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April 25, 2006
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.
THRASHERS
HOW THEY BEAT YOU The Thrashers can score with the best of them – led by Ilya Kovalchuk, Marc Savard, Marian Hossa and Slava Kozlov – and have Kari Lehtonen to make up for any mistakes, providing he’s healthy. HOW THEY’RE EXPOSED When teams can control the puck in their end and make their forwards and defense work, the Thrashers are in trouble. A penchant for bad penalties that causes them to play much of a game killing them also has plagued the Thrashers. QUESTION MARK If Kovalchuk is at the top of his game, he can score in bunches and propel the Thrashers almost singlehandedly to victory. When he’s not in the game mentally, he can be invisible; or, if he tries too hard to make things happen by himself, it…
Standard will remain
Ahook is a hook is a hook. Same goes for holding, interference and all the other obstruction fouls the NHL clamped down on this season. And if you think that will change when the playoffs roll around, you had better think again. Just ask Stephen Walkom. Again. “Aren’t you sick of talking about this by now?” laughs Walkom, the NHL’s supervisor of officials who has worked hard to make sure his crew has maintained a high standard for calling obstruction fouls this season. “Our guys are committed to it. They have been committed to it all year. “Obviously when the games get tough and the games get close, and there are playoff ramifications, there is a lot of interest in how the games are called. But we just want the guys to go…
Gainey redefines roles for his stars
COACH’S APPROACH When Bob Gainey replaced Claude Julien as coach in January, he placed emphasis on pushing the puck forward more. Gainey wanted his team to get the first pass out of its zone more quickly and utilize its speed. He encouraged the Habs to be more aggressive on the penalty kill and to try for odd-man rushes. Gainey also did a better job than Julien of defining his players’ roles. Saku Koivu and Alex Kovalev were performing double-duty, playing the power play and killing penalties along with their regular shifts. Gainey eliminated overusing his stars. The Habs feel confident entering the playoffs with Gainey in charge. He spent 16 seasons as a player with Montreal, winning five Stanley Cups. As coach of Minnesota, he led the North Stars to the final in…
Hanlon following plan for future
COACH’S STATUS Glen Hanlon had a game plan before the season started and playoff preparation was not a part of it – although he will argue that statement until his rust-colored hair turns grey. His job was to take a young, inexperienced group and determine which players had NHL futures. In the process, he hopes to re-establish the Caps traditions of hard work and discipline. Hanlon has done his part by not wavering one iota from his plan through the good times (both of them) and the bad. He has molded the team while the players have either made room for themselves in the future or played into oblivion. Hanlon is finishing the first full year of what is believed to be a three-year deal with the Caps. It has been as much…
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