Oilers have iced 12 firstrounders this season. The list includes <b>Taylor Hall</b> (1st), Ryan Whitney (5th), Sam Gagner and Gilbert Brule (6th), Ladislav Smid (9th), Magnus Paajarvi (10th), Ales Hemsky (13th), Devan Dubnyk (14th), Ryan O&rsquo;Marra (15th), Jordan Eberle (22nd), Andrew Cogliano (25th) and Shawn Belle (30th).</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-10193/9508091-1-eng-US/f0038-102.jpg" title="f0038-10" width="753" height="601"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-15119/9508084-1-eng-US/f0038-152.jpg" title="f0038-15" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>When Minnesota acquired <b>Cam Barker</b> from Chicago last year, the thought was he&rsquo;d fire up the power play. Instead, the Wild are trying to light a fire under Barker. The third overall pick in 2004 has been a healthy scratch eight times this season. He had just five points in 35 games and his ice time is down five minutes to 17:22.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-11169/9508077-1-eng-US/f0038-112.jpg" title="f0038-11" width="753" height="601"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-16107/9508070-1-eng-US/f0038-162.jpg" title="f0038-16" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The more he shoots, the more he scores. As <b>Ryan Kesler</b> obliterates his previous season-high goal total of 26 in 2008-09 (and 25 last season), he can chalk it up to taking more shots. His shots per game have risen from to 2.18 in 2008-09 to 2.61 in &rsquo;09-10 to 3.26 this season. Kesler had 24 goals at the mid-point of this campaign.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0038-01

Bobby Loo on Track

<div class="byline">&#x2013; JONATHAN DAVIS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-06345/9508283-1-eng-US/f0039-062.jpg" title="f0039-06" width="713" height="795"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JONAS HILLER</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-011161/9508325-1-eng-US/f0039-012.jpg" title="f0039-01" width="196" height="130"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-02763/9508318-1-eng-US/f0039-022.jpg" title="f0039-02" width="195" height="130"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-03599/9508311-1-eng-US/f0039-032.jpg" title="f0039-03" width="196" height="130"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-04500/9508304-1-eng-US/f0039-042.jpg" title="f0039-04" width="195" height="131"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-05418/9508297-1-eng-US/f0039-052.jpg" title="f0039-05" width="196" height="130"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-1783/9508290-1-eng-US/f0039-172.jpg" title="f0039-17" width="77" height="89"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>D</span></b>espite playing for a team that has surrendered more goals than it has scored, Jonas Hiller earned the distinction of being the only Western Conference goalie selected to the All-Star Game.</p><p>And for good reason. When the rosters were announced, Hiller led the NHL in appearances and shots faced and ranked in the top four in wins, save percentage and shutouts. Leading up to his selection, Hiller had allowed two goals or fewer in 14 of 18 appearances.</p><p>&ldquo;It was a nice statement for him to be the only goalie in the West to be playing in the All-Star Game,&rdquo; said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m sure there are other goalies who were worthy of all-star selection, but he has been the strongest part of our hockey club since Day 1.&rdquo;</p><p>Since usurping Jean-Sebastien Giguere as the No. 1 in Anaheim, Hiller has been nothing if not consistent. &ldquo;I feel real comfortable out there,&rdquo; Hiller said. &ldquo;I have been getting lots of starts. Goaltending is about mental toughness; the more you play, the better you get.&rdquo;</p><p>Added teammate and fellow allstar participant Corey Perry: &ldquo;It is huge having a guy back there like Jonas. He makes those big saves at key times. It really gets the team going.&rdquo;</p><p>With a defense corps that has seen a lot of turnover recently and an aging forward group, Hiller has been key to leading the surprising Ducks to a record that, if it stands up, will get them to the playoffs after missing out last season.</p><h2><b>FOR THE RECORD</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-07301/9508276-1-eng-US/f0039-072.jpg" title="f0039-07" width="753" height="602"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-12132/9508269-1-eng-US/f0039-122.jpg" title="f0039-12" width="327" height="551"></div><p>Mere days after the Ducks threw sure-fire future Hall of Famer Scott Niedermayer his official retirement party, the team&rsquo;s new slick, puck-moving defenseman, <b>Cam Fowler</b>, was selected as one of the Ducks&rsquo; three representatives at the All-Star Game in Carolina. Fowler will take part in the rookie portion of the festivities.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-08253/9508262-1-eng-US/f0039-082.jpg" title="f0039-08" width="753" height="602"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-13116/9508255-1-eng-US/f0039-132.jpg" title="f0039-13" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE KLUCKHOHN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Jamie Langenbrunner</b> only knows success in Dallas. The recently re-acquired veteran helped the Stars to division titles every full season he played in Dallas starting in 1996-97. Traded to New Jersey at the 2002 deadline, Langenbrunner saw his Texas mates miss the playoffs that season, but now he&rsquo;s back and so are the Stars.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-09202/9508248-1-eng-US/f0039-092.jpg" title="f0039-09" width="753" height="601"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-14107/9508241-1-eng-US/f0039-142.jpg" title="f0039-14" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Always thinking diversity, the Kings have held such promotions as Armenian Night, Canadian Night and Russian Night this season. But, for the most colorful fans, the Kings set up a promotion where devotees could have their tattoos judged by <b>Matt Greene,</b> who would pick 10 finalists for a contest run on the team&rsquo;s website.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-10171/9508234-1-eng-US/f0039-102.jpg" title="f0039-10" width="753" height="601"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-1598/9508227-1-eng-US/f0039-152.jpg" title="f0039-15" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Sami</b>&nbsp;<b>Lepisto</b> is still battling to keep his spot in the NHL. But lately, the D-man has been solid for the Yotes and maybe it&rsquo;s because he has another outlet: a recent must-have purchase was the new version of the video game NBA Jam. The Finn was excited that Vince Carter was recently traded to the NBA&rsquo;s Phoenix Suns.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-11148/9508220-1-eng-US/f0039-112.jpg" title="f0039-11" width="753" height="601"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-1687/9508213-1-eng-US/f0039-162.jpg" title="f0039-16" width="327" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Led by <b>Joe Thornton</b> and Dany Heatley, the Sharks are getting excellent production on the power play. Problem is, that&rsquo;s the only place they&rsquo;re getting it. San Jose&rsquo;s ratio of 5-on-5 goals compared to power play markers is one of the lowest in the NHL (nearly 7:4) and that has led to a tumble in the Western standings.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0039-06

Western Workhorse

<div class="byline">BY RORY BOYLEN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-01859/9508363-1-eng-US/f0040-012.jpg" title="f0040-01" width="890" height="977"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>King of the pipes Martin Jones has moved up the ladder in Manchester and on the AHL leaderboard.</b> <span class="photo-credit">(SPORTS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-03414/9508370-1-eng-US/f0040-032.jpg" title="f0040-03" width="77" height="89"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p><b>M</b>artin Jones has had success at every level, but it hasn&rsquo;t always been easy for him.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-02538/9508356-1-eng-US/f0040-022.jpg" title="f0040-02" width="144" height="143"></div><p>In 2003, Jones&rsquo; peewee team from the North Shore Winter Club won the provincial title in British Columbia as well as the top division at the prestigious Quebec International tournament. In 2004, his bantam team won the Western Canadian championship.</p><p>The Calgary Hitmen picked up on the scent and drafted Jones in the fourth round (75th overall) of the Western League&rsquo;s draft.</p><p>Undersized at the time, Jones grew into a 6-foot-4 crease giant after joining the Hitmen in 2006. He played two years as the backup, a big reason why he was passed over in the NHL draft.</p><p>The Kings took notice of Jones&rsquo; big, calm frame and while other teams had kicked the tires on the idea of signing him, Los Angeles was the first to offer a place at camp. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t expect to come out of it with a contract, though,&rdquo; the 21-year-old said.</p><p>He returned to junior for a third season and took over the starter&rsquo;s job with the Hitmen. He was a WHL second team all-star and led the high-powered Hitmen to a second consecutive division crown, falling just short in the league final.</p><p>A year later, Jones led Calgary to another division title, was named the league&rsquo;s top goaltender, the playoff MVP and a first team all-star. The Hitmen won the WHL championship and made a Memorial Cup appearance. Jones was also named to Canada&rsquo;s 2010 national junior team.</p><p>But instead of celebrating championships or individual awards, the season was a character builder for the goalie. Jones replaced Jake Allen in the gold medal game at the world juniors and while the Canadians came back to send it to overtime, an oddman rush led by John Carlson relegated Canada to the silver medal position.</p><p>A few months later, thanks to a late-game push by the Memorial Cup hosts from Brandon, Jones and the Hitmen were eliminated in the semifinal, again in overtime. &ldquo;As they say, you learn to lose before you win,&rdquo; Jones said.</p><p>Starting his professional career this season with a brief stint in the ECHL because of the Kings depth of goaltending prospects, Jones was quickly promoted to the American League after Erik Ersberg headed to Russia.</p><p>Once again Jones found himself as a backup, but after only a few months, he worked his way up another depth chart to become the Manchester Monarchs&rsquo; No. 1 and arguably the AHL&rsquo;s top goalie, an achievement the modest netminder downplays. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s my job and I think you should take pride in what you do,&rdquo; said the man who sported a .943 save percentage through 20 appearances. &ldquo;Even if you&rsquo;re not playing, be professional, come to the rink ready to go.&rdquo;</p><p>Jones&rsquo; style emits confidence. Though he stands deep in his net, Manchester coach Mark Morris notes Jones doesn&rsquo;t get caught up in crease traffic and, because of his size, doesn&rsquo;t get bumped out of the way. And even though Morris said Jones doesn&rsquo;t spend much time on his knees, he still takes up most of the net when he is down. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s got a real calm demeanor,&rdquo; Morris said. &ldquo;If he allows a goal it&rsquo;s business as usual. He has that Velcro effect, he doesn&rsquo;t give up any big, juicy rebounds.&rdquo;</p><p>And Morris, who has seen quite a few netminders come through Manchester, recognizes this kid is special. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had Jason LaBarbera, Jon Quick, Jonathan Bernier, Jeff Zatkoff and various other goalies and they&rsquo;ve all been tremendous,&rdquo; Morris said. &ldquo;Yet this guy, in his young career, he&rsquo;s really turned a lot of heads. I think he&rsquo;s got a great career ahead of him.&rdquo;</p><p>1.75 <b>Jones&rsquo; AHLleading GAA, helping him to a 14-3-0 record</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0040-01

Monarch on the Move

<div class="byline">BY RYAN KENNEDY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0041-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-01745/9508401-1-eng-US/f0041-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>THAT&rsquo;S ONE BIG GOPHER At nearly 6-foot-5, there&rsquo;s no missing Minnesota freshman Nick Bjugstad on the ice.</b> <span class="photo-credit">(MINNESOTA ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-04335/9508415-1-eng-US/f0041-042.jpg" title="f0041-04" width="77" height="89"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>I</span>t&rsquo;s tempting</b> to want a first round draft pick to be NHL-ready either immediately or within a year, but there&rsquo;s also something to be said for upside. Center Nick Bjugstad, the second of Florida&rsquo;s three first round picks in 2010 (19th overall) definitely fits in that category.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-02475/9508408-1-eng-US/f0041-022.jpg" title="f0041-02" width="152" height="151"></div><p>The former Minnesota high school standout with the Blaine Bengals stayed instate for his college, joining the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers this year.</p><p>A bout of mononucleosis has slowed his freshman season, but Bjugstad was great for Team USA at the world juniors, recording four points in six games en route to a bronze medal. &ldquo;I think he did very well,&rdquo; said Panthers GM Dale Tallon. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a tough tournament for an 18-year-old, plus coming off mono, he didn&rsquo;t have the energy he normally has, but he still acquitted himself very well. He&rsquo;s only going to get bigger, stronger, faster. He&rsquo;s got all the tools. We really like him.&rdquo;</p><p>With mono and the world juniors behind him, Bjugstad can now get back to his freshman year with the Gophers, where he is adjusting to playing fewer minutes than he is used to. In Minnesota high school hockey, the top players can sometimes play almost half the game (periods are only 17 minutes long). &ldquo;I kind of like it better,&rdquo; Bjugstad said. &ldquo;Playing half the game you have to pace yourself. When you go out here, with three or four lines you can go all out every shift. I actually enjoy it more. It&rsquo;s good competition, I like the fast pace.&rdquo;</p><p>Though his offensive totals weren&rsquo;t strong before he left for Buffalo, he isn&rsquo;t focused on numbers. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m learning a lot more playing with older guys,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m learning how to transition faster and play better in the defensive zone, so that&rsquo;s huge.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;Huge&rdquo; is an apt word when discussing Bjugstad. At nearly 6-foot-5, 190 pounds, the Gophers pivot has been blessed with a lot of physical tools.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m good in the corners and I&rsquo;m trying to work on that,&rdquo; Bjugstad said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s where I think my bread and butter will be in the future &ndash; my big frame. I&rsquo;m trying to put on some weight; I have the height, though.&rdquo;</p><p>Which is key, because, as the axiom goes, you can&rsquo;t teach height. Once that frame is filled out, Bjugstad (whose uncle Scott played nine seasons in the NHL) has the pedigree to do some damage at the next level. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re looking for him to be a dominant big man down the middle,&rdquo; Tallon said. &ldquo;You can&rsquo;t win without having some big strong guys at center ice. We&rsquo;re looking for him to be a No. 1 center down the line.&rdquo;</p><p>In the meantime, Bjugstad knows he must get quicker and is working on his first few strides in order to remedy that. He&rsquo;s also getting used to donning the gold and maroon of Minnesota, a squad that carries with it an NHL-level of popularity and scrutiny in the state. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s pretty surreal,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The first couple games I was in awe that I was actually out there, because I&rsquo;ve watched them my entire life. It&rsquo;s great.&rdquo;</p><p>In due time, Florida Panthers fans will also get the chance to see the lanky center, though if the team&rsquo;s GM has his way, it won&rsquo;t be until the moment is just right.</p><p>&ldquo;We want him to get into the right position as far as his development,&rdquo; Tallon said. &ldquo;And I&rsquo;ve said this over and over again, it&rsquo;s a marathon &ndash; not a sprint.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0041-01

Time to Shine

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-03387/9508446-1-eng-US/f0041-032.jpg" title="f0041-03" width="523" height="493"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>SAM BRITTAIN</b> <span class="photo-credit">(RICH CLARKSON & ASSOCIATES/NCAA PHOTOSI)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>N</span>ick Bjugstad and Sam Brittain may be opponents in the WCHA, but they&rsquo;re also both prospects drafted by the Florida Panthers in 2010. And Brittain, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound goaltender from Calgary, has made a name for himself early at Denver University. &ldquo;Sam is probably ahead of schedule in terms of his development,&rdquo; said Scott Luce, Florida&rsquo;s director of amateur scouting. &ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t anticipate he&rsquo;d be this far along; we thought he would have freshman ice-time issues.&rdquo;</p><p>But Brittain&rsquo;s strong play made him the starter for the Pioneers early and he hasn&rsquo;t given up that mantle, despite being a frosh. All his major stats were top four in the conference through mid-January, including a sizzling 2.06 goals-against average and .926 save percentage. &ldquo;Puck focus and concentration are his biggest strengths,&rdquo; Luce said. &ldquo;He battles hard and he knows where the puck is at all times.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0041-03

Great Brittain

<div class="byline">BY NEIL HODGE</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0042-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-01785/9508484-1-eng-US/f0042-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>CIRCLE WIZ Jean-Francios Leblanc is a demon at the dot and pretty good around the crease, too.</b> <span class="photo-credit">(ANDY KLINK/VAL D’OR FOREURS)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-04317/9508491-1-eng-US/f0042-042.jpg" title="f0042-04" width="77" height="89"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>V</span><b>al-d&rsquo;Or Foreurs</b> center Jean-Francois Leblanc has turned a negative into a positive. He attended last summer&rsquo;s evaluation camp, but didn&rsquo;t make the Canadian under-18 team that competed in the 2010 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-02502/9508477-1-eng-US/f0042-022.jpg" title="f0042-02" width="158" height="146"></div><p>&ldquo;It was a big disappointment, but I didn&rsquo;t hang my head after that,&rdquo; the 17-year-old said. &ldquo;I tried to learn from that experience and use it to become a better player. I didn&rsquo;t like the feeling of being cut. It&rsquo;s given me extra motivation to keep working hard and improving.&rdquo;</p><p>Leblanc, 6-foot-4 and 192 pounds, has bounced back with a solid sophomore season in the Quebec League. He had 37 points, including 15 goals, in 41 games and he&rsquo;s gaining attention for the 2011 NHL draft.</p><p>Leblanc was Team Quebec&rsquo;s top scorer at the 2010 World Under-17 Championship  with six points, including two goals, in five games. He tries to pattern his game after Joe Thornton. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a big center who feeds his wingers,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I can play at both ends of the rink. I want to be known as a complete player. The main things I need to work on are my shot and being a little more physical because I have good size.&rdquo;</p><p>Leblanc, the fourth overall pick in the 2009 QMJHL draft, was Val-d&rsquo;Or&rsquo;s leader with 801 faceoffs through four months this season and he had a 53.5 winning percentage. The native of St-Hyacinthe, Que., sees time on the power play and penalty kill and he&rsquo;s used in the last minute to defend leads.</p><p>Val-d&rsquo;Or coach Marc-Andre Dumont compares Leblanc to Jordan Staal in terms of being a two-way center with size and skill. Leblanc is a good passer who also gets a lot of scoring chances close in with his strength and reach.</p><p>&ldquo;He plays very well defensively and also brings offense,&rdquo; Dumont said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s very responsible for a young player. He finishes his checks and blocks shots. His hockey sense is probably his best asset. He understands the game so he&rsquo;s able to be in the right position.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s tough to handle 1-on-1 with his size and strength. He uses his body to protect the puck&hellip;fight his 1-on-1 battles and to fight for positioning. But he needs to improve his physical play and use his size to be more of a presence.&rdquo;</p><p>Dumont notes Leblanc has a good skating stride and deceptive speed once he gets going. He just needs to improve his acceleration.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s very dedicated to becoming a pro,&rdquo; Dumont said. &ldquo;He works hard in the gym. He stays on the ice for extra time after practice. He&rsquo;s got lots of tools and he has the will to get better.&rdquo;</p><p>One NHL scout projects Leblanc for the middle rounds of the draft. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a solid prospect with his size, skill, smarts for the game and compete level,&rdquo; the scout said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s extremely good on faceoffs. His forte is the defensive game, but this season he&rsquo;s putting points on the board and showing he can bring offense.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0042-01

Furious Foreur

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-03393/9508522-1-eng-US/f0042-032.jpg" title="f0042-03" width="481" height="752"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JOSEPH LaBATE</b> <span class="photo-credit">(STEVE LAPENSKY)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>J</span>-F Leblanc isn&rsquo;t the only big kid making noise in draft circles this year. Head west from Quebec and you&rsquo;ll find 6-foot-4 center Joseph LaBate, who plays for the Academy of Holy Angels Stars in Minnesota.</p><p>A speedy player who knows how to use his frame, LaBate put up 19 points in his first nine games for the Stars this season, including four in a 5-4 loss to top-ranked Edina.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m a big centerman and I try to use my body well,&rdquo; La-Bate said. &ldquo;I feel players work pretty well off of me.&rdquo;</p><p>Holy Angels is a private school just south of Minneapolis and LaBate is following in the footsteps of his brother and sister by attending the institution. Blues defenseman Erik Johnson also went there.</p><p>Scouts love LaBate&rsquo;s upside; in the latest rankings by the NHL&rsquo;s Central Scouting Bureau, the Holy Angels pivot was tabbed at No. 60 among North American skaters.</p><p>LaBate cites David Backes and Blake Wheeler as two of his current NHL role models and even though he&rsquo;s playing high school hockey, the draft spotlight is no less bright. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s always in the back of your mind, knowing there&rsquo;s always someone watching,&rdquo; LaBate said. &ldquo;Every game is a tryout.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0042-03

Minny’s Big Star

<div class="byline">BY NICOLAS CHABOT</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>A</span>NDERS</b>&nbsp;<b>LINDBACK</b> of the Nashville Predators is one of the best surprises of the season so far. Taken 207th overall by the Preds in 2008, the 22-year-old Swedish goaltender only lost one game in regulation in his first 15 appearances, helping Nashville get past an early injury to star netminder Pekka Rinne. When facing the opponent&rsquo;s top line (the three forwards with the most TOI during the game), Lindback gave up only three goals on 86 shots for a .965 save percentage. Other goaltenders who have thrived against the best include Boston&rsquo;s Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask. Thomas has also been a killer for the B&rsquo;s at even strength and when his team is outshot. So, really, it&rsquo;s just tough in general to score on the guy.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-01767/9508567-1-eng-US/f0043-012.jpg" title="f0043-01" width="659" height="1013"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LINDBACK: FREDERICK BREEDON/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-02529/9508560-1-eng-US/f0043-022.jpg" title="f0043-02" width="556" height="711"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-03442/9508553-1-eng-US/f0043-032.jpg" title="f0043-03" width="1469" height="803"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0043-01

PLAYING HIS BEST AGAINST THE BEST

<div class="byline">By Larry Humber</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0045-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-01575/9508598-1-eng-US/f0045-012.jpg"></div><p><b>ANSWERS AVAILABLE IN THE NEXT ISSUE AND AT</b> <a href="http://THN.com/">THN.com/</a><b>xword</b></p><h2><b>ACROSS</b></h2><p>1 Where Cory Clouston coaches</p><p>4 He&rsquo;s now a Red Wing, pictured</p><p>9 &lsquo;Ovie&rsquo; was the Ted ___ Award winner in 2010</p><p>10 Go on the road</p><p>11 Dylan ___ was an Islander in 2009-10</p><p>12 Hockey&rsquo;s &lsquo;Magic Man&rsquo;</p><p>13 ___ Mikita had a donut shop in Wayne&rsquo;s World</p><p>15 The puck</p><p>18 Where &lsquo;The Big M&rsquo; hailed from</p><p>21 Matt ___ is a Penguin</p><p>23 Posts or crossbars</p><p>24 Nickname of John Wayne, star of a 1937 hockey film</p><p>25 Goal scorer</p><p>26 Stalls</p><h2><b>DOWN</b></h2><p>1 Taylor Hall&rsquo;s team</p><p>2 Tight</p><p>3 The &lsquo;W&rsquo; in WHL</p><p>5 ___ Tessier was coach in Chicago</p><p>6 Helps in the scoring of a goal</p><p>7 Game</p><p>8 Vancouver&rsquo;s ___ Kesler</p><p>14 A blueliner with the Caps</p><p>15 Colorado&rsquo;s Matt ___</p><p>16 Takes the puck from an opponent</p><p>17 Jacques ___ was twice coach of the year</p><p>19 Dole out</p><p>20 Doesn&rsquo;t play, ___ out</p><p>22 Johnny ___ is a Thrasher</p><p><b>LAST WEEK&rsquo;S CROSSWORD SOLUTION ACROSS</b> 1. ANGELA, 4. ALASKA, 9. GRANATO, 10. BOARD, 11. STEVE, 12. SLACKER, 13. EMMS, 15. MASK, 18. RUSSELL, 21. ROGER, 23. TRENT, 24. CLEMENT, 25. ROYALS, 26. DUSTIN <b>DOWN</b> 1. AUGUST, 2. GRATE, 3. LEADERS, 5. LEBDA, 6. STAMKOS, 7. ANDERS, 8. ROSS, 14. MYSTERY, 15. MARLEAU, 16. WRITER, 17. BROTEN, 19. EXTOL, 20. LUCE, 22. GREAT<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0045-01

CROSSWORD

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-04280/9508636-1-eng-US/f0045-042.jpg" title="f0045-04" width="991" height="1294"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(HHOF IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-03316/9508629-1-eng-US/f0045-032.jpg" title="f0045-03" width="150" height="150"></div><p><b>Terry Sawchuk, THN&rsquo;s No. 1 goalie of all-time, kept his eye on the puck no matter where it headed.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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Blast from the Past from The Hockey Hall of Fame

<div class="byline">&#x2013; RYAN KENNEDY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-02376/9508667-1-eng-US/f0045-022.jpg" title="f0045-02" width="676" height="689"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(SCOTT THOMAS/MISSOURI MAVERICKS)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Central League&rsquo;s Mavericks have made a tradition of trying out different special jerseys in the team&rsquo;s short history and they definitely found a winner with the latest. A throwback tribute to the NHL&rsquo;s old Kansas City Scouts (Missouri plays just outside of K.C. in Independence), the Mavs altered the logo to fit their squad with great results. The colors are great and the Mavs even kept a little of their original identity with the shoulder patches. The only question left for Missouri is why not go with this jersey full-time?<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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