LOOKING AT NHL RACE

Ability To Win Road Games Put Wings In Thick Of Race

DETROIT, Mich.- Ah, these have been strange, enjoyable nights for the Red Wings. They pick up points on the road, Alex Delvecchio is cheered at home and Gordie Howe affirms his followers’ belief that he is a deity and practically resurrects to spark a victory. The Wings are in the thick of the NHL’s Eastern Division race with one-third of the season elapsed and they’re there because they’ve been picking up points on the road. A recent two game swing to New York and Montreal produced two more ties, the fourth and fifth of the season on the road in 14 starts, and gave the Wings 13 points so far this season in rival rinks. That matches their entire road output last season. At that, the Wings didn’t pick up a single point until Dec.…

Worsley, Laperriere Prove Bright Spots

MONTREAL Que. — It’s customary, when a team falls on hard times, to accentuate the negative and to play up things that are being done wrong by various individuals on a club. Such criticism, if it’s at all constructive, has its place in the scheme of things and always will have. But, there’s always a positive side to a situation, too; always a few bright spots to offset the gloom, and, all too often, such things are overlooked in the negative atmosphere that accompanies difficult times. For instance, the Montreal Canadiens recently ended an eight-game winless streak, which tumbled them into the basement of the Eastern Division. During the drought, which began last Nov. 25th against Boston and ended Dec. 13th against the same team, a few players gave consistently outstanding performances and deserve…

Flaman’s Wings On Ton Despite NHL Recalls

FORT WORTH, Tex.- The parent Detroit Red Wings were concluding their “quick look” operation when they recalled Gary Marsh from the Fort Worth Wings and sent back Rick McCann. Marsh followed Jimmy Peters, Ron Anderson and Marsh who were given the opportunity to practice and play for the National Hockey League club. Coach Fern Flaman looked upon the loss of Marsh as just a natural turn of events saying, “These are all young players with tremendous pro potential and they are sent down here to me for development. When they get a chance with the Wings in Detroit, it works two ways. The major league club sees how they are progressing and the player learns just what is expected of him in the heat of actual major league competition.” “All four players worked down…