Rangers To Add U.S. Olympic Talent

When Team USA disbanded after the 1988 Olympic Winter Games, Colorado Rangers awaited the fallout with more anticipation than any other club in the International League. There were six players with ties to Colorado’s NHL parent New York Rangers. But Colorado coach-general manager Pete Mahovlich did not expect a Windfall of talent. ‘Looks like Peter Laviolette will be joining us…’—Mahovlich “Looks like Peter Laviolette (left defenseman) will be joining us from the Olympic team, and also Mike Richter, a goalie,” he said. “I’m not exactly sure who else will be signed (by New York). It’s up in the air. Of course, Brian Leetch will be going to the New York Rangers.” Laviolette is no stranger to the IHL, having played 72 games last season in Indianapolis. Other Team USA members who are possibilities for Colorado are left…

Whalers’ Penalty-Killing A Potent Weapon

HARTFORD—Penalty-killing has been one positive constant in the Hartford Whalers’ season of unexpected troubles. Through 63 games, the Whalers had killed off 293 of 346 manpower disadvantages, an efficiency rate of about 85 per cent—best in the NHL. Several players have had a hand in the success—among them forwards Dave Tippett, Brent Peterson and Dean Evason, defensemen Joel Quenneville and Ulf Samuelsson, and goaltenders Mike Liut and Steve Weeks. “We’ve been very disciplined, that’s been the key.” Quenneville said. “We don’t like to give up the shot from the point. We let the other team come down low. From there it takes a perfect pass if they want to score.” Under general manager Emile Francis, defense is the name of the game in Hartford and always will be. It doesn’t matter if recently-fired Jack…

Frustrated Linemates Connect Against Stars

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—In the most frustrating week of the season for the New Jersey Devils, they dominated three games and lost all three. The Devils outshot Boston. Winnipeg and the New York Rangers by a collective margin of 118-51, but goaltenders Rejean Lemelin, Daniel Berthiaume and John Vanbiesbrouck held them to just three goals. The strain was most evident on the faces of New Jersey’s No. 1 line—Kirk Muller. Aaron Broten and Pat Verbeek. The Devils’ bread-and-butter trio failed to score a single goal, collecting only a pair of assists on a Bruce Driver power-play goal. “When we don’t score that makes it very tough on us, because we feel we let our team down,” admitted Verbeek. “We know that’s our role. The team relies on us to score goals. It puts added…

THE WAY WE WERE