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February 27, 1981
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.
Red Wings Come Up Short In Scoring
DETROIT—The Detroit Red Wings, who in recent weeks traded away a pair of 30-goal scorers, are searching for goal-scorers. And the price is bound to be steep. “I think what we’ve got to do now, realistically, is to come up with a couple of goal-scorers,” said Jimmy Skinner, the Wings’ director of hockey operations. Skinner lamented the Wings’ inability to finish off all the chances they had worked so hard to create. That lack of goal-scoring cost the Wings in a 2-2 tie with Hartford and a 3-1 loss to Philadelphia. The Wings outshot the Flyers 36-22 but didn’t get the goals. Incidentally, the Wings. Flyers and Joe Louis Arena made history as a crowd of 20,339—the largest ever for a National Hockey League game—marched through the turnstiles. The Wings have only four players…
Newest Flame Labraaten Tries To Salvage Season
CALGARY—His frustrating days in the Detroit Red Wing organization behind him, Dan Labraaten arrived in Calgary with a new outlook on life. “I have something to prove,” said Labraaten, newest member of the Calgary Flames. “I want to salvage something from this season.” Labraaten came to the Flames for minor leaguer Earl Ingarfield in a deal that took five days to make. Labraaten had a no-trade clause in his contract and was perfectly willing to waive it—for a price. Because tax laws differ in Canada, Labraaten effectively would have taken a cut in pay to report to the Flames. Once the Red Wing organization satisfied his demands, he was on his way. A 30-goal scorer last season, Labraaten has only three so far this year with one of the National Hockey League’s weakest clubs.…
The ‘Natural’ Is Struggling But Flyers Have The Answer
PHILADELPHIA—Given the same rocks that Demosthenes put in his mouth, Brian Propp would spit them out and shoot them into a goal. He doesn’t debate ’em, he just scores ’em. Trying to explain, then, how he has only 16 goals after 57 games is as difficult for us as it is painful for Brian. You and I don’t understand how The Natural does it, let alone how he loses it, but we’ve seen it often enough to know it happens. So what’s been wrong with Brian Propp? Sophomore slump? Trying too hard? Not trying hard enough? Popping his mouth off too much? Perhaps a word from Brian would be appropriate here. And that’s usually about all you get, one per customer. “You don’t get points, you lose a little bit of confidence,” he…
First Place No Breeze For Islanders
LONG ISLAND—Rarely has there been a time when being at the top has appealed to the Islanders. Now their discomfort under the pressure of being expected to win is beginning to take its toll. In the first place, there is first place. Looking back on the rest of the league does not seem to be the position the Islanders enjoy. But then, the Islanders have been losing their grip on the season for several weeks, so maybe they won’t have to worry about being in first place for long. “We don’t seem to like first place much anyway,” goalie Bill Smith said. “Maybe we’re better off without it.” Smith came to that conclusion after the Islanders came to a terrible conclusion—allowing three goals in the last 4:04 in a 5-3 loss at Pittsburgh…
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