Cagey veteran Carbonneau contributing again in big way

Like a finely aged bottle of wine, Guy Carbonneau becomes more valuable with time. Carbonneau, the Montreal Canadiens’ center who appeared to be on his last legs a year ago, has showed he is far from finished. Entering the all star break, Carbonneau was the Canadiens’ fifth-leading scorer with 10 goals and 24 points in 47 games. Carbonneau, who turns 34 on March 18, hasn’t missed a game. “He plays every shift like it’s the last of his career,” said coach Jacques Demers. That’s a stark contrast to the 199293 season, when Carbonneau played only 61 games-the lowest total of his career-due to knee problems. He missed 20 games alone due to tendinitis. He slumped to career-low totals of four goals and 17 points. “Last year was tough. It ended all right, because we won…

Broadway smash

NEW YORK-Mike Richter drove Pavel Bure crazy. Then the New York Rangers’ goalie drove away from the 45th NHL All-Star Game Jan. 22 in a new truck after being named the game’s most valuable player. It may have been the first game in history in which a goalie whose team gave up eight goals was named MVP. But Richter deserved full credit for his part in the Eastern Conference’s 9-8 win over the Western Conference. Richter played the second period and allowed just two goals on 21 shots for a .905 save percentage. He stopped Vancouver Canuck speedster Bure five times in the period, including two breakaways. “Some of the guys were saying I should be sitting in the truck beside him,” said a frustrated Bure after the game. The game was at Richter’s home rink-Madison…

HOCKEY THE WAY YOU WANT TO PLAY IT.

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