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May 9, 1986
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.
The Calgary Flames Practice What Bob Johnson Preaches
“We ha’ve better preparation for this series… this team is much more prepared to play the Edmonton Oilers than the New York Islanders ever were.”—John Tonelli WAS BADGER Bob Johnson outcoaching Glen Sather in the Stanley Cup playoffs again? Johnson, although a loser on the ice, was judged to have won the coaching contest in the Battle of Alberta two years earlier. And a similar suggestion was being made early in the classic Stanley Cup series between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames again this year. If you choose to phrase your questions just right, Badger Bob will talk about coaching in the playoffs where he has had success against Sather and in the regular season where he had no success at all. The Flames went seven games against the Oilers two years ago…
Flames Know Secret But They Won’t Tell
CALGARY—The secret formula to stopping Edmonton Oilers does exist—but Colin Patterson isn’t saying much about it. “I can’t really,” said Patterson, the Calgary Flames’ left winger. “It’s like an old family recipe. The minute I give it to you, everybody else will have it too.” Secret plan or no secret plan, the Flames were poised to pull off the upset of an upset-filled Stanley Cup playoff. In the 1986 editer of the Uncivil War, the South won three of the first five skirmishes over the heavily-favored North—with all its guns suddenly silent—by reducing the game most basic elements: Checking and goaltending. Patterson was playing an effective game of ‘Me and my shadow’ with Jari Kurri. the Oilers’ all-star right winger. Carey Wilson was doing the same thing to Wayne Gretzky. Paul Coffey couldn’t find…
Pain Will Last, At Least, Until Playoffs End
PHILADELPHIA—While it’s true that you can’t judge a book by its cover, the Flyers are also wondering how much weight you should give the last chapter. Unfortunatley for the Flyers, each team’s yearbook in the National Hockey League is read from back to front, so the playoff epilogue carries a lot more weight than 80 chapters which came before. In the Flyers’ case, that epilogue was pretty ugly. Knocked out in the first round by the New York Rangers (again), the Flyers face a summer full of questions. Of course, there is the obvious, overall question about the meaning of a great regular season, weighed against a first-round playoff exit. Nobody can take away the 110-point season they put together. Nobody can deny that the club pulled together in November after the death of Pelle…
Red Wings Bitten But Still Not Shy
DETROIT—The Detroit Red Wings won’t be gun shy about going after free agents—college or professional—again this off-season. “We’ll continue to go after anybody we feel can help our hockey club or develop into the kind of player who, down the road, can help.” said general manager Jimmy Devellano. “Free agents are going to get contracts, although I think it will be somewhat tempered. History always has a way of teaching people lessons. Teams may be more selective but I think the real good ones (free agents) will do well.” The Wings ventured into the free-agent market last summer with no success. In fact, it was a disaster. They signed eight players—five collegians and three professionals. None was a significant contributor, the needs went unfulfilled and the Wings suffered, finishing last in the National Hockey…
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