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January 14, 1994
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 Dominik effect
By any standard of goaltending excellence, Dominik Hasek of the Buffalo Sabres entered 1994 as the best goalie in the NHL. Quicker than the Cat, better than Belfour, righter than Roy. As the NHL season moved toward the midway point, Hasek’s goals-against average was well below 2.00 and nearly half-a-goal better than anyone else’s. The 28-year-old is trying to become the first goalie since 1973-74 to have a sub-2.00 GAA. Only four goalies since 1967-68 have accomplished the feat. Hasek, named co-winner of the NHL’s player-of-the-month award for December-also led the league handily in save percentage and his five shutouts were two more than Patrick Roy’s. To appreciate the enormity of these achievements, consider that in the summer of 1992, Hasek’s value on the trade market was so meagre, he fetched only Stephane Beauregard,…
Sweden: New world power
OSTRAVA, Czech Republic-Even if it doesn’t always have a gold medal to show for it, Swedish hockey is in the midst of a golden era. When coach Tommy Tomth’s club rolled to a perfect 6-0-0 to set up a gold medal showdown with Canada at the 1994 World Junior Championship, it marked the third consecutive year Sweden has been among the top two in the prestigious tournament. Regardless of what happened against Canada on Jan. 4 in the Czech Republic, there is no reason to doubt the Swedes won’t be in the same situation a year from now. All of which tells you two things: □ The Swedes play a high-tempo, high-skill speed oriented game that has begun to take on a more physical North American flavor. □ The political and socio-economic upheaval of Eastern…
Belfour ignored again
Snubbed again. Ed Belfour should be used to it by now, but the Chicago Blackhawks’ two-time Vezina Trophy winner was still angered over not being named a Western Conference reserve for the All-Star Game. “This is nothing new,” said Belfour, bypassed for the second time in four years despite a 16-8-2 record, 2.63 goals-against average and two shutouts. “It’s one of the things that motivates me. If you don’t get respect, you’ve got to work harder. “Who does what I do? Nobody. Who else playing has won 40 games in two different seasons, played in 74 and 71 games in two seasons and won two Vezina Trophies? Nobody. I think my record speaks for itself.” Only four other goalies in history have twice won 40 or more games in a season. The addition of Curtis…
How neutral-zone trap works
The neutral-zone trap begins deep in the opposition’s zone. A defending team sets it up while a puck-carrying defenseman assesses his options behind his own net Instead of attacking the puck carrier, the first forechecker acts as a “channeler.” He stays high and at one of the faceoff circles, encouraging the puck carrier to exit the zone in the other direction. The defenseman either passes to a teammate on the open side or skates in that direction. Either way, the puck carrier is moving into the trap. Forwards clog the lateral lanes, making a cross-ice pass prohibitively risky as the channeler continues to angle the puck carrier to bad ice. Somewhere around the blueline, the channeler attacks the puckhandler from the side. By then, a defenseman or forward is waiting and the trap…
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