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April 22, 1988
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 Pressure Never Lets Up For Les Canadiens
THE FIRST HOCKEY game wasn’t played at the Montreal Forum, but surely the last will be. So much of the NHL’s tradition is tied to the building on Rue Sainte-Catherine where ghosts—Richard, Beliveau, Blake and Harvey—and pocket ghosts—Henri Richard—regularly stroll the corridors. The Canadiens are to hockey what the Celtics are to basketball. They do not dream of winning. They plan on it. And the city helps them. Hartford is known for insurance. Montreal is known for hockey. Both reputations are well-deserved. In no other NHL city do the stakes seem quite as high as in Montreal. Everyone, from cabbies to bartenders, pays attention. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone cares. “I learned all 1 needed to know about this city the year we lost eight games,” said Larry Robinson of Montreal’s 1976-77 championship season. The…
Jets Break Free From Oiler Playoff Shadow
WINNIPEG—Not a single member of the Winnipeg Jets had ever experienced the euphoric feeling before. Not in nine years of NHL playoff competition, not in four previous series, not in 16 other games. It was the longest current one-sided streak between two teams in major-league professional sport. Until April 9, the Winnipeg Jets had never defeated the Edmonton Oilers in post-season play, not even once. The spell was finally broken at the Winnipeg Arena, in three hours and 15 minutes of guerilla warfare. When battle number three in a best-of-seven Smythe Division semi-final series came to a merciful conclusion and the casualties had been counted, the Jets were 6-4 winners and had closed the series gap to 2-1 in Edmonton’s favor. The heroes of the victory were not the Jets’ flying aces—Dale Hawerchuk did…
Time For Rangers’ DeBlois To Check Out?
NEW YORK—Of all the New York Rangers who were left with an empty feeling, veteran center Lucien DeBlois seemed to be the one most affected by his team’s failure to gain a playoff spot. As the players gathered at their Playland Casino practice facilty in Rye, N.Y., the morning after they became the first Ranger team to miss the postseason since 1977, DeBlois was not certain he would get another chance at the playoffs. “My contract is over,” he said. “It’s up in the air. I don’t know whether or not they’ll offer me another one. When you don’t make the playoffs, teams make changes.” For DeBlois, who finished with nine goals and 21 assists in 74 games, the end to the 1987-88 season came so suddenly he wasn’t sure about the options…
Kings Over Flames? It’s California Dreaming
LOS ANGELES—While the Los Angeles Kings slept during their charter flight out of Southern California, winging their way to Alberta, they were dreaming the impossible dream. Down 3-1 in games to the Calgary Flames in their Stanley Cup playoff series following a 7-3 defeat at the Forum April 10. the Kings were faced with the unlikely prospect of having to win three consecutive times to keep the post-season alive. That would match the Kings’ longest winning streak this year, something they managed to do only twice during the 80-game regular season. “It’s a four-win series.” goaltender Glenn Healy said, trying to sound convincing. “They haven’t got the fourth win yet. so we’re still in it. It’s been done before and it can be done again. I still have confidence in our players.” After losing…
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