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April 20, 1990
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.
AHL AWARDS
By looking at the major contenders for American League awards, it’s not difficult to understand why goal production was down nearly half a goal from last season. It was a vintage year for goaltenders. Several goalies, many of whom were rookies, had outstanding seasons and are in the running for MVP and rookie of the year honors. That said, it’s a wide-open race for all of the awards this season. Unlike last season when Sherbrooke center Stephan Lebeau ran away with the MVP and rookie of the year awards, there is no clear-cut winner evident for any of the trophies this season. The MVP, rookie of the year and top defenseman awards are chosen in a combined vote by AHL media members and AHL players. The top goalie is picked by the league’s…
CONACHER’S MISSION: ANOTHER RING
His entire NHL career adds up to fewer than 200 games. For the past decade, Pat Conacher has shuttled between the minor leagues and three NHL clubs as the ultimate role player. At the age of 31, Conacher is on a mission. As the left winger on the New Jersey Devils’ key checking line, he-is searching for a second Stanley Cup ring. “I’m at the point now where I’m not trying to prove anything to anybody,” said Conacher, who played for (he 1984 Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers. “I just want to win the Stanley Cup one more time. When I was with Edmonton, I was a real small cog. I was a role player put into small roles. I feel more a part of it here.” Make no mistake about Conacher’s importance.…
CAN LEAGUE’S TOP SAVER BE HABS’ PLAYOFF SAVIOR?
Patrick Roy felt it was time for redemption. Last season’s Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL’s best goalie. Roy knew he didn’t have one of his better games as the Montreal Canadiens opened the 1990 Stanley Cup playoffs in Buffalo. “I wasn’t satisfied with the way that I played in the first game,” said Roy, after blanking the Sabres in Game 2 in the Adams Division semifinal. The 3-0 win April 7 tied the best-of-seven series one game each. “I knew I could be better,” he said. “And we were perfect defensively in the second game.” The Canadiens were a far more alert team in Game 2 after a less-than-impressive performance in a 4-1 loss in the series opener April 5. “The pressure was on us,” said Roy, who stopped 26 shots for his fourth…
NUMBERS DO ALL THE TALKING IN COLLAPSE
You’d think after missing the playoffs seven times in eight years, the Pittsburgh Penguins would be used to going on vacation in early April. But since this was a most unusual season in Pittsburgh it had an appropriately peculiar ending. The way the lifeless playoff race in the Patrick Division deyeloped, the Penguins needed only four points in their final eight games—or a tie in their season finale—to clinch fourth place. It was too much to expect, on both counts. The Penguins were 0-5-3 in their final eight games and lost the final game of the season, 3-2 in overtime to the Buffalo Sabres. So the New York Islanders slipped into the playoffs, and the Penguins tried to slip out of town unnoticed. They took a summer’s worth of regrets with them. “We had…
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