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.

May 3, 1996

The Hockey News May 3, 1996

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0045-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-01225/6390275-1-eng-US/f0045-012.jpg"></div> &#9632;

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IN THIS ISSUE

SCOREBOARD

<div class="byline">By Tim Pennington</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0030-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-01822/6389528-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Former NHLer Chris Kontos has no regrets about his unique holdout.</figcaption></div>Chris Kontos reads the newspaper every day, searching for the latest hockey gossip, tidbits about former teammates and all the while wondering what could have been.Not lost in his daily perusal is how his most recent NHL team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, made the playoffs in just its fourth year of existence.Kontos admits he can&rsquo;t help but think what it would have been like if he hadn&rsquo;t walked away from NHL employment due to a contract squabble following the 1992-93 season.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not something I beat my head against the wall thinking about every day,&rdquo; said Kontos, who is in the International League with the Cincinnati Cyclones after playing in Sweden last season. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s no use to do that to myself. I&rsquo;ve got other things going for me now.&rdquo;That would be the Cyclones&rsquo; pursuit of a Turner Cup championship after capturing the IHL&rsquo;s Eastern Conference title with a 51-22-9 record.While it&rsquo;s not comparable to what his former teammates in Tampa Bay have done, Kontos has been a steady force with Cincinnati this year, scoring 26 goals and 70 points in 78 games.&ldquo;He has done an adequate job for us,&rdquo; said Cyclones&rsquo; coach Ron Smith, who coached the New York Rangers when Kontos was leading the Lightning during its inaugural season.One of the downsides to Kontos&rsquo; play is a minus-7 rating on a team filled with positive numbers.Kontos, 32, ended up in Cincinnati after the Florida Panthers signed him last summer. Kontos spent training camp in Florida and played one pre-season game, but was sent to Cincinnati before the NHL regular season began.&ldquo;They gave me every indication they wanted me there and then they sort of changed their agenda,&rdquo; Kontos said. &ldquo;I believed what they told me, but that&rsquo;s how it goes sometimes.&rdquo;The Panthers claim they never guaranteed Kontos a spot and only signed him as part of an agreement they made with Cincinnati when they pulled out of their affiliation to provide some players from their organization.&ldquo;There was a definite consensus among our scouts, management and coaching personnel regarding Chris,&rdquo; said Panthers&rsquo; assistant GM Chuck Fletcher. &ldquo;We felt he wasn&rsquo;t good enough to play for the Florida Panthers. There was no debate.&rdquo;A first-round choice of the Rangers in 1982, Kontos has spread his career around evenly. Prior to joining Cincinnati this season, he had played for four NHL teams, four in the minors and three in Europe. He also played for the Canadian Olympic team in 1994.In 230 games with the Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings and Tampa Bay, Kontos had 54 goals and 123 points. He excelled for the Lightning, finishing second in goals (27) and third in points (51) in 66 games.His best game came opening night in 1992-93, when he beat Ed Belfour of the Chicago Blackhawks for the first goal in Tampa Bay history. He finished with four goals that night in a 7-3 win.But Kontos was one of the lowest-paid Lightning players at $150,000, which didn&rsquo;t sit well with him. With a deal that was to pay him $170,000 in 1993-94 and $170,000 in his option year (1994-95), Kontos exercised a clause in his contract which made him a free agent after the first year.The Lightning offered him a $225,000 contract to sign for 1993-94. but it was $100,000 less than Kontos sought.Tampa Bay, meanwhile, signed Denis Savard, Gerard Gallant and Petr Klima during the offseason.After a lengthy holdout, Kontos decided to walk away from the Tampa Bay offer. He signed with the Canadian Olympic team where he won a silver medal in the 1994 Games, but the move still baffled many.To this day Kontos says he doesn&rsquo;t regret what he did, nor the way things were handled on his end.&ldquo;I can honestly say I never bad-mouthed the team,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t speak for them, but I never got involved in that kind of stuff.&rdquo;His quiet demeanor in Cincinnati this season doesn&rsquo;t necessarily suggest bitterness, but Kontos is usually the last to arrive and the first to leave.&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t let that quiet stuff fool you,&rdquo; said Cyclone teammate Dave Tomlinson. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s the practical joker in here. He&rsquo;s very sly about it.&rdquo;Kontos has a year left on his contract with Florida, but the Panthers will exercise their option to back out after this season. He&rsquo;d love to get back to the NHL, but says he&rsquo;s content playing for a winning IHL team.&ldquo;I checked this place out before I came and I like their commitment to winning,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Knowing you have a pretty good chance going out there every night is a good feeling to have.&rdquo; &#9632;

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FEATURES

Kontos satisfied with life in Cinci

<div class="byline">By Lisa Dillman</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-02551/6389328-1-eng-US/f0028-022.jpg" title="f0028-02" width="563" height="982"><figcaption class="caption-body">Byron Dafoe</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-01828/6389335-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg" title="f0028-01" width="163" height="164"></div>For the first time since 1986, the playoffs are just a California dream.The Los Angeles Kings joined the San Jose Sharks and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on the post-season sideline, leaving the state without a playoff participant for the first time in 10 years.More notably for the Kings, they finished behind the rival Ducks for the second time in the Anaheim franchise&rsquo;s three NHL seasons. Not including the lockout shortened 1994-95, Los Angeles&rsquo; 24 victories were its fewest since it had 23 in 1985-86.&ldquo;Nobody is happy sitting here watching the playoffs on television,&rdquo; said GM Sam McMaster.The Wayne Gretzky trade rumors, which began in earnest Jan. 9, is considered the turning point in the team&rsquo;s season. The Kings were 16-16-10 at that point and won just twice more before Gretzky was dealt Feb. 27.But there were signs previously the Kings simply were not a good team. Among the indicators were five consecutive road losses on a eastern trip in late-November and a handful of losses to sub-.500 teams.It all added up to a 12th-place finish in the Western Conference and 22nd overall. There is no consolation of a first-round draft pick, either, as it was traded to the Washington Capitals in 1995 for goaltender Byron Dafoe and left winger Dimitri Khristich. The Capitals will have a shot at the No. 1 draft choice overall in the lottery May 19.NOTEBOOK: Six Kings are playing at the 1996 World Championship in Vienna. Left winger Kevin Stevens and right winger Craig Johnson are suiting up for the United States, centers Ray Ferraro and Yanic Perreault for Canada, right winger Robert Lang for the Czech Republic and defenseman Mattias Norstrom for Sweden&hellip;Defenseman Philippe Boucher had wrist surgery April 16, but is expected to be healthy for the start of training camp next season&hellip;Although his contract expired after this season, assistant coach John Perpich will be re-hired, said GM Sam McMaster&hellip;Left winger Dimitri Khristich&rsquo;s 64 points were the fewest for a Kings&rsquo; team leader since Butch Goring recorded 61 in 1973-74. &#9632;

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NHL TEAMS

Sorry season finally ends

<div class="byline">By Wayne Fish</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-04418/6388852-1-eng-US/f0019-042.jpg" title="f0019-04" width="160" height="161"></div>After all the sitting around injured Mikael Renberg had been forced to do this season, the finally healthy right winger wasn&rsquo;t going to miss the Philadelphia Flyers&rsquo; playoff opener for anything.Anything, that is, except the birth of his first child.Renberg&rsquo;s fiancee, Stina Sundstrom, gave birth to a girl at 7:34 p.m., April 16, one minute before the scheduled opening faceoff between the Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.Renberg, who played only six regular season games after suffering an abdominal injury Jan. 22, badly wanted to be in uniform-so much so that when he took Stina to hospital at 1:30 that afternoon and things moved along quickly, he started doing some stretching exercises on the floor outside the delivery room.&ldquo;The nurses were laughing at me,&rdquo; Renberg grinned.The story had a happy ending. A seven-pound daughter named Emmy arrived healthy and the Flyers did just fine without their top right winger, recording a 7-3 win.But two nights later, they were in dire need of his services. When John LeClair went out with a sprained ankle in Game 2, Renberg was promoted back to the top line with Eric Lindros and Dale Hawerchuk.Renberg said he still felt a little tender, but looked okay in Game 2.&ldquo;I probably won&rsquo;t be a hundred per cent for the rest of the season,&rdquo; Renberg said. &ldquo;But I&rsquo;ll do whatever I can.&rdquo;Renberg was skating on a line with Joel Otto and Shjon Podein when he returned to the lineup April 11. Both Otto (sprained left knee) and LeClair were injured in Game 2, forcing coach Terry Murray to shuffle his lines.NOTEBOOK: The Flyers didn&rsquo;t exactly pop the champagne corks when they beat Tampa Bay 3-1 in their season finale April 14, moments before Pittsburgh lost at Boston to give the Eastern Conference title to Philadelphia. Most of the Flyers were watching the Masters on TV when word of Boston&rsquo;s 65 win reached their dressing room at the ThunderDome&hellip;The 208 goals given up by the Flyers during the regular season were the fewest allowed (discounting the lockout-shortened 1994-95) since 1977-78, when they surrendered 200 in an 80-game season&hellip;The Flyers&rsquo; 7-3 win over Tampa Bay in Game 1 gave goalie Ron Hextall his 36th career postseason victory as a Flyer, moving him one ahead of Bernie Parent and into first on the team&rsquo;s all-time list. &#9632;

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Renberg adds to his lineup before returning to Flyers’

<div class="image-hero"><img title="Cover-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/cover-01933/6390392-1-eng-US/cover-012.jpg"></div>FINAL 1995-96 STATSHOW NEW JERSEY CHOKEDHere&rsquo;s who should win the NHL&rsquo;s most coveted awardsMOST VALUABLE PLAYERTOP DEFENSEMANTOP ROOKIETOP COACHBEST GOALIE &#9632;

Cover-01

THE NHL HONOR ROLL

<h2>Lemieux tops scoring chart</h2>1. Marvelous Mario Pittsburgh&rsquo;s Mario Lemieux returns to claim fifth scoring title with 69 goals, 161 points.2. Marvelous Mario Jr. Penguins&rsquo; Jaromir Jagr sets mark for single-season scoring by right winger with 149 points.3. Ottawa Senators Show improvement under new GM, coach; knock Devils from playoff race in final game.4. Safe bet Detroit&rsquo;s Vladimir Konstantinov leads NHL in regular season plus-minus with whopping plus-60.5. Sniper Paul Four goals in final two games give Mighty Duck Paul Kariya 50 in sophomore season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-011414/6387917-1-eng-US/f0002-012.jpg" title="f0002-01" width="326" height="458"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jaromir Jagr</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-021156/6387910-1-eng-US/f0002-022.jpg" title="f0002-02" width="325" height="458"><figcaption class="caption-body">V. Konstantinov</figcaption></div><h2>Devils&rsquo; hellish season halts</h2>1. Champs to chumps One year after winning Stanley Cup, New Jersey Devils fail to make playoffs.2. Where&rsquo;s the interest? It used to be an honor to represent country at World Championship, now it&rsquo;s a chore for some.3. Dirty Dino Detroit&rsquo;s Dino Ciccarelli suspended three games for suckering Chicago&rsquo;s Enrico Ciccone.4. Nick Kypreos Toronto winger makes no attempt to prevent tumbling into Blues&rsquo; goalie Grant Fuhr.5. Loony Loney Springfield left winger drills puck into Hershey bench, cutting Vladislav Boulin for 12 stitches. &#9632;

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PLUS MINUS

<div class="byline">By Steve Dryden Editor-In-Chief</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-03845/6387948-1-eng-US/f0002-032.jpg" title="f0002-03" width="348" height="428"></div>This is for you, Sarah Stanbury in Akron, N.Y. And you, Paul Smith in Scarborough, Ont. And you, Kevin Schmidt in Santa Barbara, Calif.Plus the thousands of others who have responded to a pair of reader surveys this season. Thanks.Can we count on you one more time?The first time the count reached 1,993.That&rsquo;s how many readers responded to our Puck Poll on the new FoxTrax. You voted en masse against it, by a 10-1 margin.There hasn&rsquo;t been anything so lopsided in the hockey world since the weight of evidence against Gil Stein proving he tried to orchestrate his own election to the Hall of Fame.The second count-ballots are still trickling in-is expected to exceed the Puck Poll in number of surveys. We are overwhelmed by your response to our 14-question survey that asks a series of questions about the NHL, including,&rdquo;Who is your least favorite NHLer?&rdquo; (Want to know who&rsquo;s leading? Here&rsquo;s a hint: He&rsquo;s no stRanger to controversy.)Now we need your help one more time. It&rsquo;s your job to choose The Hockey News Readers&rsquo; Choice all-star teams. The ballot is on page 11. Just as important as your picks for the first and second all-star teams are your answers to a separate question on the ballot: &ldquo;What new features would you like to see in The Hockey News?&rdquo;There is space provided below the two allstar teams and we anxiously await your recommendations. An example: One of the most common requests in recent months has been for a regular &ldquo;Where are they now?&rdquo; feature.This is an important time for the hockey world and The Hockey News. The sport is taking off and we are approaching our golden anniversary; THN turns 50 on Oct. 1,1997.That means it&rsquo;s also an important time for you-all THN readers and fans of the game.Despite what you might suspect from muted NHL and Fox reaction to what you had to say about FoxTrax-they seemed underwhelmed by huge negative feedback from real fans-it does matter what you think.We&rsquo;re listening and value your input and opinions on the game, its future and, of course, our own future. Help us chart the next 50 years. THN would appreciate it if you found the time to give us your thoughts.Remember, this is for you, Simone Renaud in Isles de la Madeleine, Que. And you. Bob Baginski in Telford, Pa. And you, Bill Hampton in Carrot Lake, Sask. And you&hellip; &#9632;

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Have your say about season, future of THN

<div class="byline">By Mark Brender</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-011558/6387979-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">FleetCenter was an attendance boon for Ray Bourque&rsquo;s Bruins.</figcaption></div>Last summer, Los Angeles Kings&rsquo; GM Sam McMaster swore his team would make the playoffs. This summer he&rsquo;s swearing for another reason-it didn&rsquo;t.It could cost the Kings the No. 1 pick in the 1996 entry draft.McMaster traded the Kings&rsquo; first pick in 1996 (and a fourth-round pick) to the Washington Capitals last July for left winger Dimitri Khristich and goalie Byron Dafoe, knowing if the Kings stumbled out of the playoffs, the pick would become a lottery selection. Now, the Capitals become one of five teams to have a shot at the No. 1 pick.Teams owning the draft selections of the 10 nonplayoff teams will participate in the May 19 draft lottery and are ranked in inverse order of points. No team can move up more than four spots. Teams move down one position if a team in a lower draft standing wins the lottery.Other clubs with a chance for No. 1 pick are the Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, New York Islanders and Dallas Stars. The Senators, who finished in last place overall for the fourth consecutive season, have a 45 percent chance of getting the No. 1 pick.Top candidates to be selected first overall are Chris Phillips, a defenseman with the Western League&rsquo;s Prince Albert Raiders; Andrei Zyuzin, a defenseman with Ufa of the Russian League; and Alexander Volchkov, a left winger with the Ontario League&rsquo;s Barrie Colts.Scouts consider the 1996 class a weak one, which will make draft preparation more important than in other years.&ldquo;As many as half the teams in the league might come out of this draft with nothing,&rdquo; one scout said. That means teams that can find a surprise nugget of gold are, in relative terms, a leg up on the competition.This year&rsquo;s draft will take place June 22 at the Kiel Center in St. Louis.<h2>DRAFT ORDER</h2>Here is the order of selection for the first round of this year&rsquo;s entry draft, pending the May 19 lottery.1. Ottawa2 San Jose3. Islanders4. Washington15. Dallas6. Edmonton7. Buffalo8. Boston29. Anaheim10. New Jersey11. Winnipeg12. Vancouver13 Calgary14. St Louis15 Philadelphia316 Tampa Bay17 Washington18. Montreal19 Edmonton420. Florida21. Chicago22. Rangers23 Pittsburgh24 Winnipeg525. Colorado26 Detroit1from LA., 2from Hfd, 3from Tor, 4from Bos, 5from Phi. &#9632;

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King-sized risk doesn’t pay off

<div class="byline">Compiled by THN staff</div>Only one NHL official is making his playoff debut this season.Linesman Pierre Champoux, who officiated his first NHL game in 1988, was among the 30 officials working the opening round of the 1996 playoffs.Bryan Lewis, the NHL&rsquo;s director of officiating, said post-season assignments and playoff advancement are based on performance. &ldquo;Our guys have to earn it,&rdquo; he said.Former GMs Randy Sexton (Ottawa Senators) and Don Maloney (New York Islanders) are among those grading officials in the playoffs.Referees in the opening round are: Paul Devorski, Mark Faucette, Kerry Fraser, Terry Gregson, Don Ko-harski, Dan Marouelli, Bill McCreary, Rob Shick. Paul Stewart and Andy Van Hellemond.The linesmen include: Ron Asselstine. Wayne Bonney. Gord Broseker, Pierre Champoux, Kevin Collins, Pat Dapuzzo, Gerard Gauthier, Shane Hayer, Bob Hodges, Brad Lazarowich, Dan McCourt, Randy Mitton. Jean Morin, Brian Murphy, Ray Scapinello, Dan Schachte, Jay Sharrers, Leon Stickle and Mark Wheler.Officials receive bonus money per round they work. Referees who go all the way to the Stanley Cup pick up an extra $29,000; linesmen get $24,000.EAGLE LANDING? The marathon to determine who will try former NHL Players&rsquo; Association head Alan Eagleson first may be drawing to a close.Eagleson faces 34 charges of racketeering, embezzlement and fraud in the United States. In Canada, he faces 44 charges of professional misconduct by the Law Society of Upper Canada and is being investigated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for advertising and mortgage deals.Eagleson learned April 17 the RCMP investigation was nearing a close. On the same day, an Ontario court ordered the RCMP and two Canadian banks to give records relating to Eagleson to U.S. authorities.The 62-year-old lawyer, who has denied any wrongdoing, has promised not to practise law in Ontario until the law society has tried him.&ndash;with a file from Al Adams &#9632;

Familiar striped shirts in playoffs

<div class="byline">By Brian Costello</div>Boosted by five new arenas, average attendance increased 112 fans per NHL game this season.NHL attendance topped the 17million mark for the first time ever. According to figures provided in NHL summaries, total attendance in 1,066 games was 17,040,425.Larger facilities in Vancouver, Boston and Denver (compared to Quebec City)-and later in the season in Ottawa and Montreal-contributed significantly to the increase.Of some concern is sizeable attendance drops of five per cent or more in nine NHL markets. Most notably, the Los Angeles Kings saw an decline of 12 per cent over last season.For the second season in a row, the Chicago Blackhawks drew the most fans, averaging more than 20,000 per game. The Winnipeg Jets, who will become the Phoenix Coyotes next season, drew the fewest.Here&rsquo;s how teams&rsquo; final attendance figures this season compared with last year&rsquo;s figures:<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-021263/6388034-1-eng-US/f0003-022.jpg" title="f0003-02" width="558" height="1235"></div> &#9632;

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New rinks raise NHL attendance

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-011589/6388072-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="315" height="417"><figcaption class="caption-body">Grant Fuhr</figcaption></div>A weekly compendium of significant events and developments (April 12-19).April 13: Defending Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils eliminated from playoff race with seasonending 5-2 home loss to Ottawa.April 14: Detroit concludes regular season with NHL-record 62 victories by beating Dallas 5-1.Detroit&rsquo;s Bob Errey suspended two games for slashing Chicago&rsquo;s Denis Savard in April 12 game.April 15: Detroit&rsquo;s Dino Ciccarelli suspended three games for sucker punching Chicago&rsquo;s Enrico Ciccone in April 12 game.April 16: Stanley Cup playoffs open with four games.April 18: St. Louis goalie Grant Fuhr suffers season-ending knee in jury after collision with Toronto left winger Nick Kypreos in Game 2 of Western Conference quarterfinal.Philadelphia&rsquo;s Eric Lindros hurts knee against Tampa Bay in Game 2 of Eastern Conference quarterfinal, but returns to action.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-021415/6388065-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="311" height="417"><figcaption class="caption-body">Eric Lindros</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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DEPARTMENTS

Devils’ collapse complete with loss to Sens

While watching a recent Fox telecast, one thing really bothered me. During the fights, I had difficulty seeing where the punches were landing.Wouldn&rsquo;t it be easier to watch if they put big white circles around the fists of the combatants? Of course, inserting the computer chips into the knuckles of each NHL player would be a little costly, not to mention painful.Dave Corvers, Sarnia, Ont.<h2>Learn your lesson</h2>Perhaps the Fox bashing is getting a bit overdone, but the network should learn a lesson from the New York Islanders and admit when it is wrong.The guy in the stands following the puck with the flashlight still cannot keep it steady. Watching the first few minutes of the game, I found myself cheering while thinking the puck was in the net when only the spotlight had crossed the goal line.As an avid hockey fan, I enjoyed the April 14 FoxTrax game immensely. I had no problem keeping my eyes away from the lighted puck. The commentators on my car radio kept me in every play.Tom Dondero, North Caldwell, N.J.<h2>Help me out</h2>To the 146 millionaires in the NHL (THN, April 5), I would like to say my subscription to The Hockey News expires soon.I am a high school teacher and have a great influence on my students&rsquo; lives and career choices. However, teachers are not paid like athletes.I challenge all 146 of you to try to live on $28,000 per year. There are a few of you who make almost that much per period. If you can read your contract and know where the commas go in your salary, thank a teacher.If any of you can find an extra $55-that&rsquo;s less than one shift-to renew my subscription, it would be greatly appreciated.Kyle Frewin, Payson, Az.<h2>Figure it out</h2>The publication of NHL salaries in your April 5 issue got me thinking about a useful statistic. I call it Cost Effectiveness Index (CEI).To determine a team&rsquo;s CEI, simply divide the team&rsquo;s total payroll by the number of points it has compiled and you get the number of payroll dollars invested for each point in the standings.The index gives fans and owners an indication what the return is on their investment.Brian Hunsberger, Waterloo, Ont.<h2>Mario no MVP</h2>Mario Lemieux is a goal scorer and power play specialist. That is all. To suggest he is the NHL&rsquo;s most valuable player is ridiculous.Even though the Pittsburgh Penguins finished the season with 79 more goals scored than against, I&rsquo;d be willing to bet he doesn&rsquo;t even know the names of his defensemen.How can he be even considered for the Hart Trophy when he finished at plus-10, while Petr Nedved was plus-37 and Jaromir Jagr plus-31? Even Mark Messier, who at age 36 plays against all the top lines, was plus-29.W.L. Near, Stratford, Ont.<h2>Wings are kings</h2>Chris Osgood and Vladimir Konstantinov of the Detroit Red Wings deserve strong consideration for the Vezina and Norris Trophies this season.Not only was Osgood among the top goal tenders in the NHL in goals-against average and save percentage, he had a 21-game unbeaten streak.Konstantinov finished far ahead of the league in plus-minus and played a great two-way game throughout the season. He also shut down some of the NHL&rsquo;s biggest scorers. I think it is time a European rearguard is recognized for his defensive play.Steve Gasser, St. Charles, Mich.,<h2>Vlad Norris worthy</h2>Vladimir Konstantinov led the league in plus-minus, played all 82 games, killed penalties and shut down the big stars.He is the best defenseman on the best team with the best record in the NHL. His team had the best goals-ag-ainst average and allowed the fewest shots on goal.Konstantinov deserves consideration for the Norris Trophy.Kurt Spanberger, Livonia, Mich.<h2>What&rsquo;s the deal?</h2>Can someone explain the complete lack of patience the New York Rangers have with some of their players, while they seem to keep some players around no matter how they play?Take Petr Nedved, for example. Here was a guy who basically hadn&rsquo;t played in the NHL for a season and a half, then was given only 48 games to show what he could do. Although he started to show signs of improvement, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins and went out and scored 45 goals this season.Meanwhile, Alexei Kovalev has played on the wrong side of inconsistent for four years now. Meanwhile, Luc Robitaille played well below his standards and shows no signs of improvement.Then when the trade deadline loomed, the Rangers kept Robitaille and dumped Ray Ferraro, a guy known for his strong play in the playoffs.But at least they got Jari Kurri, a 35-year-old forward who is having a sub-par year.Am I missing something?Paul Ferris, Woodside, N. Y.<h2>Old folks&rsquo; home</h2>It saddens me to see the New York Rangers resorting to their old tactics of bringing in veteran players at the expense of youth.They claim these moves were made in order to have a chance at winning the Stanley Cup one more time. This team can&rsquo;t do it, though.It is upsetting that players such as Jari Kurri and Marty McSorley were acquired when there are blue chip prospects in the minors such as Peter Ferraro and Barry Richter who deserve a chance to play.GM Neil Smith and coach Colin Campbell refuse to give up on players such as Doug Lidster, Jeff Beuke-boom and Kevin Lowe. These players take too many obstruction penalties because they no longer possess the speed to keep up with the Paul Kariyas of the NHL.Michael Libecci, Staten Island, N. Y.<h2>Leafs are young</h2>I&rsquo;m disappointed that people are angry with Toronto Maple Leafs&rsquo; GM Cliff Fletcher for giving up the team&rsquo;s future with his recent moves.But the fact is, the Leafs have many good young players such as Jeff Ware, Aaron Brand, Mark Deyell, D.J. Smith, Zdenek Nedved, Brandon Convery and Kelly Fairchild.Sure, getting rid of Kenny Jonsson was a dumb move, but the Leafs are trying to win the Cup in the near future, not the later future. Besides, Mats Sundin and Felix Potvin are still young players.Mike Dale, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.Make your feelings known. Fax us your comments at&nbsp;(416) 340-1641. Write to&nbsp;Letters, The Hockey News. 777 Bay St., Suite 2700, Box 148. Toronto, Ont., M5G 2C8&nbsp;in Canada. In the U.S., write to&nbsp;Letters, The Hockey News, P.O. Box 904, Buffalo. N.Y., 14240-9947.&nbsp;E-mail us at <a href="mailto:THN@transc.com">THN@transc.com</a>. Include home ana business phone numbers.&nbsp;THN&nbsp;reserves the right to edit submissions. &#9632;

Perhaps Fox should be tracking punches

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ELSTON

Hockey fans have to wait until June 19 to learn who will win the NHL&rsquo;s seven major individual awards. THN tells you now who should win them.Voting by members of the Professional Hockey Writers&rsquo; Association (Hart, Norris, Calder, Selke and Lady Byng Trophies), NHL Broadcasters&rsquo; Association (Adams Award) and NHL general managers (Vezina Trophy) has been conducted, but the results won&rsquo;t be known until the annual awards banquet in Toronto. Here&rsquo;s the inside word on who deserves the top seven honors.Statistics listed include final 1995-96 games, goals, assists, points and plus-minus for skaters; games, goals-against average, save percentage and win-loss-tie record for goalies; and team winloss-tie records and overall finish for coaches.HART TROPHYMost Valuable Player1. C Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh70-69-92-161 plus-102. RW Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh82-62-87-149 plus-313. C Mark Messier, Rangers74-47-52-99 plus-29VEZINA TROPHYTop Goaltender1. Daren Puppa, Tampa Bay57-2.46-91.8(29-16-9)2. Grant Fuhr, St. Louis79-2.87-90.3 (30-28-16)3. Jim Carey, Washington71-2.26-90.6 (35-24-9)NORRIS TROPHYTop Defenseman1. Chris Chelios, Chicago81-14-58-72 plus-252. Ray Bourque, Boston82-20-62-82 plus-313. Vladimir Konstantinov81-14-20-34 plus-60CALDER TROPHYTop Rookie1. D Ed Jovanovski, Florida70-10-11-21 minus-32. RW Eric Daze, Chicago80-30-23-53 plus-163. RW Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa82-26-35-61 minus-18SELKE TROPHYTop Defensive Forward1. LW Rob Zamuner, Tampa Bay75-15-20-35 plus-112. C Ron Francis, Pittsburgh77-27-92-119 plus-253. LW Shjon Podein, Philadelphia79-15-10-25 plus-25LADY BYNG TROPHYMost Gentlemanly Player1. LW Paul Kariya, Anaheim82-50-58-108 plus-92. D Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit81-17-50-67 plus-293. C Adam Oates, Boston70-25-67-92 plus-16ADAMS AWARDCoach of the Year1. Scotty Bowman, Detroit62-13-7 1st overall2. Terry Crisp, Tampa Bay38-32-12 11th overall3. Jim Schoenfeld, Washington39-32-11 10th overall &#9632;

THN’S CHOICES TO WIN NHL’S MAJOR AWARDS

<div class="byline">By Steve Dryden Editor-In-Chief</div>The NHL&rsquo;s most important honor can also be its most vexing.The Hart Trophy&rsquo;s terms of reference stipulate voters choose the player judged to be most valuable to his team.Not to his league.This honor, then, isn&rsquo;t necessarily destined for the mantlepiece of the league&rsquo;s best player; it&rsquo;s supposed to end up with the player who is more essential to the good fortunes of his team than any other.Happily, the two often coincide.But that&rsquo;s not always the case. In 1989 Wayne Gretzky won the last of his nine MVP honors and it was his most controversial. Inarguably, Mario Lemieux was the better player that season; the Pittsburgh Penguins&rsquo; superstar scored 31 more goals than Gretzky en route to winning the scoring championship over Gretzky by precisely that number of points.Yet No. 99 was chosen by voters because of the impact he had in his first season with the Los Angeles Kings.A disappointed Lemieux said,&rdquo;In the past, it has always gone to the best player, the top scorer. I don&rsquo;t know why it should change.&rdquo;What does all this mean this year?Hopefully, nothing, even though it may seem improbable that Lemieux, who claimed his fifth Art Ross Trophy as NHL scoring champion, could possibly be as valuable to his team as, say, center Mark Messier to the New York Rangers or center Eric Lindros to the Philadelphia Flyers or right winger Peter Bondra to the Washington Capitals or left winger Paul Kariya to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim or defenseman Chris Chelios to the Chicago Blackhawks or one of three goalies crucial to their team&rsquo;s success: Grant Fuhr of the St. Louis Blues, Darren Puppa of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Jim Carey of the Capitals.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-011678/6388227-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="566" height="884"><figcaption class="caption-body">Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh</figcaption></div>Why would Lemieux finish behind them in Hart voting?Because No. 66 is surrounded by a special cast of offensively talented players. Lemieux and teammates Jaromir Jagr and Ron Francis finished 1-24 in league scoring to nearly become the first team sweep of the top positions since the Boston Bruins&rsquo; foursome of Phil Esposito, Bobby Orr, Ken Hodge and Wayne Cashman in 1973-74.The Penguins&rsquo; Petr Nedved missed by one point from making Pittsburgh only the sixth team to have four 100-point scorers.How, then, do you establish Lemieux is more important to his team than those players? The case for each:&#9633; Messier, 35, was on pace to become the oldest 50-goal scorer in NHL history before a rib injury sidelined him. New York was 1-6-1 (.188) without Messier in the lineup this season, 40-21-13 (.628) with him.&#9633; Lindros, 23, is a sensational 5-on-5 player who was in on 45 per cent of Flyer goals (in games he played) and is the game&rsquo;s most imposing physical presence.&#9633; Bondra, 28, scored 52 goals, which represented a league-high 27 per cent of his team&rsquo;s goals (in games he played).&#9633; Chelios, 34, the game&rsquo;s best defenseman, played more minutes than any skater in the league and furnished a fiery brand of leadership.&#9633; Kariya, 21, orchestrated Anaheim&rsquo;s late playoff charge and only Lemieux (49 per cent) participated in more of his team&rsquo;s goals; Kariya&rsquo;s 108 points represented a role in 46 per cent of Duck goals.Not since Montreal Canadiens&rsquo; goalie Jacques Plante in 1962 has a netminder been named MVP and only four times in the Hart Trophy&rsquo;s 72year history (six per cent) has it been awarded to a goalie. Contrast that to the number of times hockey&rsquo;s other MVP honor-the playoffs&rsquo; Conn Smythe Trophy-has been given to goalies (10 of 30 times, 33 per cent).<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-021144/6388220-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="1211" height="1775"><figcaption class="caption-body">Sophomore Paul Kariya is a deserving choice for the Lady Byng Trophy.</figcaption></div>There can be no legitimate reason why Buffalo Sabres&rsquo; star goalie Dominik Hasek received only minimal support in Hart voting the past two years despite recording the highest save percentages in league history (93.0).It&rsquo;s likely, then, that Fuhr, Puppa and Carey received little to no support this season. But there is no denying each had an enormous impact on his team.&#9633; Fuhr, 33, was the stabilizing influence on coach-GM Mike Keenan&rsquo;s team and started a record 76 straight games. He suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the playoffs.&#9633; Puppa, 31, led Tampa Bay to its first playoff appearance and finished second in save percentage (91.8).&#9633; Carey, 21, led the league with nine shutouts, the most since Ken Dryden of the Canadiens recorded 10 in 1976-77.All that said, why should Lemieux be named MVP?Because he&rsquo;s the best player in the NHL and unless somebody does something extraordinary in terms of true MVP standards, the best player should win the Hart Trophy.The sheer force of Lemieux&rsquo;s numbers is too much to ignore. Statistics should be used to buttress arguments, not make them, but like Gretzky before him, and Bobby Orr before him, his numerical superiority is so overwhelming, it tells a tale impossible to ignore.This season, Lemieux led the league in goals (69), assists (92) and points (161) despite missing 12 games. Nonetheless he finished 12 points ahead of runner-up Jagr; Lemieux was on pace to score 188 points and win the Art Ross by nearly 40 points.If you&rsquo;re a literalist and want to satisfy the stated Hart Trophy voting guidelines, consider:&#9633; Lemieux was in on 161 of 331 Penguin goals while he was in the lineup; that works out to 49 per cent, the highest such mark in the league.&#9633; In the 12 games Lemieux didn&rsquo;t play, the highest-scoring team in the league averaged 2.5 goals per game; in the 70 games he played, the Penguins averaged 4.7.Lemieux meets all our criteria for MVP.THN&rsquo;s runner-up is not one of the others listed as so truly valuable to his team; it is Jagr.We don&rsquo;t care if he&rsquo;s on Lemieux&rsquo;s team. In our NHL, teams keep score by counting goals and Jagr scored more (62) than anyone but Lemieux. He also did it more consistently with power and grace like only one person in memory-Mario Lemieux before injuries robbed him of some physicality to his game.Team THN wants players who deliver every night of the season, so we like the fact Jagr was the only NHLer other than Lemieux to score at least 30 points in each of the NHL&rsquo;s four quarters.We like something else even more: Jagr scored in 47 of 82 games (57 per cent), an accomplishment surpassed only by Lemieux (45 of 70, 64 per cent). Just two other NHLers scored in more than half their games-Bondra and Lindros.(Using the MVP guidelines, Colorado Avalanche star centers Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg cancel each other out; they don&rsquo;t have Jagr&rsquo;s stature to overcome that circumstance.)So, who&rsquo;s third on our ballot?A tough call, a very tough call. We labored over this one. Should it be Lindros or Messier? Ultimately, Messier gets the nod because he may well deliver the NHL&rsquo;s best-ever on-and off-ice presence to a team and the Rangers seem utterly unable to win without him.VEZINA TROPHY The NHL goaltending elite has welcomed a new member: Daren Puppa.He was the league&rsquo;s best goalie in 1995-96, leading Tampa Bay to its first-ever playoff berth, excelling down the stretch when some expected him to falter, and finished with the second-best save percentage (91.8) in the league.&ldquo;As he goes, so goes the team,&rdquo; said Lightning coach Terry Crisp, who pointed to a make-or-break 2-1 victory over the Florida Panthers late in the season as Puppa&rsquo;s most memorable performance.Runner-up to Puppa is Grant Fuhr. Many will tell you he deserves to be No. 1 and Mike Keenan calls him the most valuable player in the league, but we can&rsquo;t get past the fact Keenan (a.k.a. Captain Hook) yanked Fuhr from the net 16 times this season.Yet, this is what one rival coach had to say: &ldquo;Even with their $30 million payroll, if they don&rsquo;t have Grant Fuhr, they&rsquo;re not even close (to the playoffs) this season.&rdquo;Only Dominik Hasek (92.0), the automatic choice as No. 1 goalie the past two seasons, surpassed him. But Hasek doesn&rsquo;t get a place among our top three.Next on our list is Washington&rsquo;s Jim Carey.NORRIS TROPHY We want to pick Vladimir Konstantinov, but Chris Chelios and Ray Bourque won&rsquo;t let us.Chelios deserves a third Norris as the NHL&rsquo;s best defenseman this season. He plays with a precision and passion hard to fathom. Only goalies play more than Chelios-who averaged 30-32 minutes per game-and some don&rsquo;t make as many stops as the all-being defenseman.&ldquo;Chelios is the best defenseman in the league,&rdquo; Paul Kariya said. &ldquo;He gives no gap (between himself and oncoming forwards). When you&rsquo;re going forward, most defensemen go back, but it seems like he&rsquo;s going forward and back at the same time. There&rsquo;s always pressure on the puck.&rdquo;Boston superstar Ray Bourque, our second choice, will be remembered as the second-most durable star of alltime. No. 1? Gordie Howe.Konstantinov, the Detroit Red Wings&rsquo; defenseman who recorded a league-leading plus-60 despite earning just 34 points (including 14 goals), is our runner-up to Chelios.&ldquo;Vladimir Konstantinov is the best defenseman I&rsquo;ve seen this year-if you&rsquo;re not blinded by offensive statistics,&rdquo; said Hockey Night in Canada analyst Harry Neale. &ldquo;Every once in a while they should give the Norris Trophy to a guy whose defensive skills are the biggest reason for choosing him.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-011522/6388213-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg" title="f0007-01" width="1809" height="1243"><figcaption class="caption-body">Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Daren Puppa played well enough to capture his first Vezina Trophy.</figcaption></div>The last defenseman to win the Norris Trophy with as few as 30-plus points was Rod Langway of the 198384 Washington Capitals.CALDER TROPHY Without question, the most difficult call of all. Do we choose:&#9633; Florida Panthers&rsquo; defenseman Ed Jovanovski, 19, who played the toughest position in the league for a teenager, scored 10 goals and-apart from Eric Lindros in 1992-93-made what might have been the biggest physical impact by a rookie since Wendel Clark in 1985-86?&#9633; Chicago Blackhawks&rsquo; right winger Eric Daze, 20, who led all rookies with 30 goals and played an important role both offensively and defensively on one of the league&rsquo;s best teams?&#9633; Ottawa Senators&rsquo; right winger Daniel Alfredsson, 23, who led all rookies with 61 points and did so playing against the opposition&rsquo;s top players alongside the league&rsquo;s worst collection of players?Our choice is Jovanovski.He might have been erratic, but Jovanovski scored more goals as a 19-year-old defenseman than anybody since Phil Housley in 1983-84 and made a lasting (and crushing) impression on opposition players.With a dash of offense, generally reliable defense and 137 penalty minutes, Jovanovski made an impact. Daze is second on our ballot and Alfredsson, third.LADY BYNG TROPHY THN has campaigned for years for a defenseman to be chosen the NHL&rsquo;s most gentlemanly player. It has been a futile effort. We are not abandoning the cause, but believe a forward deserves the award this season.Paul Kariya, a sure-fire all-star selection at left wing, is our choice. The Mighty Duck plays hard, doesn&rsquo;t shy away from high-traffic zones and earns very few penalty minutes (20).Nicklas Lidstrom of Detroit is second on our ballot. He is an impact defenseman (67 points, plus-29) who earned just 20 penalty minutes this season. Third is Boston center Adam Oates, who had 18 penalty minutes to go along with 92 points.SELKE TROPHY Here&rsquo;s Mike Keenan&rsquo;s theory on who should be named the league&rsquo;s best defensive forward: &ldquo;The Selke winner should be the guy with the most points because he has the puck all the time.&rdquo;In other words, the best defense is the best offense. There is too much truth to Keenan&rsquo;s words. The last three players named best defensive forward all scored or were on pace for 100-point seasons.Ron Francis, Sergei Fedorov of Detroit and Doug Gilmour of the Toronto Maple Leafs are all defensively responsible players, but have voters gone too far in naming them the best at stopping goals?What happened to honoring a player with 35-50 points, whose first job is to check the opposition&rsquo;s best players?We don&rsquo;t mean specialists who do nothing more than follow an opponent around the ice. We mean twoway forwards who, in former Selke winner Craig Ramsay&rsquo;s words, attack rather than retreat, fill the middle of the ice surface, use their feet and bodies and sticks to cut off passing lanes and, most of all, understand the geometry of the game.We mean a player similar to Montreal Canadiens&rsquo; all-time great Bob Gainey, the man for whom the award was created.Gainey, now GM of the Dallas Stars, won the first four Selkes and didn&rsquo;t score more than 47 points any of those seasons.Ramsay, a pro scout with the Stars, is one of the game&rsquo;s most astute observers and thinks it&rsquo;s time the trophy returned to its roots.We agree.That&rsquo;s why our pick for the Selke is Tampa Bay&rsquo;s Rob Zamuner, a 6-foot-2, 202-pound left winger who fits our notion of a checking forward, who also contributes.&ldquo;If you&rsquo;re going back,&rdquo; said Terry Crisp,&rdquo;to what the Selke was first intended for, when Bob Gainey was winning it and guys like that who you knew every night out that you were going to face them and you weren&rsquo;t getting an inch to spare, and you&rsquo;re going to have to grind it out with them every night, then Zamuner certainly deserves a mention for it.&rdquo;Zamuner gets the most honorable of all mentions with us. He plays aggressively, kills penalties on one of the league&rsquo;s top units and even filled in on the No. 1 line for a time this year. Zamuner, who scored 15 goals and 35 points while leading the team with a plus-10, played a pivotal role in Tampa Bay&rsquo;s turnaround.Tampa Bay reeled off five straight wins in February to get over the.500 mark and never looked back. Zamuner scored goals in four of the games.No. 2 behind Zamuner is Ron Francis, proving we are not entirely free of the shackles of the recent past.Third is Philadelphia left winger Shjon Podein. another hard-checking forward who reads the ice well in defensive situations.ADAMS AWARD We shouldn&rsquo;t even be talking about this honor until after the playoffs-THN picks its coach of the year on combined regular and post-season results-but since we are, there is no debate over the winner.Scotty Bowman.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know how you could pick anyone else,&rdquo; Harry Neale said. The Detroit coach was the Adams winner when he guided the Montreal Canadiens to a record 60 wins in 1976-77 and should get the honor again this year after his Red Wings eclipsed the mark with 62 wins.Blues&rsquo; associate coach Roger Nielson said Bowman has always maintained getting to the top is tough, but staying there is tougher. This was the second straight year Bowman coached the Red Wings to first place overall.Let&rsquo;s hope the coach of the most improved team or a first-year coach with a team doesn&rsquo;t get the Adams again this year.We&rsquo;re tempted to not even name our second and third choices, so as not to confuse the issue, but Terry Crisp of the Tampa Bay Lightning, our No. 2, did a masterful job and Jim Schoenfeld, No. 3, deserves praise for keeping the Capitals afloat through a host of injuries and trying circumstances. &#9632;

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THE SCORE

No. 66 No. 1

<div class="byline">By Rich Chore</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0008-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-011588/6388258-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Rookie center Petr Sykora&rsquo;s late-season slump didn&rsquo;t help matters.</figcaption></div>They dropped the Stanley Cup before even getting the chance to pass it on.When 16 NHL teams began the quest for hockey&rsquo;s cherished trophy, the defending champion New Jersey Devils were missing from the playoff field. They became the first team to win the Cup and then fail to make the playoffs the following season since the Montreal Canadiens won in 1969 and tumbled in 1970.&ldquo;This is something that will follow us everywhere,&rdquo; said goalie Martin Brodeur. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s tough now and it will be even tougher during the summer.&rdquo;They went out in the most embarrassing manner. Needing a victory over the last-place Ottawa Senators coupled with a Tampa Bay Lightning loss on the final weekend of the regular season to earn a post-season berth, the Devils stumbled and fell in a 5-2 loss before a sellout crowd at Continental Airlines Arena. It was the culmination of a joyless season for a too-often grim organization.&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been dead for a while,&rdquo; said right winger Stephane Richer of the team&rsquo;s enthusiasm.There were many who believed the Devils were capable of making another serious run at the Cup had they made the playoffs. So how was it possible they missed the playoffs for the first time since 1989?&ldquo;It seemed like everything we touched went wrong this season,&rdquo; said coach Jacques Lemaire, who played on the 1969-70 Canadiens. &ldquo;Instead of all of us bitching and moaning when things went wrong, we should have beared down and worked harder.&rdquo;If one member of the organization was targeted for most of the blame, it was Lemaire. Coach of the year two years ago, Stanley Cup winner last year, he fought with his players and the media all season.He resented those who felt he took his defensive system to extremes. He criticized his players all season, although he backed down and claimed he was misquoted when confronted by those players. There was a feeling in the dressing room Lemaire took too much of the credit for winning and none of the blame for losing.There were other factors. Foremost was the loss of assistant coach Larry Robinson, who left to take the Los Angeles Kings&rsquo; head coaching job. Robinson was a buffer between the hard-driving Lemaire and the players, was masterful in dealing with the defense and was genuinely revered by the players.Claude Lemieux, the 1995 playoff MVP who was traded to the Colorado Avalanche before the season, was often despised by his teammates, but the Devils missed that edge he brought to the team.Injuries also played a part in the downfall. All three members of the Crash Line-Mike Peluso, Bobby Holik and Randy McKay-were hurt at various times, center Neal Broten ended the season unable to bounce back from an ankle injury, defenseman Shawn Chambers missed 13 games at a critical stage with a broken hand and right winger John MacLean missed six games for knee surgery. Rookie center Petr Sykora hit the wall and left winger Valeri Zelepukin ran out of confidence after his eye injury last season.Finally, there was Lemaire&rsquo;s unwillingness to use backup goalies Chris Terreri (ultimately traded to the San Jose Sharks Nov. 15) or Corey Schwab to give Brodeur a periodic rest. Brodeur started the final 44 games of the season, appeared in 52 in a row after Dec. 11 and wound up playing in 77 of 82 games.Although Brodeur was more than willing to handle the load, you had to wonder if a bit less work might have produced a Vezina Trophy and a playoff spot.What now?&ldquo;I&rsquo;m expecting a lot of changes for next year,&rdquo; said Richer, who finished with 20 goals, his lowest total since 1986-87. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m one of the guys you have to blame. When you don&rsquo;t make the playoffs, you have to look at your top players.&rdquo;GM Lou Lamoriello said he would not radically dismantle the team, but he would also not accept the shocking outcome of this season.&ldquo;This team to me is, on paper, probably a better team than last year,&rdquo; Lamoriello said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not saying whose fault it is, because that&rsquo;s not the way you solve problems. But I have to do a lot of evaluating and be as objective as humanly possible.&ldquo;There is a lot of character and talent in that room, but there were some situations where we didn&rsquo;t get the right performances at the right times. You don&rsquo;t have to know hockey to know that.&rdquo; &#9632;

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Coach, injuries behind New Jersey collapse

<div class="byline">By Eric Duhatschek</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-021241/6388289-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="385" height="505"></div>He plays in the shadow of Michael, literally as well as figuratively. Every day Jeremy Roenick comes to work, he passes the statue of Michael Jordan, erected outside the United Center in 1994 to celebrate &ldquo;the best that&rsquo;s ever played.&rdquo;Few in Chicago would dispute that sentiment.So here is Roenick, one of the brightest lights in the NHL, thoroughly unmarketed. He is, or should be, a promoter&rsquo;s delight. Outspoken, to the point of being-heaven forbid-candid. Pleasantly cheeky. Slightly irreverent.When asked if there&rsquo;s any way to protect his injured ankle in the upcoming playoff game, he replies dryly: &ldquo;I could stay in the locker room.&rdquo;The perfect answer. Pithy and to the point. They should all be so witty.He runs against the popular stereotype of the American player. He doesn&rsquo;t play on the periphery. He sticks his nose in and until he ran into a series of injuries, beginning in the spring of 1995, he was one of the more durable stars of the game.But this town belongs to da Bulls. On opening night of the 1996 playoffs, more than 3,000 seats were gapingly, glaringly empty. Considering there is no home television of any games, regular season or playoff, that means about 17,000 people-plus assorted bar patrons-out of a city of 8 million watched the Blackhawks roll over the Calgary Flames.The next night, the Bulls, in their first home game after establishing an NBA record of 70 wins, sold out. Scalpers feasted. WGN, the Chicago Superstation, broadcast the game.Something is wrong with this picture. In a city the size of Chicago, hockey should be a mainstream sport, not a regional curiosity.But it lacks the sizzle of basketball. Right now, the NHL is chasing the 18-to-34 viewer. It is a demographic in demand by advertisers. So Fox develops computer chips for pucks and other gimmicks. Some work, some don&rsquo;t, but you have the sense the interest is building in a lot of places just as it&rsquo;s stagnating-or waning-in the Windy City.Now the comparative anonymity is, to Blackhawks&rsquo; defenseman Gary Suter, not necessarily a bad thing. Suter spent nine seasons in Calgary, enduring the glare of the spotlight.&ldquo;This is a basketball town,&rdquo; Suter said. &ldquo;First, you have guys like Michael Jordan here. Beyond that, they just made history by winning 70 NBA games, so everybody&rsquo;s talking about them.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t mind. Sometimes, when you&rsquo;re in the spotlight or media glare, it can get suffocating. I&rsquo;m sure the more successful we are in the playoffs, the more attention we&rsquo;ll get.&rdquo;Al MacNeil, the Flames&rsquo; director of hockey operations, played for the Blackhawks between 1962 and 1964, in the days of Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita. In those days, MacNeil says basketball didn&rsquo;t pose much of a threat.&ldquo;Even though the seasons didn&rsquo;t run concurrently, I always thought we were competing more with the baseball,&rdquo; MacNeil said. &ldquo;I give (the NBA) credit. They did a good job of marketing the team. Hockey is making strides, but it&rsquo;s not there yet.&rdquo;These days, the NHL is advising us all to, &lsquo;Get Cup Crazy.&rsquo; In that 30-second spot that runs on all the games, comedian Jim Belushi-a frequent visitor to the United Center-frantically waves a sign, extolling the Blackhawks&rsquo; virtues.Presumably, in a round or two, others will follow his lead. &#9632;

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COLUMNISTS

Windy City not getting Cup crazy

<div class="byline">By Stan Fischler</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-011513/6388327-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg" title="f0009-01" width="380" height="535"></div>The Mark Messier melodrama-&rdquo;Oh, My Aching Ribs&rdquo;-is almost as old as an Alfred Hitchcock flick and much more tiresome.Act I: our hero is hurt before the playoffs. Act II: the adoring media collectively holds its breath while hinting Macho Man is doubtful for the post-season party. Act HI: Rangers&rsquo; fans are in mourning on the theory that the oldest team money can buy might have to win without No. 11.Then, Shazam! Like Captain Marvel, the matinee idol suddenly appears at center stage, ready to orchestrate yet another dime novel finish and lead New York to the Stanley Cup.The difference this time is that the ailing Messier, at least in the early going of the first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens, wasn&rsquo;t able to save his team.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-021073/6388320-1-eng-US/f0009-022.jpg" title="f0009-02" width="505" height="881"><figcaption class="caption-body">Mark Messier</figcaption></div>Captain Markvel&rsquo;s corny now you see him now you don&rsquo;t ruse fooled less than one-half of one per cent of the Canadiens&rsquo; contingent.&ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t surprised that Messier started the opening game,&rdquo; said Habs&rsquo; coach Mario Tremblay. &ldquo;We were sure he would be back. But he did show me a lot of courage.&rdquo;Courage, yes; accuracy, no.In a game of millimeters, Messier was an inch too wide in the opening game&rsquo;s one breakaway that mattered. His late first period shot hit the right post and rebounded harmlessly to the comer. He was more a threat as an image than an attacker in the Habs 3-2 overtime win. If there was a hero it was Messier&rsquo;s opposite, Vincent Damp-housse, who merely scored the game winner (and a total of four goals) in consecutive contests.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not his shadow,&rdquo; Damp-housse said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t follow Messier wherever he goes. I&rsquo;m always looking for chances on offense, whether or not he&rsquo;s healthy.&rdquo;Over the first two games, Captain off-the-Mark was miles to the left of marvelous. He was mediocre on faceoffs and treated the comers as if they were filled with snakes not stickhandlers. In Game 1, he was on the ice for two of Montreal&rsquo;s three goals, including the winner. Tender ribs notwithstanding, Messier&rsquo;s effort earned a D for depressing.&ldquo;Shooting and taking faceoffs was a bit of a problem for me,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;My range of motion was not good. On the breakaway, I couldn&rsquo;t seem to get the puck to lay down.&rdquo;The two-game deficit forced Messier to reach into his Hero Manual which produced the usual stirring post-match,&rdquo;We Can Win This Series&rdquo; speech.His coach, Colin Campbell, immediately seconded the motion, adding,&rdquo;Montreal is very beatable.&rdquo;Perhaps. But what&rsquo;s so riveting about the New York-Montreal series is the pressure the Rangers-and the Manhattan media-placed on their Messiah for deliverance.If the Blueshirts were counting on Messier to win a single game, they could be in trouble.That is, unless you are one of the Seventh Avenue Adventists who truly believe that Messier is the second coming of Superman.Which is why Game 2 was so revealing. For starters, it provided an excellent opportunity for The Messier Effect to be firmly felt. And for finishers, it indicated how well-and badly-the captain&rsquo;s understudies played the big part.Instead of being a hero, Messier was a zero. No goals, no assists and a glaring minus-2.&ldquo;We did some good things,&rdquo; explained the captain,&rdquo;and then we turned around and did some lousy things.&rdquo;Actually, understudies Sergio Momesso (two goals) and Ulf Samuelsson (one goal and one openice hit) did the good things for New York. But the errors of Brian Leetch, Luc Robitaille and Bruce Driver made the Garden so quiet you could hear Campbell&rsquo;s jaw drop.In the bowels of the arena after Game 2 a straight-faced reporter inquired of Mario Tremblay,&rdquo;Is Vincent Damphousse really Superman?&rdquo;&ldquo;No he is not,&rdquo; the Canadiens&rsquo; coach replied. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a player dedicated to the game who wants to win.&rdquo;So is Messier. But after two games, at least, Captain Fantastic was the biggest flop on Broadway. &#9632;

f0009-01

Messier’s Superman act grows very thin

<div class="byline">By Al Morganti</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-011572/6388365-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg" title="f0010-01" width="379" height="538"></div>Like it or not, the future of the Tampa Bay Lightning is tied to the progress of defenseman Roman Hamrlik, and there are going to be times the franchise must endure some growing pains with the young defenseman who could very well turn into a Norris Trophy winner.However, judging from Hamrlik&rsquo;s actions during the first ever playoff series for him and the team, the Lightning&rsquo;s first order of business should be to get the 23-year-old&rsquo;s head on straight. He can have all the curls he wants on the outside, but inside that head he has to be as straight as an arrow, or there is going to be one tangled mess which nobody will be able to unravel.In a lot of ways, the NHL has changed to a point where it can accommodate a free spirit. Although not as free flowing as the NBA, NFL or Major League Baseball, the NHL is not a lot more friendly to a player who can freelance. It is a place which is more open to the wild curls of Jaromir Jagr, the emotional show of a Bernie Nicholls, or the brash talk from Jeremy Roenick.However, some things will never change, including the playoff cliche,&rdquo;The team must come first.&rdquo; There are too many guys in too many dressing rooms who are willing to put it all on the line in the Stanley Cup playoffs to listen to a player gripe about a personal hardship.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-021173/6388358-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="507" height="887"><figcaption class="caption-body">Roman Hamrlik</figcaption></div>This is especially true when the player in question has had the road from Europe to the NHL paved in the gold of a contract worth about $2.2 million a season. Not a bad pay day for a kid from the Czech Republic who now has enough money to hire Metallica for a private party, instead of just listening to their CDs.Well, that is exactly the situation which got Hamrlik into a mess with his teammates as the Lightning began its first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers. After the Flyers blew away the Lightning in the first game of the series 7-3, Hamrlik was complaining about his ice time. He had been quietly seething over the final dozen games of the regular season when his time dwindled from about 30 minutes per game, to around 23.Hamrlik even suggested coach Terry Crisp reduced his time because of his European background. He whined he was happier when assistant coach Wayne Cashman was making defensive assignments and not Crisp and basically turned what was already a bad situation for the club into a personal complaint session.Neither Crisp nor GM Phil Esposito coddled Hamrlik after the outburst. Both suggested that Hamrlik had to get a little tougher mentally and only then could he even think about being the kind of player who can demand ice time.Hamrlik loves to listen to the loud brash sound of heavy rock, but there is no music in the world which could have drowned out the noise of dis-pleasure from his team mates when they learned of his complaints. If it was silence, it was a deafening silence, and the message came through loud and clear.If Hamrlik were just an average player, there might have been some sentiment to just get him out of Tampa Bay. But Hamrlik is no average player, which is why management, teammates and fans will give him more time to get with the program.He certainly should have caught onto that program when the Lightning were giving up their bodies to take a 2-1 overtime victory in Game 2 of the series. Although it was the Lightning who knocked a few Eyers off the ice with injuries, they had to absorb some very heavy hits in the early going when the Eyers again tried to run them out of the building.They stood their ground-and they didn&rsquo;t do it by thinking about what their personal stats would look like after the game or how many minutes they played. There is still plenty of time for Hamrlik to figure out what it means to compete for a team in the Stanley Cup playoffs.And when he does, maybe he will become the sort of player the Lightning are dreaming of having in their lineup. In the meantime, he ought to keep his eyes on the scoreboard and off the post-game stats sheets. &#9632;

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Hamrlik proves he has growing up to do

<div class="byline">By Mike Brophy</div>Ray Ferraro hesitated briefly before answering. For Jason Dawe, it was a no-brainer.Ultimately, both the Los Angeles Kings&rsquo; center and Buffalo Sabres&rsquo; right winger agreed to represent Canada at the 1996 World Championship for precisely the same reason: the opportunity to put a positive spin on a difficult season.&ldquo;What a great way to end an otherwise crappy year,&rdquo; Dawe said.&ldquo;This is the playoffs for me,&rdquo; said Ferraro, who had visions of winning the Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers, but was moved at the trading deadline to the lowly Kings. &ldquo;I had very high hopes entering this season, but they were obviously dashed. It will be nice to play a meaningful game again.&rdquo;Ferraro and Dawe are two of 19 players Team Canada culled from a pool of NHLers whose teams failed to make the playoffs. The Canadian side also includes two members of the 1995-96 national team-goalie Andrew Verner and forward David Mats-os-and defenseman Derek Mayer, who played in Finland this season. (See pg. 41 for preliminary rosters.)Canada&rsquo;s strength is in goal, where Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils and Curtis Joseph of the Oilers will carry the load. Ferraro, Anaheim Mighty Ducks left winger Paul Kariya, Hartford Whalers&rsquo; center Andrew Cassels and Devils&rsquo; right winger Steve Thomas give the team plenty of offense.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-011425/6388410-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg" title="f0011-01" width="584" height="709"><figcaption class="caption-body">Derek Plante will be the Americans&rsquo; top gun in Vienna.</figcaption></div>The Canadians, who had a number of high-profile players decline invitations to this year&rsquo;s World Championship in Vienna, were lucky compared to the Americans. Team USA GM Mike Milbury got a lot of &lsquo;Thanks, but no thanks&rsquo; replies.As a result, the U.S. has four U.S. college players on its team and was faced with the prospect of starting the tournament with minor leaguer Parris Duffus, Tim Thomas of the University of Vermont and John Grahame of Lake Superior State University as its three goalies. Chris Terreri of the San Jose Sharks was hurt and both Damian Rhodes of the Ottawa Senators and Guy Hebert of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim turned down invitations because they don&rsquo;t have NHL contracts.&ldquo;It has been a huge problem,&rdquo; Milbury said. &ldquo;I thought on paper we&rsquo;d have a chance to win this thing. It seems silly to go to the Worlds and not bring a good team. This is a big deal to the Europeans and, to some degree, the Canadians, too. But not to the Americans. It&rsquo;s (Canada&rsquo;s) national game, not ours.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-021026/6388403-1-eng-US/f0011-022.jpg" title="f0011-02" width="582" height="963"><figcaption class="caption-body">Curtis Joseph is part of Canada&rsquo;s goaltending contingent.</figcaption></div>Among those who turned Milbury down were Kevin and Derian Hatcher, Mike Modano and Randy Wood of the Dallas Stars; Pat LaFontaine of the Sabres; and Paul Ranheim of Hartford.The Americans are led at forward by the Sabres&rsquo; Derek Plante, who scored 23 goals this season, and on defense by New York Islanders&rsquo; rearguard Scott Lachance.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-03719/6388396-1-eng-US/f0011-032.jpg" title="f0011-03" width="579" height="708"><figcaption class="caption-body">Alexei Yashin will be an offensive force for the Russian team.</figcaption></div>Canadians who declined included Brendan Shanahan, Nelson Emerson and Geoff Sanderson of the Whalers; Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer of New Jersey; Joe Nieuwendyk of the Stars; and Jason Arnott of the Edmonton Oilers.The tournament opens April 21 and concludes with the gold-medal game May 5. Canada is in the A group with Germany, Russia, Slovakia, USA and Austria. The B group includes the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Italy, Norway and Sweden.Teams were required to submit a list of 15 skaters and two goalies by April 20 and are permitted to add up to five skaters and one goalie at any time during the tournament. Both Canada and the United States elected to fill their 23-man rosters before the championship.Here&rsquo;s a look at the other contenders:Finland The defending champions added just one NHLer, Ville Peltonen of the San Jose Sharks, but were holding a spot for Montreal Canadiens&rsquo; rookie Saku Koivu, who was the hero of last year&rsquo;s gold medal team. Former NHLers include goalie Jarmo Myllys, defenseman Hannu Virta and center Christian Ruuttu.Czech Republic The Czechs will be bolstered by Stanislav Neckar, Michal Sykora and Jiri Slegr on defense and Radek Bonk and Robert Lang at forward. Former 40-goal man Robert Reichel, now playing in Germany, will supply offense.Sweden Goalie Tommy Soderstrom and defenseman Kenny Jonsson of the New York Islanders should bolster Tre Kronor. Rookie-of-the-year candidate Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa will help.Russia There were reports Alexei Yashin has confirmed his participation. Other possible NHL additions include Anatoli Semenov, Viktor Kozlov and Andrei Nikolishin at forward; Alexei Zhitnik and Darius Kasparaitis on defense; and Mikael Shtalenkov and Andrei Trefilov in goal.Slovakia The Slovaks are an unknown, but that will all change if Zig-mund Palffy, Zdeno Ciger, Miroslav Satan, Pavol Demitra and Robert Petrovicky agree to play. &#9632;

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NHLers breathe new life at Worlds

<div class="byline">By Mark Brender</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0012-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-011533/6388462-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">John Vanbiesbrouck is one of three goalies for Team USA.</figcaption></div>Two men stood between The Hockey News and perfection.In the March 29 issue, we named 26 players who we thought would suit up for USA in the first World Cup of Hockey this summer.We thought Tom Barrasso and Brian Rolston would be there. U.S. GM Lou Lamoriello agonized over the decision, but eventually thought otherwise, opting instead for John Vanbies-brouck and Shawn McEachern.&ldquo;Were they ever (tough decisions),&rdquo; Lamoriello said. &ldquo;You could have taken any of the four. It was just a case of trying to be as objective as you can.&rdquo;Still, 24 out of 26 ain&rsquo;t bad. We weren&rsquo;t that much farther off on Canada&rsquo;s World Cup team, missing on five players. But with all due respect to the Americans, the high-end talent pool for Canada is so much larger that we&rsquo;re proud of that mark, too.Lamoriello has yet to name a U.S. coach-look for Ron Wilson (Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) or Mike Milbury (New York Islanders)-but whoever it is will direct one of the best American team ever assembled. Ponder this: 6-foot-4, 225-pound Kevin Hatcher could be the team&rsquo;s sixth defenseman. The blueline of Chris Chelios, Brian Leetch and company combine toughness and scoring better than any team in the tournament.Canada, meanwhile, could be the best team ever assembled, period.&ldquo;You could ask me that after the tournament is over and I could give you a better (answer),&rdquo; said Canadian GM Glen Sather. Scotty Bowman will coach the team.Lamoriello said he hadn&rsquo;t compared the Canadian-U.S. lineups on a position-by-position basis. &ldquo;Worst thing you can do right now,&rdquo; he said.Only Russia and the U.S. appear to have enough depth to have a realistic shot at upsetting Canada for the gold.The rosters of Canada and the U.S. are filled exclusively of NHLers, followed by Russia and Sweden with 20 of 26 NHL players, the Czech Republic 13, Finland 12, Slovakia 10 and Germany three.Russia has brilliant speed and could dazzle offensively if the chemistry is right between one-time junior linemates Pavel Bure, Sergei Fedorov and Alexander Mogilny.It also should be uncharacteristically strong in goal with Winnipeg Jets&rsquo; Nikolai Khabi-bulin.Sweden, led by Ulf Samuels-son and Nicklas Lidstrom on the blueline and Peter Forsberg up front, may have a better defense corps than the Russians, but can&rsquo;t match their firepower. Goaltending could also be a concern, although Tommy Soderstrom was spectacular in the 1991 Canada Cup.Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Finland should finish a notch down from the top four. Each has an NHL star (Peter Bondra, Jaromir Jagr, Teemu Selanne), but nowhere near enough depth to compete with the elite. How close they come will depend on the performance of players largely unknown in NHL circles.&ldquo;When the pre-toumament games start in Europe,&rdquo; Sather said,&rdquo;we&rsquo;re going to have someone watching them.&rdquo;Germany is the tournament&rsquo;s expansion team entry and will likely take whatever positives it can get out of three losses.Each team was allowed to name 23 skaters and three goaltenders. The balance of the rosters for European teams is expected by May 15.The tournament takes place Aug. 26 to Sept. 14 in venues across Europe and North America. Canada, Russia, Slovakia and the United States will compete in the North American group while the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany and Sweden play in the European group.The second-and third-place team in each group cross over in the second round; winners advance to the semifinals against pool winners. The championship round is a best-of-three format.<h2>CANADA</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-021241/6388455-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="958" height="1597"></div><h2>UNITED STATES</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-03815/6388448-1-eng-US/f0012-032.jpg" title="f0012-03" width="958" height="1601"></div><h2>CZECH REPUBLIC</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-011442/6388441-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg" title="f0013-01" width="3100" height="3507"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dominik Hasek will be the Czech Republic&rsquo;s last line of defense.Alexander Mogilny will play a huge role in the Russian attack.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0012-01

Canada, U.S. favored

<div class="byline">&#x2014;Mark Brender</div>In matters of culture, social values, entertainment and music, Canada often tries to protect itself from the onslaught of ubiquitous American forces.This summer the tables will be turned. A gaze at the respective World Cup lineups suggests it will be the Americans&rsquo; chance to learn even a well-established defense can have a tough time fending off the giants.The crucial question will be whether Team USA&rsquo;s vaunted blueline corps can stop the attack waves of one of the most talented group of forwards ever assembled on the same team-even if U.S. GM Lou Lamoriello thinks it&rsquo;s not so simple.&ldquo;You&rsquo;re being very nice the way you&rsquo;re trying to create something here,&rdquo; he said,&rdquo;but look at their players. Canada&rsquo;s defense isn&rsquo;t too bad now, is it?&rdquo;Well, no. But Canada still has six forwards who scored more than 100 NHL points this season. The U.S. has one. Canadian forwards have medians of 40 goals and 91 points compared to 24 and 63 for the Americans. American defensemen taken as a group had a higher median assist marks than their forwards.Fiddling with Canada&rsquo;s lines should be a dream job for coach Scotty Bowman. (Okay, Mario plays center with Kariya and Fleury on the wings. Too small up against LeClair? Okay, Primeau at left wing and Eric on the right&hellip;)&ldquo;A lot of these players are capable of exchanging positions and are comfortable with it,&rdquo; said Canadian GM Glen Sather. &ldquo;They know there&rsquo;s a large amount of pressure on them. That&rsquo;s why they&rsquo;re as good as they are, because they can handle that.&rdquo;Listed here and on the following page are the NHL players for all eight countries. Median ages and positional totals are included for Canada and the U.S. only. The catching hand for goaltenders and the way defenseman shoot are also provided. &#9632;

Can USA defense fend off Canada?

<div class="byline">By Cynthia Lambert</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-021161/6388524-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg" title="f0014-02" width="574" height="767"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dino Ciccarelli</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-011524/6388531-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg" title="f0014-01" width="160" height="160"></div>Dino Ciccarelli&rsquo;s specialty as a playoff player was put on hold, thanks to a three-game suspension issued by the NHL two nights before the Detroit Red Wings opened their first-round series against the Winnipeg Jets.The suspension was supplementary discipline for Ciccarelli&rsquo;s sucker punch of defenseman Enrico Ciccone in the April 12 game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Ciccarelli flattened the much larger Ciccone with a number of players involved in a scrum.He sat out the last game of the season against the Dallas Stars and the first two games of the playoff series against Winnipeg.&ldquo;Unbelievable,&rdquo; Ciccarelli said. &ldquo;I told them that he punched me before. Yeah, I&rsquo;m p&mdash;ed off. But there&rsquo;s nothing I can do about it. Can we appeal it? Yeah, right. They&rsquo;ll go to (commissioner) Gary (Bettman) and he&rsquo;ll just say it was the right decision.&rdquo;Ciccarelli firmly believed the suspension was in large part due to Blackhawks&rsquo; owner Bill Wirtz&rsquo;s vocal criticisms of the league and his perception there is a double standard for penalties.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s all political,&rdquo; Ciccarelli said. &ldquo;And it&rsquo;s too bad I&rsquo;m the one getting caught in the middle of it. But if someone gives me a shot like Ciccone did, then I&rsquo;m going to give him a shot back. That&rsquo;s called getting respect in this league, or at least it used to be.&rdquo;Ciccarelli missed the first two games of the playoffs last season because of an injury.The Wings also entered the playoffs without left winger Bob Errey, who also was suspended as a result of actions taken in that Chicago game. Errey was slapped with two games for slashing Denis Savard.NOTEBOOK: Center Steve Yzerman was one of three Wings invited to play for Canada in the World Cup of Hockey, with Paul Coffey and Keith Primeau being the other two. But after being cut the last two times, he is not overly anxious to attend. I&rsquo;m not interested in playing and I didn&rsquo;t expect an invitation,&rdquo; Yzerman said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s something 1&rsquo;11 decide on in the summer. If we go to the Stanley Cup final it won&rsquo;t end until June. That gives you two months off. I&rsquo;d rather spend that time with my wife and daughter. It&rsquo;s not like I&rsquo;ve never played in it. I played in it in &rsquo;84 and I went to the camp the last two (times). It&rsquo;s not something I necessarily want to do. I also don&rsquo;t think the timing is very appropriate, with the playoffs starting. I&rsquo;ll think about it later, not now.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-03798/6388517-1-eng-US/f0014-032.jpg" title="f0014-03" width="572" height="763"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bob Errey</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0014-02

Suspended Ciccarelli cries foul over league decision

<div class="byline">By Tim Campbell</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-04536/6388562-1-eng-US/f0014-042.jpg" title="f0014-04" width="160" height="160"></div>For years, stretching has been a big part of Alexei Zhamnov&rsquo;s routine for rehabilitating his bad back.A bigger stretch might be that the 25-year-old center could miss almost four weeks at the end of the regular season with more back trouble and return to actually contribute during the Stanley Cup playoffs.But Zhamnov made a solid return to the Jets&rsquo; lineup in Game 1 against the Detroit Red Wings. Zhamnov scored the team&rsquo;s only goal, the first of the game, in the 4-1 Detroit win and pronounced himself fit after not having played since March 22.&ldquo;I feel good after the first game,&rdquo; Zhamnov said. &ldquo;I was tired, yes, but I had not played for one month. It&rsquo;s a big difference in the game in the playoffs than from regular season. I think I will feel much better still.&rdquo;A knee injury and the lower-back nerve inflammation caused by a March 7 crosscheck from Robert Svehla of the Florida Panthers kept Zhamnov from playing five of six regular season games against Detroit. His one appearance yielded a goal and three points and a Jets&rsquo; victory.Inconsistent play and injuries held Zhamnov to 22 goals and 59 points in 58 games this season. That was a major disappointment in light of his selection as the NHL&rsquo;s second-team all-star center a year ago.Zhamnov said his appearance in the playoffs should be an answer to the critics who suggested his slow recovery might have had something to do with his ongoing contract stalemate. He&rsquo;s a Group II free agent at the end of the season.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s why I&rsquo;m here, believe me,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I want to play, especially at this time of year.&rdquo;NOTEBOOK: The Jets&rsquo; 5-2 loss in Anaheim April 14 cost them fourth place in the Western Conference and home-ice advantage in the playoffs&hellip;The Jets&rsquo; playoff record was 2-10 in series heading into this season, 17-39 in games. Winnipeg&rsquo;s last series win was in 1987 over Calgary, the only team it has ever beaten in the post-season&hellip;The Jets were never out of the Western Conference&rsquo;s top eight spots all season long&hellip;Among the yuks from Jets&rsquo; coach Terry Simpson before the playoffs began was: &ldquo;We have one thing going for us that most people don&rsquo;t realize. We won&rsquo;t be overconfident&rdquo; Asked before the series how the underdog approach might be working for the Jets against Detroit: &ldquo;Well, I wasn&rsquo;t so intent on being such overwhelming underdogs.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0014-04

Zhamnov returns to lineup in time to aid playoff effort

<div class="byline">By Adrian Dater</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-011306/6388593-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="159" height="160"></div>Claude Lemieux isn&rsquo;t the most patient man in the world. Whether it&rsquo;s because of delayed flights or slow bus drivers, the Colorado Avalanche right winger doesn&rsquo;t like waiting.He was especially anxious for the playoffs to begin and now that they&rsquo;re here, Lemieux finally seems relaxed.While other NHL players get nervous at this time of year, Lemieux-the 1995 playoff MVP with the Stanley Cup winning New Jersey Devils-revels in playoff pressure.But can Lemieux repeat that kind of play this year for the Avalanche?Judging by Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinal against the Vancouver Canucks, the answer is yes. Lemieux had three assists in Colorado&rsquo;s 5-2 victory and was his usual pesky self.Lemieux said he hasn&rsquo;t lost an ounce of enthusiasm for the playoffs.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s what playing in this league is all about,&rdquo; Lemieux said. &ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t have too much to play for the last couple months of the regular season, so it feels good to play games that are important again.&rdquo;Once considered a selfish player, Lemieux is clearly a leader on the mostly playoff-inexperienced Avalanche team. And his teammates seem to be paying attention to his words of wisdom.&ldquo;You have to absolutely believe that you&rsquo;re going to win. You have to have no doubts,&rdquo; Lemieux said. &ldquo;We had that in New Jersey last year and I think we can have that with this club.&rdquo;NOTEBOOK: Goalie Patrick Roy moved into a tie with Andy Moog for third place on the all-time NHL list for playoff game appearances (116)&hellip;Defenseman Curtis Leschyshyn was a healthy scratch for Game 1 against Vancouver. Leschyshyn said it was the first time in six years that had happened. &ldquo;It hurts,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;You go through all the highs and lows with the guys then, in the most important game of the year, you don&rsquo;t participate as a player.&rdquo; Leschyshyn returned for Game 2, but curiously played only at left wing&hellip;Game 1 of the Canucks series was just the second NHL playoff game ever played in Colorado. The old Colorado Rockies played Philadelphia in the only other in 1978. &#9632;

f0016-01

Lemieux hasn’t lost zeal for post-season action

<div class="byline">By Elliott Pap</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-03757/6388624-1-eng-US/f0016-032.jpg" title="f0016-03" width="564" height="965"><figcaption class="caption-body">Pavel Bure</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-021017/6388631-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="160" height="159"></div>When the 1996 playoffs opened, Pavel Bure was back on the road with his Vancouver Canucks&rsquo; teammates, but he was not back in the lineup.The Russian Rocket, who underwent reconstructive knee surgery Nov. 14, was hoping to be ready for playoff action, but tests showed the hamstring on his right leg was only at 75 per cent, 15 per cent short of the required target for joining full team practices. So while the Canucks practiced and played against the Colorado Avalanche, Bure watched the games from the press box.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s always hard to watch,&rdquo; Bure said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d rather be down on the ice than in the press box. When I tore my ligament I thought I&rsquo;d be done for the year. Now I have at least a chance to play. Maybe I will and maybe I won&rsquo;t.&rdquo;Obviously that depends on how quickly he can make up that missing 15 per cent and whether the Canucks stay alive in the playoffs.&ldquo;Pavel is close, real close, to practising with the team,&rdquo; said Canucks&rsquo; orthopedic surgeon Ross Davidson, who performed the operation on Bure&rsquo;s right knee. &ldquo;He&rsquo;d then need a week of full practice before he&rsquo;d be ready to play.&rdquo;Davidson is elated with Bure&rsquo;s progress and feels even discussing the possibility of playing is a tremendous sign.If the Canucks don&rsquo;t survive their playoff series with Colorado, Bure&rsquo;s next opportunity to play will be for Russia in this summer&rsquo;s World Cup.NOTEBOOK: Veteran netminder Kirk McLean&rsquo;s string of 61 consecutive playoff starts was snapped when rookie Corey Hirsch got the nod for Game 2 of the Canuck-Colorado series&hellip;Captain Trevor Linden was the only Canuck named to Canada&rsquo;s World Cup team, but Vancouver will be represented by almost all its Europeans. Alexander Mogilny and Pavel Bure were selected to the Russian side, Jyrki Lumme and Esa Tikkanen to the Finnish squad, Markus Naslund to the Swedish team and benchwarmer Josef Beranek to the Czech side&hellip;Defenseman Leif Rohlin was not selected by Sweden, but still hopes to be invited to training camp. American Bret Hedican was left off the U.S. squad. &#9632;

f0016-03

Bure close, but not yet

<div class="byline">By Tim Sassone</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-011160/6388662-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="161" height="160"></div>Chicago Blackhawks&rsquo; coach Craig Hartsburg credits Pierre Page with getting him hooked on the profession, so it was special for him to face Page&rsquo;s Calgary Flames in his first playoff series as an NHL head coach.&ldquo;I learned a lot from Pierre in a short time,&rdquo; said Hartsburg, who was Page&rsquo;s assistant with the Minnesota North Stars in 1988-89. &ldquo;He got me interested in this business and one of the reasons why I kept in the game.&rdquo;Hartsburg had an admirable first regular season with the Blackhawks, showing why he&rsquo;s considered one of the finest young coaches in the game. He inherited a veteran team set in its ways, changed systems, sat veterans when needed and finished with 94 points to grab the third seed in the Western Conference.Page admires the job his protege has done.&ldquo;Craig went to Chicago and totally revamped that team,&rdquo; Page said. &ldquo;It was a major adjustment for a lot of players, but he showed determination and took charge. He can be a stubborn cuss and he has a bit of a temper, too. Craig Hartsburg comes across as a soft-spoken guy, but there&rsquo;s steel in his backbone. He&rsquo;s no pushover.&rdquo;Center Jeremy Roenick paid Hartsburg a high compliment on the eve of the playoffs.&ldquo;I think the guys really want to win for him,&rdquo; Roenick said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s one of the reasons I wanted to come back and play, to make sure he has a good playoff.&rdquo;NOTEBOOK: Center Jeremy Roenick returned for Game 1 of the playoffs after missing four weeks with a sprained ankle. Roenick, who was moved back to center from right wing, said he was 90 percent recovered&hellip;There was a chance defenseman Steve Smith could return from his cracked fibula before the first round ended&hellip;Defenseman Chris Chelios denied a rumor he was playing with a damaged hand. &ldquo;Look at my hands and thumbs, they&rsquo;re fine,&rdquo; Chelios said, displaying his hands to reporters. &ldquo;Anyone want to thumb wrestle?&rdquo;&hellip;After setting an NHL record by becoming the first team to average more than 20,000 fans a game, the Blackhawks drew just 17,455 for their playoff opener April 17. &#9632;

f0017-01

Hartsburg faces mentor in first-round match-up

<div class="byline">By Eric Duhatschek</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-03640/6388693-1-eng-US/f0017-032.jpg" title="f0017-03" width="566" height="967"><figcaption class="caption-body">Gary Roberts</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-02878/6388700-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg" title="f0017-02" width="160" height="159"></div>The announcement, while expected, didn&rsquo;t come easily. Two days before the playoffs began, Calgary Flames&rsquo; right winger Gary Roberts said he would miss the balance of the year, no matter how long the post-season lasts.Roberts, who came back from two 1995 neck operations to put up one half season of scintillating hockey, said the persistent stiffness in his neck precluded him from playing.&ldquo;Obviously, I knew things weren&rsquo;t improving,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I haven&rsquo;t been skating; I haven&rsquo;t done much. I was waiting for it to heal and it&rsquo;s not healing.&rdquo;Following a meeting involving Roberts, Dr. Winne Meeuwisse and interim GM Al Coates, they determined the playoffs were out. It begged the following question: Is Roberts&rsquo; career over?&ldquo;As far as everything else goes,&rdquo; Roberts said,&rdquo;we&rsquo;ll address that when the time comes.&rdquo;Roberts, asked if there are any reasons for optimism, was candid.&ldquo;No,&rdquo; he replied. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s not too much more I can say, other than I hope this doesn&rsquo;t become too much of a distraction for our team. I don&rsquo;t want this to take away from the job at hand, which is for the team to do well in the playoffs. They&rsquo;ve got a lot of character in the dressing room. I know they&rsquo;ll move forward. They played half the year without me and had things on track before I came back. They&rsquo;ve been there, done that. It&rsquo;ll be nothing for them to overcome.&rdquo;NOTEBOOK: The Flames came to a tentative contract agreement with Jarome Iginla. the junior star acquired in the Joe Nieuwendyk trade. There was a chance Iginla would join Calgary in time for the third game of their playoff series with the Chicago Blackhawks&hellip;Theo Fleury is writing a hockey column for the Calgary Herald and it has received overwhelmingly positive reaction. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the most writing I&rsquo;ve done since high school,&rdquo; Fleury said. When Fleury returned from a two-game absence after an eye injury, he donned a visor again and said he&rsquo;ll probably wear it the rest of the season&hellip;James Patrick missed a week because of a concussion, the fourth of his NHL career. He received medical clearance to play the playoff opener. &#9632;

f0017-03

Roberts out once again

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-02881/6388738-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg" title="f0018-02" width="578" height="912"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dave Gagner</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-011198/6388745-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="162" height="161"></div>The Toronto Maple Leafs hoped Dave Gagner would add some much-needed spark when they acquired him from the Dallas Stars at the trade deadline.And he did&hellip;for a while.The 35-year-old veteran struggled after suffering his second concussion of the season March 30 when he was caught with his head down and decked by Edmonton Oilers&rsquo; defenseman Boris Mironov. He missed six games after the Mironov hit.Gagner, who was obtained for left wingers Randy Wood and Benoit Hogue, suffered his first head injury of the season Feb. 28 against the Winnipeg Jets when he was rammed into the boards from behind by Jets&rsquo; forward Keith Tkachuk.Gagner, a Chatham Ont. native who scored seven goals (including a gamewinner Feb. 7 against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) and 22 points in 28 regular season games for the Leafs, had just one goal in 16 games, including the first two of the playoffs which the Leafs split with the St. Louis Blues. He had no post-season points.Gagner is one of three veterans Toronto GM Cliff Fletcher acquired with the playoffs in mind. Fletcher also traded for center-left winger Kirk Muller and former Leafs&rsquo; captain Wendel Clark. All three bounced between effective and non-effective, depending on the night.Gagner&rsquo;s best playoff year was 1990-91 when he helped the Minnesota North Stars make it to the Stanley Cup final with 12 goals and 28 points in 23 post-season games.Admitting he was growing frustrated, Gagner insisted his lack of production was not related to his head injuries, but clearly he was not his normal, dependable self down the stretch and his defensive play was growing suspect. And he was suddenly prone to taking bad penalties.&ldquo;I feel out of sync,&rdquo; said Gagner, who normally plays center, but was lined up at left wing as the regular season concluded. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve just got to go out there and muck it up.&rdquo;The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Gagner played a little bit of center in the third period of Game 2 against the Blues, a 5-4 Toronto overtime victory.Gagner completed the regular season with 21 goals and 49 points with 103 penalty minutes in 73 games.NOTEBOOK: Forward Mark Kolesar, who centered the fourth line for the final half dozen regular season games and demonstrated considerable penalty killing skill, was scratched from the first two playoff games&hellip;Center Mark Deyell, who played for Saskatoon and led the Western League in scoring with 61 goals and 159 points in 69 games, was in Toronto to receive medical treatment for a season-ending groin injury. The Leafs expect Deyell to play with St. John&rsquo;s of the American League next season&hellip;St. Louis was outraged at Leafs&rsquo; left winger Nick Kypreos, claiming he deliberately crashed into goalie Grant Fuhr after being crosschecked by Blues&rsquo; defenseman Chris Pronger. Fuhr suffered a season-ending knee injury.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03608/6388731-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg" title="f0018-03" width="580" height="913"><figcaption class="caption-body">Nick Kypreos</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0018-02

Gagner’s play suffers after second concussion of year

<div class="byline">By Dave Luecking</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-04378/6388776-1-eng-US/f0018-042.jpg" title="f0018-04" width="162" height="160"></div>The St. Louis Blues&rsquo; bid to become the oldest team to win the Stanley Cup suffered a serious setback two games into the playoffs.Goalie Grant Fuhr, 33, sustained an apparent tom medial collateral ligament in his right knee in a goalmouth collision with Nick Kypreos of the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 2 of their first-round series April 18.Blues&rsquo; coach Mike Keenan said Fuhr was done for the season and took Kypreos and the NHL to task for the incident in which he lost his No. 1 goaltender.Fuhr, a Vezina Trophy candidate, was a pillar of strength for the Blues this season, starting a league-record 79 games. He was 30-28-16 with a 2.87 goals-against average and 90.3 save percentage.Before the injury, Fuhr had stopped all 11 Toronto shots in Game 2 and 44 of 45 in the series. He backstopped the Blues&rsquo; 3-1 victory in Game 1 of the series.The injury leads one to wonder about Fuhr&rsquo;s career, too. He faces reconstructive surgery and a long rehabilitation. His inspiring comeback this season might turn out to be his last hurrah.The injury occurred after Fuhr stopped a shot by Mike Craig. Kypreos slashed at the loose puck and Blues&rsquo; defenseman Chris Pronger nudged Kypreos from behind. The Leafs&rsquo; winger fell onto Fuhr and Pronger piled on.Fuhr stayed in the game, making a brilliant stop on Mats Sundin&rsquo;s short-handed break-in, but at the next play stoppage Fuhr hobbled off the ice.Keenan exonerated Pronger and blasted Kypreos.&ldquo;He deliberately tried to make contact with him,&rdquo; Keenan said. &ldquo;He wasn&rsquo;t pushed into him. Our defenseman tried to push him away. Kypreos made direct contact and it resulted in a season-ending injury to a very key player. There&rsquo;s no excuse for it.&rdquo;Officiating supervisor John D&rsquo;Amico said after the game he had spoken with referee Paul Stewart and was satisfied Pronger had pushed Kypreos into Fuhr.Keenan didn&rsquo;t buy it.&ldquo;That&rsquo;s a lie,&rdquo; Keenan said. &ldquo;Pronger&rsquo;s crosscheck was in the opposite direction that the player fell.&rdquo;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s unfortunate (Kypreos) decided on his own, or maybe he was coached, I don&rsquo;t know, to take out a premiere player on our team.&rdquo;NOTEBOOK: After scoring only two goals in 15 games to finish two short of 500 for his career, veteran winger Glenn Anderson was scratched in the first two games of the Toronto series&hellip;The Blues split their previous four playoff series with the Maple Leafs, losing in seven games in their most recent meeting in 1993&hellip;The Blues missed on a chance to get home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs when they tied Chicago April 14 on the last day of the regular season. The tie left them with 80 points, the same number as Toronto, but the Maple Leafs were awarded the fourth seed because they had more victories&hellip;The Blues recalled veteran Bruce Racine from Peoria of the International League to back up Jon Casey after Grant Fuhr was lost in Game 2. &#9632;

f0018-04

Fuhr’s storybook comeback doesn’t have happy ending

<div class="byline">By Roy Cummings</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-02804/6388814-1-eng-US/f0019-022.jpg" title="f0019-02" width="578" height="771"><figcaption class="caption-body">Mikael Renberg</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-011115/6388821-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg" title="f0019-01" width="162" height="163"></div>A storm ciouu 01 trustration that had been building inside Roman Hamrlik for weeks burst open when the Tampa Bay Lightning&rsquo;s top defenseman complained about a reduction in ice time and playing for head coach Terry Crisp.Hamrlik, whose ice time was reduced from 30 to 23 minutes a game, said he was happier when associate coach Wayne Cashman ran the defense.&ldquo;The last 10 or 15 games I do not feel very confident,&rdquo; Hamrlik said. &ldquo;When Cash coached defense I felt more easy, more relieved. With Crispy I know if I make a mistake or they score a goal, he&rsquo;s going to yell at me and I&rsquo;m going to sit on bench more.&rdquo;Hamrlik said after mid-season when Crisp starting handling the defense, his ice time steadily diminished and the Czech-born blueliner suggested his European background may have something to do with it.&ldquo;If I was a Canadian I would play more,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;(Canadians) come and play right away, but if you&rsquo;re European, they say you have to sit and learn.&rdquo;Crisp, who along with Cashman and GM Phil Esposito met with Hamrlik between Games 1 and 2 of Tampa Bay&rsquo;s series with the Philadelphia Fly ers, said the reduction in Hamrlik&rsquo;s role wasn&rsquo;t based on nationality.&ldquo;This has nothing to do with his being European or anything like that,&rdquo; Crisp said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a matter of keeping Roman at his best for as long as possible because we need him.&rdquo;It is also a matter of performance.&ldquo;The way he has been playing, if I was the coach, he&rsquo;d be playing even less than he is right now,&rdquo; Esposito said. &ldquo;It has been an up and down year for him. He has to mentally be able to be in every game. He goes to sleep, his mind goes dead.&rdquo;NOTEBOOK: After dropping the opener of its Eastern Conference playoff series 73 to Philadelphia, the Lightning recorded its first Stanley Cup playoff victory ever in Game 2. Right winger Brian Bellows scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 overtime win&hellip;Center Brian Bradley sat out Game 2 of the Lightning-Flyers series with a sore left knee&hellip;The Lightning caught a break to gain a playoff berth when New Jersey lost to last-place Ottawa on the second-last day of the season. That meant Tampa Bay didn&rsquo;t need a point in its final regular season game, a match it dropped 3-1 to Philadelphia&hellip;Goalie Daren Puppa bounced back in Game 2, stopping 26 of 27 shots. Puppa was pulled in Game One after surrendering four goals on 14 shots.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-03531/6388807-1-eng-US/f0019-032.jpg" title="f0019-03" width="579" height="767"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ron Hextall</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0019-02

Shaky Hamrlik complains about ice time and Crisp

<div class="byline">By Dave Molinari</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-01994/6388883-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg" title="f0020-01" width="161" height="159"></div>The Pittsburgh Penguins were the highest-scoring team in the NHL during the regular season. They came within a point of winning the Eastern Conference championship and placed fourth in the overall standings.All pretty nice accomplishments. But not enough to convince center Mario Lemieux the Penguins belong on anyone&rsquo;s short list of Stanley Cup contenders.&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s put it this way,&rdquo; Lemieux said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re not the favorites. There are some better teams out there, but you never know.&ldquo;Once you&rsquo;re in the playoffs and start to get a few wins together and believe that you can win, anything can happen. But we&rsquo;re certainly not the favorites.&rdquo;Any chance of being rated that way vanished during the final week of the regular season when the Penguins lost to the Hartford Whalers, New York Islanders and Boston Bruins to have their chokehold on the Eastern Conference championship broken.Last fall, there was no guarantee the Penguins could compensate for the absence of players such as Kevin Stevens, Larry Murphy, Ulf Samuelsson and Kjell Samuelsson who had been key members of their Stanley Cup teams in the early 1990s.But they took over first place in the division on Nov. 1 and finished with a perfectly respectable record of 49-294, good for 102 points.&ldquo;I think we had a great year,&rdquo; Lemieux said.NOTEBOOK: Pittsburgh drew a crowd of 16,238-that&rsquo;s 943 below capacity-to the Civic Arena for Game 1 of its series against Washington. A 6-4 loss marked the fifth time in a row the Capitals have won Game 1 against Pittsburgh&hellip;Center Mario Lemieux entered the post-season averaging.85 goals per playoff game, the highest figure in NHL history. He ranked second to Wayne Gretzky in average points, 1.922 to 1.848&hellip;Defenseman Neil Wilkinson played in Game 1, despite a knee injury suffered in the regular-season finale. He was hurt when Boston right winger Rick Tocchet dragged his leg behind him, striking Wilkinson. &ldquo;Anytime another player kicks a player, it&rsquo;s a pretty dirty play,&rdquo; Wilkinson said. &#9632;

f0020-01

Accomplishments many, but not enough for Mario

<div class="byline">By Dave Fay</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-03445/6388914-1-eng-US/f0020-032.jpg" title="f0020-03" width="571" height="965"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jeff Nelson</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-02661/6388921-1-eng-US/f0020-022.jpg" title="f0020-02" width="161" height="159"></div>The dream of every youngster who grows up playing hockey-to get into a Stanley Cup playoff game-has been realized by five of the Washington Capitals&rsquo; newest players.The way they got there might not be exactly the way it&rsquo;s laid out in fantasy books, but they made it nonetheless.On April 17, Andrew Brunette, Jeff Nelson, Steve Poapst, Stefan Ustorf and Eric Charron all skated for the Capitals, some of them replacements for the list of Washington wounded that is starting to look like a depth chart.The group, all called up from the Portland Pirates of the American League, came into the first round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins confident they could make a contribution, but at the same time hoping they didn&rsquo;t do anything to hurt the parent club.&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got a lot of pride, we&rsquo;ve worked pretty hard and we don&rsquo;t want to be the ones who make a mistake,&rdquo; said Brunette, a left winger who had an assist in the Capitals&rsquo; 6-4 win over the Penguins in Game 1. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve only had 10 NHL games under my belt and we&rsquo;ve got to go play probably one of the best teams in the league. Guys grow up dreaming about stuff like that.&rdquo;&ldquo;I just tell the kids to relax and have fun out there, even though I know it&rsquo;s probably hard to do,&rdquo; said Kelly Miller, a veteran of more than 100 playoff games. &ldquo;You know you&rsquo;re going to work hard, you can&rsquo;t not work hard in a playoff game.&rdquo;NOTEBOOK: Breaking with the tradition of naming an individual, the Washington Times this year named the entire team, including coaching staff, as MVPs&hellip;Center Dale Hunter, who will be 36 in August, was the only Capital to play all 82 games this season&hellip;Center Michal Pivonka led the club in scoring with 81 points in 73 games. It is the second time he has led the Capitals in scoring, but there are some personal highs involved for the 10-year vet: his 65 assists are the most for a Capital since Dennis Maruk&rsquo;s 76 in 1981-82 and his 81 points and plus-18 are career bests&hellip;Right winger Pat Peake (bruised knee cap) made it into the playoffs, one day after coach Jim Schoenfeld said none of his nine injured players would be back for the first round. &#9632;

f0020-03

Young bucks seize chance

<div class="byline">By Rick Carpiniello</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-01766/6388952-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg" title="f0021-01" width="162" height="161"></div>The New York Rangers were counting on a return to form of their top players in the playoffs.One of those players was Brian Leetch, their 1994 Conn Smythe Trophy winner. In &rsquo;94, Leetch carried the Rangers with 11 goals and 23 assists in the post-season.A funny thing happened, though, which was hardly humorous for the Rangers.As his team stumbled to an 0-5-0 regular season finish without injured Mark Messier (tom rib cage cartilage), Rangers&rsquo; coach Colin Campbell wanted to rest Leetch from the regular-season finale against the Florida Panthers, a meaningless game for New York.Leetch wanted to play. In that game, he blocked a shot and wound up with a sore foot.The injury was minor, according to Leetch, and x-rays were negative, he said. While he wore sandals to practice, Leetch insisted there was only a mild level of discomfort.Leetch insisted the bruised foot was not a factor, but in the early going of the playoffs he was not good.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had one average game and one bad game,&rdquo; Leetch said after Game 2 in which he coughed up the puck for Vincent Damphousse&rsquo;s shorthanded goal. &ldquo;I know I can play better.&rdquo;Messier was also at far less than full strength after his April 4 return.&ldquo;Obviously he isn&rsquo;t 100 per cent,&rdquo; Campbell said. &ldquo;But Mark at 70 per cent is as good as any other player at 100 per cent.&rdquo;NOTEBOOK: Center Sergei Nemchinov suffered a deep puncture to the back of his left leg when he was sliced by Montreal defenseman Peter Popovic&rsquo;s skate late in Game 2. Nemchinov needed seven stitches and left on crutches, with his leg heavily wrapped down to the ankle. The Rangers were told there was no nerve or tendon damage&hellip;Defenseman Marty McSorley aggravated a groin injury April 12 and was out of the lineup on a day-to-day basis&hellip;The loss in Game 1 to Montreal meant the Rangers had dropped each of their past five series openers. In each of those games, the Rangers led in the third period and four were decided in overtime. The Rangers did, however, come back to win three of the first four series. &#9632;

f0021-01

Leetch says injured foot not a factor in poor play

<div class="byline">By Herb Zurkowsky</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-03222/6388983-1-eng-US/f0021-032.jpg" title="f0021-03" width="565" height="974"><figcaption class="caption-body">Pierre Turgeon</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-02412/6388990-1-eng-US/f0021-022.jpg" title="f0021-02" width="161" height="161"></div>The Tin Man has returned to the land of Oz.Montreal Canadiens&rsquo; captain Pierre Turgeon, saddled with the dubious nickname earlier in his career for an apparent lack of heart, was largely ineffective during the stretch drive.Turgeon finished as the Canadiens&rsquo; leading scorer with 38 goals and 96 points in 80 games. He scored a teamleading 17 power play goals and tied for the team lead with six game-winners.But something was missing.Late in the season, Turgeon went missing in action. He was held to one goal in Montreal&rsquo;s final 10 games. He also failed to score in the Canadiens&rsquo; opening two games of their Eastern Conference series against the New York Rangers.&ldquo;Nothing seems to work and I&rsquo;ve been fighting the puck,&rdquo; Turgeon said. &ldquo;In the playoffs, key players must step up.&ldquo;But I&rsquo;ve had a good season.&rdquo;Indeed, Turgeon was good. But he&rsquo;s a potential franchise player and superstar.Perhaps being the captain of the most storied franchise in the NHL is too much for Turgeon to bear. Turgeon undoubtedly would thrive better were he allowed to perform in near anonymity.&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have to be on his back that much,&rdquo; said coach Mario Tremblay. &ldquo;People forget that he finished with 98 points. We&rsquo;re going to need him in the playoffs. He&rsquo;s going to be okay.&rdquo;NOTEBOOK: Defenseman Patrice Brisebois. who missed the final nine regular season games with a mild disc irritation in his lower back, returned for the playoff opener against the Rangers. That meant the Canadiens used two, instead of three, rookie defensemen in the first round&hellip;Canadiens&rsquo; coach Mario Tremblay, in his first year of coaching, was considered for a coaching spot with Canada&rsquo;s entry in the World Cup of Hockey, but was passed over by GM Glen Sather. Sather talked to Canadiens&rsquo; GM Rejean Houle about it before deciding on veteran coaches. &ldquo;I would have liked the challenge, but I understand completely,&rdquo; Tremblay said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a rookie in this business of coaching and I don&rsquo;t mind waiting my turn.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0021-03

Captain not so fantastic

<div class="byline">By Ray Murray</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-02501/6389021-1-eng-US/f0023-022.jpg" title="f0023-02" width="576" height="906"><figcaption class="caption-body">Rav Sheppard</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-01791/6389028-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg" title="f0023-01" width="162" height="160"></div>If it&rsquo;s left to Ray Sheppard, he&rsquo;ll retire as a Florida Panther.Based on what the right winger did for the club after being acquired on March 16 from the San Jose Sharks, management should get his signature on a contract as soon as possible. Sheppard was brought in to boost the Panthers&rsquo; offense and he didn&rsquo;t disappoint.Sheppard scored eight goals in 14 regular season games, then added two more in the first playoff game against the Boston Bruins. In an eight-game span. Sheppard had seven goals, his teammates six. That&rsquo;s exactly why GM Bryan Murray went after Sheppard&hellip;again. While GM of the Detroit Red Wings, Murray signed Sheppard as a free agent before the 1991-92 season.Sheppard finished with 37 goals this year, joining Jaromir Jagr of the Pittsburgh Penguins as the only players to score 30 or more each of the past five years. Sheppard also got the Panthers&rsquo; first home hat trick March 21 and the Panthers needed them all in a 3-2 win over the New York Islanders.Sheppard&rsquo;s contract ($1.55 million this season) expires at the end of the season and he&rsquo;d like one more lucrative pact to finish his career. He turns 30 in May and would prefer to do it in the Sunshine State with familiar management faces.He played for Murray and coach Doug MacLean, then an assistant, with the Red Wings.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a situation where I&rsquo;m getting a little older now,&rdquo; Sheppard said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s tough to move the family around when you have kids in school. I want to make this my last stop and hopefully I&rsquo;ll be able to retire down here.&rdquo;NOTEBOOK: Owner H. Wayne Huizenga picked Sunrise, about 10 miles west of Fort Lauderdale, as the site for the Panthers&rsquo; new arena. Final approval is expected April 23 when Broward County Commissioners vote on raising the hotel bed tax from three to five cents. The arena is scheduled to open for the 1998-99 season&hellip;Captain Brian Skrudland (left hip) and defenseman Gord Murphy (broken toe) missed the franchise&rsquo;s first playoff game, a 6-3 win over Boston&hellip;. Games 1 and 2 of the playoffs were five days apart because of scheduling conflicts at Miami Arena. Country singer Garth Brooks performed there three straight nights and the Miami Heat finished the National Basketball Association regular season the next day. &#9632;

f0023-02

Sniper Sheppard likes Florida

<div class="byline">By Mike Loftus</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-03347/6389059-1-eng-US/f0023-032.jpg" title="f0023-03" width="161" height="162"></div>The Boston Bruins argued successfully with the NHL against playing back-to-back road games to open their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series against the Florida Panthers.The Bruins, rather than playing in Miami less than 48 hours after a season-ending stretch of three games in a little less than four days, ended up starting a night later than first scheduled, and with four full days between Games 1 and 2.Boston&rsquo;s overworked defensemen couldn&rsquo;t have been happier.Although the series eventually called for Games 2 through 4 to be played in a span of four nights, the long breaks at the beginning gave them a chance to recover from a long, six-week grind at the end of the regular season.&ldquo;I think it wears you down a little when you play 30 minutes a game,&rdquo; said rookie Kyle McLaren, whose ice time increased dramatically after veterans Dean Chynoweth and Rick Zombo got hurt. &ldquo;You&rsquo;ve really got to do all you can to get your rest, because you can&rsquo;t be tired now.&rdquo;McLaren, captain Ray Bourque, veteran Don Sweeney and second-year NHLer Jon Rohloff were essentially dividing all the ice time with Chynoweth and Zombo out. Bourque, as usual, led the pack, but the other three also played more on both special teams than they had before.Coach Steve Kasper was trying to find ice time for relatively inexperienced John Gruden and Steve Staios, but with each game so important down the stretch-Boston didn&rsquo;t qualify for a playoff spot until its 80th game-he generally rotated his top four.&ldquo;It can take its toll,&rdquo; Sweeney admitted,&rdquo;but then again, there&rsquo;s no question that at this time of year, you look forward to playing. I don&rsquo;t think you think very much about the fatigue factor at this point.&rdquo;The 26-year-old Rohloff, whom Kasper scratched from the lineup a few times this season, also didn&rsquo;t mind the extra workload.&ldquo;It gives me a little boost in confidence,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been on both sides this year; less ice time and more ice time. More is good.&rdquo;The trick to staying fresh, Rohloff reckoned, was playing sound, positional hockey.&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t want to get running around, because that&rsquo;s when you get real tired,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;If you play smart defensively, you can conserve your energy&rdquo;NOTEBOOK: Boston&rsquo;s defense brougnt 238 games of post-season experience into the playoffs: 157 for Ray Bourque, 76 for Don Sweeney and five for Jon Rohloff. Kyle McLaren, John Gruden and Steve Staios all made their playoff debuts in a 6-3 loss to Florida in Game 1&hellip;The slow start to the first round series against Florida gave Boston hope some injured regulars could return before too long. Defenseman Dean Chynoweth, left winger Todd Elik and right winger Joe Mullen were all skating regularly as the series began&hellip;Bourque played every regular season game for just the third time in his career. Left wingers Ted Donato and Shawn McEachern were the other Bruins to play all 82. &#9632;

f0023-03

Long layoff benefits tired ‘D’

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-01865/6389097-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg" title="f0024-01" width="974" height="1185"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-02578/6389090-1-eng-US/f0024-022.jpg" title="f0024-02" width="1004" height="893"></div> &#9632;

f0024-01

FACTS & STATS

APRIL WINNER: PAUL KARIYAHe&rsquo;s not the biggest Duck, but there&rsquo;s no question he is the Mightiest.Left winger Paul Kariya&rsquo;s two goals in the final game of the 1995-96 regular season gave him 50 on the season. He became the first member of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to accomplish the feat and the 14th youngest player in NHL history to do so.Kariya is the Dodge Trucks NHL player of the month for April. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Vancouver native led the Ducks to a 5-1-1 record through April, scoring seven goals and seven assists for 14 points. Kariya closed the campaign on a nine-game point-scoring streak.Kariya led the Mighty Ducks in goals (50), shots (349) and games played (82). He tied with right winger Teemu Selanne for most points with 108.The 1993 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner as the top U.S. college player finished this season with nine game-winning goals, 20 power play goals and three more while the Mighty Ducks were shorthanded.Following the regular season, Kariya was named to Team Canada for the 1996 World Championship tournament in Vienna, Austria. He won a gold medal with Canada in 1994.Kariya&rsquo;s closest two challengers for player-of-the-month honors were Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Rod Brind&rsquo;Amour of the Philadelphia Flyers.Lemieux completed a dream comeback season by winning the scoring championship after taking last season off to recover from cancer treatments and rest his sore back. He managed five goals and 12 points in six April games. Brind&rsquo;Amour scored four goals and 10 points in seven games.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-01775/6389128-1-eng-US/f0025-012.jpg" title="f0025-01" width="706" height="1028"></div> &#9632;

f0025-01

PLAYER OF THE MONTH

<div class="byline">By Robyn Norwood</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-01844/6389159-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg" title="f0026-01" width="163" height="162"></div>Eliminated from the playoff race the night before their final game, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim didn&rsquo;t seem to have much to play for.All they had was pride and Paul Kariya&rsquo;s 50th goal.Kariya scored twice during the Ducks&rsquo; 5-2 season-ending victory over the Winnipeg Jets to become the eighth NHL player to reach 50 goals this season.More impressive, Kariya is only the 16th player in NHL history to score 50 goals in a season before the age of 22. He and Pavel Bure, who scored 60 goals at 21 in 1993, are the only players that young to manage the feat in the past eight years.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not big into points and goals,&rdquo; said Kariya, 21. &ldquo;But (coach Ron Wilson) told me, &lsquo;As long as you have the chance to do something like that.&rdquo;&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think Paul went in saying, &lsquo;I&rsquo;m two from 50,&rsquo;&rdquo; Wilson said. &ldquo;But as soon as he scored at the end of the second period, I said, &lsquo;I&rsquo;m going to get him out there every other shift.&rsquo; I told the (other) left wings, &lsquo;You guys are going to sit down so we can give him as much a shot as we can.&rsquo;&rdquo;Still, the 50-goal season was just a consolation prize as far as Kariya was concerned.&ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t make the playoffs so we have no chance to win the Stanley Cup,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Playing in the All-Star Game was a real thrill, I always dreamed of that as a kid. This was great. But I would have given both to be in the playoffs.&rdquo;NOTEBOOK: Victories by Toronto and Vancouver on the second-last day of the season eliminated the Ducks, despite their 11-3-2 stretch run. &ldquo;Here we are two points away and have the opportunity to have home ice-and we can&rsquo;t even qualify for the playoffs. That&rsquo;s a frustrating thing,&rdquo; said Ducks&rsquo; coach Ron Wilson&hellip;Goalie Guy Hebert earned a $300,000 bonus by finishing among the top five in save percentage at 91.4. That was one of five individual or team achievements that would trigger the bonus. Another was the Ducks making the playoffs&hellip;GM Jack Ferreira said he will attempt to re-sign unrestricted free agent Todd Ewen, but will wait to make decisions on defenseman Randy Ladouceur and center Anatoli Semenov. &#9632;

f0026-01

Reaching 50-goal plateau consolation prize for Kariya

<div class="byline">By Jim Kelley</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-03437/6389190-1-eng-US/f0026-032.jpg" title="f0026-03" width="564" height="979"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ted Nolan</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-02551/6389197-1-eng-US/f0026-022.jpg" title="f0026-02" width="160" height="161"></div>Blessed with a self-proclaimed work ethic, the best goaltender in the NHL in Dominik Hasek and a superstar center in Pat LaFontaine, the Buffalo Sabres did many of the things they promised before the start of the season.They often worked hard, played hard and generally provided an honest effort for fans.&ldquo;One of the things we set out to develop was an attitude of team play,&rdquo; said coach Ted Nolan. &ldquo;I think we accomplished that.&rdquo;They also created an air of good feeling in the community with moving and memorable tributes to the Knox family and the soon-to-close Memorial Auditorium.Yet a reality check shows the 199596 Sabres missed qualifying for the playoffs in the Eastern Conference by a whopping 15 points. They had just nine more points than the 1986-87 team that finished last overall.Tossing out the lockout-shortened season of 1994-95, the team&rsquo;s 247 goals scored was the lowest total since 1973-74. No team gave up as many shots as the Sabres (2,912), a figure that takes some of the luster from the so-called hard work ethic.And while the organization&rsquo;s prospect pool is bright, there&rsquo;s no guarantee things will dramatically improve next season. Should management hold to the course of building long-term and not add experienced talent right away, there&rsquo;s a better than likely possibility the Sabres&rsquo; will be on the outside looking in again in 1996-97.NOTEBOOK: The Sabres sent defenseman Garry Galley, left winger Brad May and right winger Jason Dawe to Team Canada for the World Championship. Center Derek Plante was picked up by Team USA and goalie Andrei Trefilov and defenseman Alexei Zhitnik joined the Russian team&hellip;Defenseman Richard Smehlik, who didn&rsquo;t play a game this season due to knee surgery, is expected to be ready for training camp&hellip;Right winger Donald Audette. who also underwent anterior cruciate ligament surgery, should also be back for camp&hellip;Left winger Randy Burridge, an unrestricted free agent, is hoping to come to terms with the Sabres, but isn&rsquo;t ruling out signing with another team. &#9632;

f0026-03

Hard work not enough

<div class="byline">By Mike Heika</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-04316/6389228-1-eng-US/f0026-042.jpg" title="f0026-04" width="161" height="161"></div>In the record books, it meant little.A late-season call-up in a game that meant nothing really shouldn&rsquo;t have mattered, but it did for Dallas Stars&rsquo; prospect Jamie Langenbrunner.The versatile center made the flight from Kalamazoo, Mich., to Dallas for just one game-the Stars&rsquo; finale against the Detroit Red Wings.And while a 5-1 loss was mostly empty for the out-of-contention Stars, Langenbrunner made a statement. Not only did he score his team&rsquo;s only goal, he was its best player.It was a shot in the arm for the 20-year-old, considering he had been sent to the Michigan K-Wings of the International League earlier in the season when it was determined he needed more ice time.&ldquo;It was a big game for him, even if it was just one game,&rdquo; said assistant GM Les Jackson. &ldquo;It was good for him to see the improvement.&rsquo;&rdquo;Langenbrunner was a star in his first full season of IHL competition. After leading the undermanned Peterborough Petes through a playoff run in the Ontario League the previous season, Langenbrunner now is poised to lead the K-Wings&rsquo; quest for the Turner Cup. It&rsquo;s a big jump, but the confident center is leading with his play.Langenbrunner had 25 goals, 65 assists and 129 penalty minutes in 59 games for the K-Wings this season.&ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t able to watch him when he was up here (early in the season), but that&rsquo;s the player I saw when I was in Kalamazoo,&rdquo; said Stars&rsquo; coach Ken Hitchcock after the Red Wings&rsquo; game. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a tough player who&rsquo;s showing a lot of improvement and who should get a chance to make the lineup next year.&rdquo;Making his mark in the NHL is an opportunity for which the 5-foot-11, 185-pound native of Duluth, Minn., has been waiting.&ldquo;It has been a pretty good season for me and I&rsquo;ve seen the improvement,&rdquo; Langenbrunner said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m just looking forward to playing well in the playoffs and we&rsquo;ll take it from there.&rdquo;NOTEBOOK: Center Joe Nieuwendyk hurt his neck in the season finale and had to cancel plans to join Team Canada for the World Championship&hellip;Defenseman Mike Lalor was the only Dallas player to accept an invitation to the World Championship. He will play for the U.S&hellip;The Stars set a franchise record for players used in a season with 44. The previous high was 43 in 1987-88&hellip;The Stars were outscored 102-67 in the third period of games this season and were 2-7-4 when they entered the third period tied&hellip;Defensemen Richard Matvichuk and Craig Ludwig each had arthroscopic knee surgery following the season&hellip;The Stars finished 5-19-4 against the Central Division and 4-16-5 against the Eastern Conference. &#9632;

f0026-04

Young center makes great impression

<div class="byline">By Dan Barnes</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-05241/6389259-1-eng-US/f0026-052.jpg" title="f0026-05" width="164" height="162"></div>A world of experience may be just what the Edmonton Oilers need if they are to finally learn what it takes to win.Seven Oilers (including one alternate) were named to World Cup rosters April 15. Only three NHL teams have more players scheduled to be at the globe&rsquo;s most prestigious hockey tournament: the New York Rangers and the Detroit Red Wings (nine) and the New Jersey Devils (eight).Five of those World Cup Oilers will first join four other Edmonton teammates and suit up at the World Championship in Vienna. The international experience garnered by all 11 Oilers will be invaluable.&ldquo;Traditionally, that&rsquo;s the best hockey in the world,&rdquo; said Team USA center Doug Weight of the event formerly known as the Canada Cup.Oilers&rsquo; GM Glen Sather, who holds the same position with Team Canada for the World Cup, made sure Jason Arnott was named as one of three alternates.&ldquo;It will give him a sense of what it takes to win,&rdquo; Sather said. &ldquo;Jason is going to learn a great deal.&rdquo;Goalie Curtis Joseph joins Arnott on Team Canada. Joseph will also play in the World Championship, his first action for Canada at any level.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve never worn a Team Canada jersey,&rdquo; Joseph said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s going to be a great feeling.&rdquo;The other Oiler World Cup participants are Zdeno Ciger and Miro Satan (Slovakia), Jiri Slegr (Czech Republic) and Boris Mironov (Russia).NOTEBOOK: GM Glen Sather said he had held &ldquo;preliminary discussions&rdquo; with most of the agents representing Oilers who could become free agents in July. That list includes centers Doug Weight and Jason Arnott, left winger Zdeno Ciger, right winger Miro Satan and defensemen Jiri Slegr and Boris Mironov. Sather said he would like to have all his signings completed by draft day and that goalie Curtis Joseph&rsquo;s $2.2 million (U.S.) annual salary represents a ceiling on salaries for his team&hellip;The Oilers enter the May 19 draft lottery in the No. 6 spot and also have Boston&rsquo;s first-rounder. The Oilers have a 5.9 percent chance of winning the lottery, which would move them up to second overall. They could also drop to seventh. &#9632;

f0026-05

Oilers going on world tour after early end to season

<div class="byline">By Michael Arace</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-07175/6389290-1-eng-US/f0026-072.jpg" title="f0026-07" width="563" height="972"><figcaption class="caption-body">Brendan Shanahan</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-06200/6389297-1-eng-US/f0026-062.jpg" title="f0026-06" width="161" height="160"></div>As the &lsquo;Save the Whale&rsquo; ticket drive hit its midpoint, attention was focused on a pair of reports which threatened to cleave sentiment in Hartford.ESPN cited &ldquo;ownership level&rdquo; sources and reported April 16 the Whalers were on the verge of moving to Nashville. The report said governmental leaders were prepared to cut the Whalers free of their lease, which runs through 1997-98.Governmental leaders, the Whalers and NHL decried the report as abjectly false.A day after denying the rumor, Whalers&rsquo; owner Peter Karmanos was quoted in the New York Times as saying that he had had casual conversations with his friend about moving the Whalers to the Palace of Auburn Hills, Mich. But Karmanos, whose Ontario League team plays there, said that given the proximity of Joe Louis Arena, the NHL would never allow the Whalers to move to the Palace.Karmanos also told the Times besides suburban Detroit, other sites he would consider moving to include Atlanta, Nashville and Las Vegas.While he was taken to task about the comments in Hartford, the owner defended his position.&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t have conversations now?&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t talk to my friends about my team?&rdquo;Officials of the &lsquo;Save the Whale&rsquo; campaign said they were at about 48 per cent of their goal of 11,000 season tickets. The deadline to accrue the remaining 52 per cent is May 1.NOTEBOOK: Several Whalers turned down invitations to compete for their countries at the World Championship in Austria. Left wingers Brendan Shanahan and Geoff Sanderson and right winger Nelson Emerson said &lsquo;Thanks, but no thanks&rdquo; to Team Canada, while left winger Paul Ranheim declined to play for the United States. Among the Whalers who will play in Vienna are defenseman Glen Wesley and center Andrew Cassels (Canada) and right winger Robert Kron (Czech Republic)&hellip;A Whaler move out of the northeast wouldn&rsquo;t be good for Hartford fans, but it might improve the team&rsquo;s fortunes on the ice. The Whalers were 24-23-7 against teams outside its division and 15-10-1 against Western Conference competition. &#9632;

f0026-07

Move rumors startflying

<div class="byline">By Rich Chere</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-03390/6389366-1-eng-US/f0028-032.jpg" title="f0028-03" width="161" height="161"></div>The first damage that needed to be repaired following the New Jersey Devils&rsquo; stunning inability to make the playoffs was the relationship between coach Jacques Lemaire and captain Scott Stevens.Neither Lemaire nor Stevens wanted problems that had occurred periodically throughout the season to fester during the summer. So less than 48 hours after the Devils&rsquo; season ended, the two met.&ldquo;I feel better after we talked,&rdquo; Stevens said. &ldquo;When we talk about leadership, I have to take responsibility for that, but we have a veteran team. You don&rsquo;t have to wear a &lsquo;C&rsquo; to be a leader on a team. We have a lot of guys with the ability to be leaders.&rdquo;Nevertheless, few doubted Lemaire meant Stevens when he assessed the team&rsquo;s failure April 13.&ldquo;There has been a lack of leadership,&rdquo; Lemaire said. &ldquo;Has to be. You can&rsquo;t go out and play a game like that (a 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators) and say this team has leadership.&rdquo;Some felt Lemaire&rsquo;s comments were payback for a March 26 incident in Tampa Bay, in which Stevens confronted Lemaire in a heated exchange about comments the coach made the previous day criticizing the defenseman&rsquo;s play.Lemaire was angered by Stevens&rsquo; confrontation and told the player he had been misquoted.Whether the relationship was repaired or simply patched for the public will not be seen until next season.NOTEBOOK: Details finally became known of left winger Mike Peluso&rsquo;s mysterious March 30 commercial flight from Pittsburgh to New Jersey five hours ahead of the team charter. Contrary to claims from the club Peluso had personal matters to take care of, Peluso was actually sent home by GM Lou Lamoriello because of comments he made to coach Jacques Lemaire during a team meeting the day before. Only when he called the GM and insisted he was not rebelling against Lemaire was Peluso allowed to rejoin the club. Peluso remains a top candidate to be traded this summer&hellip;Unrestricted free agent defenseman Phil Housley said he will explore the market even if the Devils make an offer. &#9632;

f0028-03

Lemaire, Stevens attempt to patch rocky relationship

<div class="byline">By Jim Smith</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-04273/6389397-1-eng-US/f0028-042.jpg" title="f0028-04" width="159" height="162"></div>For many New York Islanders&rsquo; fans, 1995-96 was a painfully long season. But for coach-GM Mike Milbury, it wasn&rsquo;t long enough.After the Islanders ended their campaign with a 5-5 tie against the Montreal Canadiens April 14, leaving them with the NHL&rsquo;s third-worst record (2250-10), Milbury said he wished the season wasn&rsquo;t over.&ldquo;Usually when a season ends, people take a couple of days and then it hits you like a brick,&rdquo; said Milbury, who was headed to Austria as GM of the American entry at the World Championship.&ldquo;But I feel like we&rsquo;ve just started. Believe it or not, (I) don&rsquo;t want it to end because I can see the good things that are ahead for this team.&rdquo;Milbury said the team&rsquo;s disappointing record was a function of bad goaltending early, an NHL-high 528 man-games lost to injuries and a lack of offense after he traded defenseman Mathieu Schneider and left winger Wendel Clark to the Toronto Maple Leafs March 13. The Islanders went 2-12-2 after the deal.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m glad it&rsquo;s over,&rdquo; said right winger Ziggy Palffy, who led the Islanders in goals (43) and points (87). &ldquo;We had a good effort, but we lost a lot of games. We have a young team. We lack experience. Next year, we&rsquo;ll have a chance to make the playoffs.&rdquo;As for changes, Milbury said the Islanders need three new forwards to play on their top two lines and that he will use his three first-round picks in the next two drafts on forwards. To buy time, he said he will sign some low-price veteran forwards over the summer.Milbury also said the club lacks a reliable defensive defenseman.When he fills those four spots, Milbury believes the team will be competitive.&ldquo;(At that point), in my mind, the nucleus is complete,&rdquo; Milbury said. &ldquo;I think we&rsquo;re a lot closer to where we want to be today than we were at the beginning of the year.&rdquo;NOTEBOOK: The Islanders missed the NHL deadline for logo changes for next season, but will be allowed to use their old logo up to 15 times in 1996-97 as part of the league&rsquo;s third sweater program. The team&rsquo;s original logo will replace the fisherman fulltime in 1997-98&hellip;Defenseman Bryan McCabe became the Islanders&rsquo; first rookie since Ken Morrow in 1980-81 to play every game&hellip;Club sources said these players will not get new contracts: defensemen Bob Beers and Milan Tichy, right winger Brad Dalgamo. left winger Pat Conacher and center Micah Aivazoff. On the bubble are centers Chris Marinucci and Chris Taylor. It&rsquo;s also expected left winger Yan Kaminsky will be bought out of the final year of his one-way, four-year, $1.75-million deal. &#9632;

f0028-04

GM Milbury likes path team taking

<div class="byline">By Chris Stevenson</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-05216/6389428-1-eng-US/f0028-052.jpg" title="f0028-05" width="161" height="161"></div>The Ottawa Senators have selected as their motto for next season, &lsquo;A New Ice Age Is Coming.&rsquo;That&rsquo;s good, because the old ice age was marked by an organization whose improvement came at a glacier-like pace. It goes to show you the depths to which things had sunk when a new GM and coach could be hailed as geniuses because they accomplished the totally unimpressive feat of winning almost half as many games as they lost (10-24-4).There is no question the Senators have been more competitive under coach Jacques Martin and GM Pierre Gauthier. But don&rsquo;t lose sight of the fact last year&rsquo;s Senators&rsquo; team also finished with a flurry (they won five of the last seven games) that left everybody thinking this was going to be the Senators&rsquo; year for a breakthrough.Senators&rsquo; fans have been like a hiker lost in the woods who has been getting by on a diet of bugs and berries. Stick a plate of rice in front of him and he thinks he&rsquo;s eating a meal fit for a king.Martin and Gauthier did decent jobs, but unless some kind of monstrous improvement is made in the quality of the team, what&rsquo;s to say next season won&rsquo;t be a disappointment, too?The real keys for a meaningful turnaround lie with Alexei Yashin and Alexandre Daigle. It&rsquo;s time for both men to earn what they&rsquo;ve been given in lucrative salaries.Funny, isn&rsquo;t it, how the more things change, the more they stay the same?NOTEBOOK: Right winger Daniel Alfredsson finished the season strongly in his pursuit of the Calder Trophy, getting the nod as NHL rookie of the month for April. Alfredsson ended the campaign as the freshman points leader with 61, eight more than second-place finisher Eric Daze of Chicago&hellip;Alfredsson was edged by goaltender Damian Rhodes as the Senators&rsquo; Molson Cup winner (three-star selections), despite the fact Rhodes only joined the team in January. Both finished with 80 points, but Rhodes was given the award because he had more first-star selections&hellip;The Senators expect their ticket revenues to increase to $7.5 million next season when they play their first full year in the Corel Centre. &#9632;

f0028-05

No proof of real turnaround despite late-season surge

<div class="byline">By Dan Wood</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-07167/6389459-1-eng-US/f0028-072.jpg" title="f0028-07" width="563" height="973"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jamie Baker</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-06186/6389466-1-eng-US/f0028-062.jpg" title="f0028-06" width="162" height="161"></div>It is an award about which even the recipient couldn&rsquo;t feel really good.&ldquo;Obviously in a season this dismal, individual honors are nice, but the bottom line is we had an awful year,&rdquo; said center Jamie Baker after being named the San Jose Sharks&rsquo; most valuable player.Baker had 16 goals and 33 points in 77 games for a team that finished with the second-worst record in the NHL. He was chosen over goalie Chris Ter-reri in a close vote by a panel of Bay Area media representatives.Meanwhile, defenseman Marcus Ragnarsson was unanimously selected as the club&rsquo;s rookie of the year. Ragnarsson, 24, finished as the Sharks&rsquo; fifth-leading scorer, leader among defensemen and tops among NHL rookie defensemen with 39 points, including eight goals.Even with the March trades of center Craig Janney and wingers Ray Sheppard and Kevin Miller, Baker was only San Jose&rsquo;s sixth-leading scorer. His plus-minus figure was an unimpressive minus-19, though he finished tied for second in the NHL with six shorthanded goals.&ldquo;I think (the award) is very just,&rdquo; said interim coach Jim Wiley. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s maybe not as glittery and sparkling as some, but he&rsquo;s obviously a mainstay of this hockey club in (consistency) and work ethic.&rdquo;Right winger Owen Nolan and left winger Chris Tancill received honorable mention in the most valuable player voting.NOTEBOOK: Right wingers Jan Caloun and Shean Donovan and goalie Geoff Sarjeant were assigned to Kansas City of the International League April 13, in time to join the Blades for the playoffs. Caloun&rsquo;s 11-game trial with San Jose at the end of the season produced eight goals on 20 shots&hellip;Right winger Owen Nolan finished as the Sharks&rsquo; leading scorer with 69 points, 61 of which came after he was acquired from Colorado Oct. 26. Center Craig Janney actually scored more points while with San Jose (62), before he was traded to Winnipeg March 18. Nolan finished with 33 goals, 29 as a Shark, one short of the team record set by Sergei Makarov in 1993-94&hellip;The Sharks sent seven players to five teams at the World Championship. &#9632;

f0028-07

Baker best in bad year

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0029-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-01724/6389497-1-eng-US/f0029-012.jpg"></div> &#9632;

f0029-01

CLASSIFIED

<div class="byline">By Dave Eminian</div>Craig Fisher&rsquo;s bid to set an International League goal-scoring record came up one goal short.The Orlando Solar Bears&rsquo; left winger did not score in the final five games and his 74 goals was one shy of Milwaukee Admirals&rsquo; center Daniel Lecours&rsquo; record of 75 goals.&ldquo;It was almost a relief when it was over,&rdquo; Fisher said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not thinking about goal scoring, I&rsquo;m thinking about winning now.&rdquo;The Central Division champion Solar Bears finished third overall in the IHL.&ldquo;I thought I might reach high 50s, maybe 60, especially knowing (Orlando GM) Don Waddell had a history of assembling great teams,&rdquo; Fisher said. &ldquo;But 74? No player ever thinks that high.&rdquo;He played on a line with center Mark Beaufait and right winger Dave Barr and each member of the trio surpassed 100 points.&ldquo;To score 74 goals on one of the best teams in the league, well, I&rsquo;m certainly looking for an NHL chance next season,&rdquo; Fisher said. &ldquo;Someone somewhere should give me a shot.&rdquo;The Philadelphia Flyers&rsquo; third-round pick in 1988 said a 1991 trade to the Edmonton Oilers triggered his downfall as a player.&ldquo;I got dealt, got hurt, fell off track and that was it,&rdquo; Fisher said.&rdquo;I went from being a can&rsquo;t-miss NHL player at 20 to a miss player at 22. Now all of a sudden I&rsquo;m a comeback player at 25.&rdquo;UNDONE DEAL: The IHL formally recognized highly touted junior prospect Alexander Volchkov&rsquo;s contract with the Ontario League&rsquo;s Barrie Colts, ruling him ineligible to join the Cincinnati Cyclones for the playoffs.The Cyclones had placed Volchkov on their final roster and were prepared to play him when Barrie-which has a deal with the player through next season-threatened legal action against the IHL team and the player&rsquo;s agent.Volchkov, 18, is expected to be among the top three picks for the 1996 NHL entry draft.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re disappointed for Alexander.&rdquo; said Cincinnati coach Ron Smith. &ldquo;It would have been nice to see him have a chance to test his skill at this level.&rdquo;The Cyclones do not get to replace Volchkov on their 25-man roster.I-OPENERS: Phoenix Roadrunners&rsquo; goalie Jamie Storr returned in mid-April from a personal leave of absence that started March 25&hellip;The 19-team IHL drew a record 5,780,768 fans this season, a per-game average of 7,421. While the gross gate surpassed last season&rsquo;s 17-team effort of 5,757,894, the per-game average was down from the 1994-95 average of 8,261&hellip;Atlanta Knights&rsquo; goalie Tyler Moss made 59 saves in a 2-1 win over the Cleveland Lumberjacks April 13&hellip;Bruce Racine of the Peoria Rivermen was goalie of the week for the period ending April 13 with three wins, a shutout, a 97.9 save percentage and 0.67 goals-against average. The Rivermen made the playoffs with a season-ending four-game sweep on the road.<h2>IHL PLAYOFFS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-01764/6389559-1-eng-US/f0031-012.jpg" title="f0031-01" width="820" height="246"></div>PLAYOFF PREVIEW: In a rematch of last year&rsquo;s Turner Cup final. Utah is led by goalie Tommy Salo, while Kansas City received Shean Donovan. Jan Caloun, Vlastimil Kroupa and Geoff Sarjeant from the San Jose Sharks&hellip;Michigan lost just once in eight games against Cleveland&hellip;Two former NHL goalies battle each other in the San Francisco/Chicago series. The Spiders have Stephane Beauregard, Chicago Wendell Young&hellip;Peoria was 4-41 in their season series against higher-ranked Milwaukee. &#9632;

f0031-01

LEAGUES

Fisher comes up short of IHL record 75 goals

<div class="byline">By John Packett</div>When the Jacksonville Lizard Kings entered the East Coast League playoffs, many observers felt they would soon slither out of contention.But after two rounds, the Lizard Kings were very much alive after knocking off the Louisiana IceGators and Richmond Renegades with coach Jeff Brubaker at the helm.Jacksonville, the No. 15 seed, came from a 21 deficit to beat South Division champion Louisiana 3-2, then rallied to win three straight from Richmond after losing the opening game of the series 5-4 in overtime.Richmond was the defending Riley Cup champion and finished first overall in the regular season.It didn&rsquo;t matter to the Lizard Kings, who had to endure a grueling 13-hour, bus-airplane trip from Lafayette, La., to Richmond before Game 1. Jacksonville came from behind to beat Richmond in the second game 86, then claimed Game 3 in double overtime 6-5.&ldquo;My philosophy is to make moves and build for the playoffs during the season, no matter how disruptive they are to your club at the time,&rdquo; Brubaker said, who moved from Greensboro after last season to build the expansion Lizard Kings.&ldquo;Assemble as much character as you can and you&rsquo;re going to go a long way. Everybody we&rsquo;ve got on this team is a character guy.&rdquo;Brubaker has been putting together contending clubs ever since he came into the ECHL by leaning me ureensooro Monarchs to me Riley Cup title in 1989-90, the first year they were in the league. Greensboro was also runner-up in 1990-91 and last season before joining the American League.CLOSE TO AGREEMENT: The ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players&rsquo; Association are close to signing a three-year agreement.The two sides have been negotiating since the start of the season and reportedly reached a tentative accord.&ldquo;All that&rsquo;s left is to finalize some of the language in the agreement,&rdquo; said ECHL president Richard Adams. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re very close.&rdquo;Among other things, the first-ever contract between the PHPA and ECHL would increase the salary cap in stages for the next three seasons, improve health benefits for the players and add bonus money for post-season play.COAST LINES: Roanoke Express director of marketing/broadcaster Tim Woodburn resigned from those jobs April 15 to accept the position of director of broadcasting for the expansion Kentucky Thoroughblades of the AHL. Woodbum, 26, spent three years with the Express after one year with the Birmingham Bulls&hellip;Defenseman Steve Poapst became the 70th ECHL player-and 39th this season-to play in the NHL when he was recalled by the Washington Capitals from the Portland Pirates of the AHL. Poapst spent a couple of seasons with the Hampton Roads Admirals as well as some time with the Dayton Bombers.<h2>ECHL PLAYOFFS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-02496/6389590-1-eng-US/f0031-022.jpg" title="f0031-02" width="810" height="406"></div>PLAYOFF HIGHLIGHTS (APRIL 12-18): David Goverde made 43 saves, leading Toledo to a series-opening 3-2 win over Jacksonville&hellip;Darryl Noren scored a goal and an assist in Charlotte&rsquo;s 3-1 triumph over Tallahassee in Game 1. &#9632;

f0031-02

Darkhorse Lizard Kings peaking at right time

<div class="byline">By Kevin Oklobzija</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0031-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-03359/6389621-1-eng-US/f0031-032.jpg"></div>Brad Smyth knew that given an opportunity, he could be a productive player in the American League.But Smyth isn&rsquo;t going to try to kid anybody. Even he didn&rsquo;t foresee 68 goals and 126 points in just 68 games for the Carolina Monarchs.&ldquo;I thought maybe if I got a chance to play, I could be a good power play guy and score a decent number of goals,&rdquo; said Smyth, who figured 40 was a reasonable objective.His AHL peers, along with the media, honored Smyth by voting him the league&rsquo;s MVP and the first-team all-star right winger, even though the Monarchs were one of the two teams to miss the Calder Cup playoffs.&ldquo;Nothing can really make up for that,&rdquo; Smyth said of the disappointment in missing the playoffs. &ldquo;But the award is very nice.&rdquo;Smyth&rsquo;s 68 goals are the second-highest total in AHL history. Had he played the full 80 games, he surely would have broken Stephan Lebeau&rsquo;s seven-year-old league record of 70 goals.Only Don Biggs (138 in 1992-93), Lebeau (134 in 1988-89) and Paul Gardner (130 in 1984-85) scored more points in one season.&ldquo;When I came back from Christmas (with 28 goals in 31 games) and got on a goal-scoring roll, I thought maybe it was something I could keep doing all season,&rdquo; Smyth said.Smyth played seven games for the parent Florida Panthers in March, scoring one goal and one assist.ALL-STAR TEAMS: Barry Richter of the Binghamton Rangers was voted winner of the Eddie Shore Plaque as best defenseman and was joined by Jamie Heward of the St. John&rsquo;s Maple Leafs on the first allstar team.The rest of the first team is: Springfield goalie Manny Legace, Albany River Rats&rsquo; center Steve Sullivan, Binghamton left winger Peter Ferraro and Carolina right winger Brad Smyth.The second team has Albany goalie Mike Dunham and defenseman Brad Bombardir, Rochester Americans&rsquo; defenseman Terry Hollinger. Hershey center Jim Montgomery. Baltimore right winger Dwayne Norris and Carolina left winger Gilbert Dionne.Fredericton Canadiens&rsquo; center Darcy Tucker is rookie of the year.EYE CHECK: Cornwall Aces&rsquo; coach Bob Hartley filed a formal complaint with the league regarding Adirondack Red Wings&rsquo; goal judge Jack Cushing.Hartley sent video to the league that shows a slow-moving puck hitting the goal post and caroming off to the side. Despite never nearing the goal line, it was ruled a goal by the goal judge. Referee Dennis LaRue was behind the play and was forced to use Cushing&rsquo;s ruling. It made the score 5-2 late in the second period and the Wings won 7-3.Hartley&rsquo;s protest came in the third period when he showed up on the bench wearing glasses.BAD BOYS: Springfield left winger Brian Loney was suspended two games for deliberately shooting a puck into the Hershey bench during a game April 13.Loney had been checked hard by Bears&rsquo; defenseman Darren Rumble and claimed to be disoriented when he turned and shot the puck.The puck struck Bears&rsquo; defenseman Vladislav Boulin and cut him for 12 stitches.<h2>AHL PLAYOFFS</h2>PLAYOFF PREVIEW: The Calder Cup playoffs began April 19. The eight quarterfinal series are a best-of-five format. All subsequent series become best of seven&hellip;Worcester coach Jim Roberts and Portland coach Barry Trotz each have won Calder Cups as coaches&hellip;Defending champion Albany easily won its season series with Cornwall, 6-1-1&hellip;Adirondack and Rochester have met twice before in the playoffs, with the Red Wings winning both times&hellip;Providence gained the final playoff berth when Saint John beat Cape Breton 6-5 in overtime on the final day of the season&hellip;Baltimore right winger Dwayne Norris had six goals and 19 points in 10 regular-season games against Hershey. &#9632;

f0031-03

Goal-scoring ace Smyth wins MVP award

<div class="byline">By Jim Cressman</div>Goalie Zac Bierk has been picture perfect for the Peterborough Petes this season.But that&rsquo;s not unusual for a member of the Bierk family. Zac&rsquo;s father, David, is a world-renowned artist. His mother. Kathleen, is a former painter. His sister, Heather Dylan, is an international model. His brother, Sebastian Bach, is lead singer in the heavy metal band Skid Row.Besides being drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning-not bad for someone who three years ago was playing high school hockey-Zac is now a published photographer.He took pictures for school art class and when classes ended last year, he continued snapping away, realizing hockey wasn&rsquo;t the only thing motivating him. This season he took his camera on the road and the result is a book of glossy pictures of Petes in non-hockey situations. Proceeds go to minor hockey in Peterborough, his hometown.&ldquo;As a hockey fan, I know it can be frustrating to watch a game or follow a team and identify with a player only by his number,&rdquo; Bierk writes. &ldquo;Because most players are shielded by helmets and visors, spectators tend to feel distant&hellip;surely there would be interest in knowing something more about a player than the speed of his slapshot.&rdquo;The book is selling and the Petes are sold on Bierk&rsquo;s play. They&rsquo;re in the Memorial Cup as hosts, but as playoff scoring leader Cameron Mann said: &ldquo;We want to come in the front door, not the back door.&rdquo;Bierk played 58 of 66 games this season. He was second in wins with 31 and his 3.17 goals-against average was sixth best in the league.The past two summers Bierk was a roadie with Skid Row as they opened for Guns N&rsquo; Roses and Aerosmith. &ldquo;I was the guy who retrieved the mike stand when a singer threw it,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But when I was with my brother I gained a life experience and I thank him and my sister for showing me anything is possible and for never allowing me to be content with mediocrity.&rdquo;ALL-STARS: First team: Craig Hillier, Ottawa, G; Bryan Berard, Detroit, Kevin Bolibruck, Peterborough, D; Alyn McCauley, Ottawa, C; Cameron Mann, Peterborough, RW; Daniel Cleary, Belleville, LW; Brian Kilrea. Ottawa, coach.Second team: Dan Cloutier. Guelph, G; Sean Brown, Sarnia, Jay McKee, Niagara Falls, D; Aaron Brand, Sarnia, C; Jeff Johnstone. Niagara Falls, RW; Sean Haggerty, Detroit, LW; Bert Templeton, Barrie, coach.Third team: David Belitski, Kitchener, Travis Scott, Oshawa, G (tie); Marc Moro, Kingston, Ryan Risidore. Guelph, D; Sean Venedam. Sudbury. C; David Nemirovsky, Sarnia, RW; Jamie Wright, Guelph, LW; Mark Hunter, Sarnia, coach.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-01816/6389659-1-eng-US/f0032-012.jpg" title="f0032-01" width="588" height="674"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bobby Brown and the Brandon Wheat Kings had their streak end.</figcaption></div><h2>PLAYOFFS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-03385/6389652-1-eng-US/f0032-032.jpg" title="f0032-03" width="920" height="410"></div>HIGHLIGHTS (APRIL 12-18): Dave Duerden of Peterborough scored back-to-back overtime winners over Detroit&hellip;Guelph goalie Dan Cloutier was a perfect 7-0 with a 2.03 goals-against average in the playoffs. &#9632;

f0032-01

Petes’ backstop picture perfect on ice, on road

<div class="byline">By Rob Vanstone</div>The Brandon Wheat Kings were forced to settle for a 23-game winning streak.Their Western League skein ended April 16 when the Prince Albert Raiders defeated visiting Brandon 5-4.&ldquo;There&rsquo;s that old saying-all good things must come to an end,&rdquo; said Brandon right winger Bobby Brown. &ldquo;I think we realized we weren&rsquo;t going to go undefeated and win the Memorial Cup without losing a couple of games here and there.&rdquo;Prince Albert extended the losing streak to two games April 17 by winning 6-4 to even the best-of-seven East-Central Division final at 2-2.The Wheat Kings were undaunted.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re not concerned with the fact the streak is over,&rdquo; Brown said. &ldquo;I compare it to the Chicago Bulls and the Detroit Red Wings. They&rsquo;ve run up unbelievable streaks, but their mission is to win a championship. That&rsquo;s our mission, too.&rdquo;Brandon fashioned the second-longest winning streak in WHL history by posting 13 consecutive victories to conclude the regular season and 10 more wins in the playoffs.The 1980-81 Victoria Cougars boasted a record 27-game streak. Led by goaltender Grant Fuhr, Victoria won its final 19 regular-season games and its first eight of the playoffs.CANALE INTERESTED: Joe Canale is hoping to return as the Medicine Hat Tigers&rsquo; coach.Canale said there is a &ldquo;90 percent chance&rdquo; he will be back.The 46-year-old Canale was hired Jan. 6 to succeed deposed coach Brad McEwen. Canale&rsquo;s contract expired after the 1995-96 season. He will not accept a deal of fewer than two years.Canale said that he is not interested in becoming the Tigers&rsquo; GM. That position was vacated April 9 when Dennis Polonich resigned.SURLY SKRLAC: The WHL disciplined Kamloops Blazers&rsquo; left winger Rob Skrlac for his part in an April 16 line brawl against the Spokane Chiefs.The 6-foot-6, 225-pound Skrlac was suspended three games and fined $250 for leaving the penalty box to return to the fray. Spokane won 7-3. Skrlac received 33 penalty minutes for his indiscretion, courtesy of a roughing minor, a triple minor for leaving the penalty box, a fighting major and a double game misconduct.RICH REWARDS: Regina Pats&rsquo; coach Rich Preston has one season remaining on his two-year pact. Pats&rsquo; owner Russ Parker hopes Preston will complete his obligations, but is concerned that an NHL team might come calling.&ldquo;I&rsquo;d be lying if I said I wasn&rsquo;t worried,&rdquo; Parker said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not aware of him getting any offers.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-02559/6389697-1-eng-US/f0032-022.jpg" title="f0032-02" width="586" height="673"><figcaption class="caption-body">Rob Skrlac of Kamloops was suspended three games for brawling.</figcaption></div><h2>PLAYOFFS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-04260/6389690-1-eng-US/f0032-042.jpg" title="f0032-04" width="916" height="449"></div>HIGHLIGHTS (APRIL 12-18): Kamloops won two games after being down 3-0 to Spokane&hellip;Prince Albert tied its series after losing the first two. &#9632;

f0032-02

Win streak ends, but Wheat Kings still on mission

<div class="byline">By Stuart Cowan</div>Robert Mongrain should think about trying his luck at the new casino that recently opened in Hull.With No. 1 goaltender Jose Theodore sidelined with a broken finger and backup Matthew Carmichael struggling, the Hull Olympiques&rsquo; coach decided to roll the dice, electing to start third-string goalie Christian Bronsard in Game 7 of their quarterfinal series against the Val d&rsquo;Or Foreurs on April 12. Bronsard had played all of 23 minutes for the Olympiques during the regular season, allowing three goals on 13 shots for a 7.83 goals-against average.Bronsard, who had led his Jr. A St-Jerome team to the league final, came through for Mongrain, stopping 30 shots as the Olympiques beat the Foreurs 5-2 to advance to the semifinals against the Chicoutimi Sagueneens.&ldquo;It was a tough decision to make,&rdquo; Mongrain said. &ldquo;I took a big risk and it paid off. Matthew Carmichael&rsquo;s confidence was down and he was fighting the puck and Bronsard has a reputation for playing well under pressure.&ldquo;But that night the whole team played well. We had 58 shots and everyone came through.&rdquo;Mongrain informed Bronsard that he was getting the start at 5 a.m. the morning of the game, after the team bus arrived back in Hull after a 6-5 triple overtime loss in Val d&rsquo;Or the previous night. Carmichael had been pulled at 16:47 of the second period in that game with the Foreurs leading 5-3. It marked the third time in the series that Mongrain pulled Carmichael in favor of Bronsard.Bronsard said he wasn&rsquo;t nervous after Mongrain told him he would start Game 7.&ldquo;I was confident,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Most of all I was anxious for the game to start.&rdquo;RED-HOT TRIO: The Chicoutimi Sagueneens had the hottest line in the league.The trio of Jason Boudrias, Michael McKay and Denis Hamel had combined for 34 goals and 81 points in 14 games. The line accounted for 51.5 per cent of the Sagueneens&rsquo; playoff goals.Boudrias, the Florida Panthers&rsquo; eighth-round pick in the 1994 NHL entry draft, led all playoff scorers with 1120-31 totals.PRONOVOST STAYING PUT: Jean Pronovost, the Quebec League&rsquo;s coach of the year, has decided to return to the Shawinigan Cataractes for the 1996-97 season. There had been speculation Pronovost would leave the Catar actes after this season&hellip;Thanks to a quarterfinal sweep of the Rimouski Oceanic, the surging Beauport Harfangs were on a 9-2 run through the post-season. The Harfangs were on a sevengame winning streak with their only two losses coming in overtime.<h2>PLAYOFFS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-05189/6389728-1-eng-US/f0032-052.jpg" title="f0032-05" width="923" height="410"></div>HIGHLIGHTS (APRIL 12-18): Goaltender Jose Theodore, sidelined for four weeks with an injury, returned to the Hull lineup in Game 2 against Beauport&hellip;Granby extended its playoff win streak to five games. &#9632;

f0032-05

Mongrain goes with No. 3 man, gets series win

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0033-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-01733/6389766-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bill Berg of the New York Rangers clashed with Andrei Kovalenko of the Montreal Canadiens in the first round.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-01824/6389759-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg" title="f0034-01" width="3100" height="2914"><figcaption class="caption-body">Maple Leafs&rsquo; Doug Gilmour</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0033-01

REVOLUTIONARY REPLACEMENT BLADE SYSTEM.

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0034-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-02582/6389797-1-eng-US/f0034-022.jpg"></div> &#9632;

f0034-02

NHL PLAYOFF GOALTENDING STATISTICS

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-01785/6389849-1-eng-US/f0035-012.jpg" title="f0035-01" width="364" height="310"></div>CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS Philadelphia Flyers 1 T. Bay Lightning 1 Game 1, April 16. Philadelphia 7 Tampa Bay 3: Eric Lindros and Pat Falloon each score a goal and add two assists for the Flyers. Lightning goalie Daren Puppa is pulled after giving up four goals on 14 shots. Flyers&rsquo; right winger Mikael Renberg is scheduled to return from an abdominal muscle injury, but misses the game for the birth of his daughter.Game 2, April 18&nbsp;Tampa Bay 2 Philadelphia 1 (OT): Brian Bellows&rsquo; goal at 9:05 of overtime is the winner, but the real story is the number of injuries suffered by Flyers&rsquo; forwards. John Druce and Joel Otto leave the game with sprained knees. Legion of Doom member John LeClair suffers a sprained ankle. Fellow Doomer Eric Lindros also leaves the game for a time with a sore knee, but returns.Montreal Canadiens 2 NY Rangers 0 Game 1, April 16 Montreal 3 New York 2 (OT): Going head-to-head with Rangers&rsquo; captain Mark Messier, Montreal&rsquo;s Vincent Damphousse scores two goals, including the game-winner at 5:04 of the first overtime.Game 2, April 18 Montreal 5 New York 3: The Rangers go 0-for-9 on the power play. And that&rsquo;s not even the bad news. Giving up two shorthanded goals by Vincent Damphousse and Saku Koivu is their undoing. Damphousse scores two goals for the second straight game.Wash. Capitals 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 0 Game 1, April 17&nbsp;Washington 6 Pittsburgh 4: Backup goalie Olaf Kolzig shuts down the Penguins the final 28:51 as Washington overcomes a three-goal deficit. Pittsburgh leads 2-0 after three minutes and 4-1 at 11:09 of the second when Capitals&rsquo; starter Jim Carey is pulled. Todd Krygier scores two goals for the Capitals.Florida Panthers 1 Boston Bruins 0 Game 1, April 17&nbsp;Florida 6 Boston 3: Ray Sheppard, who was a acquired to bolster the Panthers&rsquo; offense, delivers in the opening game of playoffs with two goals. Florida jumps out to a 3-0 lead in the first nine minutes for the first playoff victory in franchise history.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-02575/6389842-1-eng-US/f0035-022.jpg" title="f0035-02" width="496" height="699"><figcaption class="caption-body">Lightning&rsquo;s Brian Bellows</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-03465/6389835-1-eng-US/f0035-032.jpg" title="f0035-03" width="365" height="313"></div>CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALSDetroit Red Wings 1 Winnipeg Jets 0 Game 1, April 17&nbsp;Detroit 4 Winnipeg 1: Four unanswered goals in the third period give the regular-season champion Red Wings an easy victory. Despite being outshot 21-11 through 40 minutes, the Phoenix-bound Jets hold a 1-0 lead on a goal by Alexei Zhamnov. The Red Wings score four goals in 5:40 to secure the victory.St Louis Blues 1 Toronto Maple Leafs 1Game 1, April 16&nbsp;St. Louis 3 Toronto 1: Wayne Gretzky draws assists on all three goals and goalie Grant Fuhr makes 33 saves. Toronto comes out banging-left winger Wendel Clark delivers his hardest hit as a Leaf since being re-acquired from the New York Islanders, decking Brett Hull-but the Blues demonstrate more poise in the end.Game 2, April 18 Toronto 5 St. Louis 4 (OT): The Blues lose Fuhr and the game. Fuhr suffers a serious knee injury after Toronto left winger Nick Kypreos is crosschecked by Chris Pronger and falls into him. With Jon Casey in the Blues&rsquo; net and the Blues a man short thanks to a too many men on the ice penalty. Mats Sundin scores the winner at 4:02 of the first overtime.Colorado Avalanche 1 Van. Canucks 1 Game 1, April 16&nbsp;Colorado 5 Vancouver 1: Peter Forsberg scores twice and sets up two more goals for the Avalanche. Claude Lemieux, last year&rsquo;s playoff MVP with the New Jersey Devils, kicks off the post-season with three assists.Game 2, April 18 Vancouver 5 Colorado 4: Corey Hirsch becomes the first Vancouver goalie other than Kirk McLean since 1991 to start a playoff game and makes the most of it, blocking 28 shots for the win. Enforcer Gino Odjick paces the Canucks with two goals.Chicago Blackhawks 1 Calgary Flames 0 Game 1, April 17 Chicago 4 Calgary 1: Joe Murphy erases the memory of an unspectacular regular season with two goals and an assist in Game 1. The Hawks receive a boost when center Jeremy Roenick returns to the lineup for the first time since March 17 when he sprained his ankle and draws an assist on a third period goal by rookie Eric Daze.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-04373/6389828-1-eng-US/f0035-042.jpg" title="f0035-04" width="495" height="701"><figcaption class="caption-body">Blackhawks&rsquo; Joe Murphy</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0035-01

GAME-BY-GAME NHL PLAYOFF SYNOPSIS

<h2>NOTE</h2>Unofficial game summaries provided by National Hockey League; (shots on goal/plus-minus); SA-shots against; GA-goals against; ENG-empty net goals; Dec-decision, charges to goaltenders of record when winning goal is scored.<h2>TUESDAY, APRIL 16</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-05313/6389922-1-eng-US/f0035-052.jpg" title="f0035-05" width="494" height="2085"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-06285/6389915-1-eng-US/f0035-062.jpg" title="f0035-06" width="494" height="2459"></div><h2>WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-07263/6389908-1-eng-US/f0035-072.jpg" title="f0035-07" width="496" height="2385"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-08235/6389901-1-eng-US/f0035-082.jpg" title="f0035-08" width="494" height="2157"></div><h2>THURSDAY, APRIL 18</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-09216/6389894-1-eng-US/f0035-092.jpg" title="f0035-09" width="498" height="212"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-10189/6389887-1-eng-US/f0035-102.jpg" title="f0035-10" width="491" height="2461"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-11165/6389880-1-eng-US/f0035-112.jpg" title="f0035-11" width="499" height="2460"></div> &#9632;

f0035-05

NHL SUMMARIES

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0036-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-01740/6389974-1-eng-US/f0036-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Penguins&rsquo; Mario LemieuxSabres&rsquo; Dominik Hasek</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-01665/6389967-1-eng-US/f0037-012.jpg" title="f0037-01" width="3067" height="3519"><figcaption class="caption-body">Flyers&rsquo; Eric LindrosIsles&rsquo; Travis GreenPenguins&rsquo; Petr NedvedJets&rsquo; Craig JanneySabres&rsquo; Rob RayBruins&rsquo; Dave ReidTeemu Selanne of the Mighty Ducks broke the 100-point mark for the second time in his career.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-01736/6389960-1-eng-US/f0038-012.jpg" title="f0038-01" width="3055" height="3523"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-01700/6389953-1-eng-US/f0039-012.jpg" title="f0039-01" width="3107" height="3528"></div> &#9632;

f0036-01

FINAL 1995-96 REGULAR SEASON STATISTICS

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0040-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-01408/6390005-1-eng-US/f0040-012.jpg"></div> &#9632;

f0040-01

FINAL 1995-96 NHL GOALTENDING STATISTICS

<h2>NOTE</h2>Unofficial game summaries provided by National Hockey League; (shots on goal/plus-minus); SA-shots against; GA-goals against; ENG-empty net goals; Decdecision, charges to goaltenders of record when winning goal is scored.<h2>FRIDAY, APRIL 12</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-02266/6390134-1-eng-US/f0040-022.jpg" title="f0040-02" width="504" height="1907"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-03191/6390127-1-eng-US/f0040-032.jpg" title="f0040-03" width="498" height="2277"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-04155/6390120-1-eng-US/f0040-042.jpg" title="f0040-04" width="504" height="2281"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-05132/6390113-1-eng-US/f0040-052.jpg" title="f0040-05" width="504" height="770"></div><h2>SATURDAY, APRIL 13</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-06115/6390106-1-eng-US/f0040-062.jpg" title="f0040-06" width="504" height="1427"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-07104/6390099-1-eng-US/f0040-072.jpg" title="f0040-07" width="510" height="2279"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-0894/6390092-1-eng-US/f0040-082.jpg" title="f0040-08" width="504" height="2281"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-01346/6390085-1-eng-US/f0041-012.jpg" title="f0041-01" width="502" height="1060"></div><h2>SUNDAY, APRIL 14</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-02216/6390078-1-eng-US/f0041-022.jpg" title="f0041-02" width="502" height="1241"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-03158/6390071-1-eng-US/f0041-032.jpg" title="f0041-03" width="497" height="2405"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-04133/6390064-1-eng-US/f0041-042.jpg" title="f0041-04" width="1005" height="1532"><figcaption class="caption-body">Detroit Red Wings&rsquo; Slava Kozlov</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-05120/6390057-1-eng-US/f0041-052.jpg" title="f0041-05" width="497" height="836"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-06111/6390050-1-eng-US/f0041-062.jpg" title="f0041-06" width="500" height="834"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-0798/6390043-1-eng-US/f0041-072.jpg" title="f0041-07" width="503" height="2411"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-0877/6390036-1-eng-US/f0041-082.jpg" title="f0041-08" width="495" height="2406"></div> &#9632;

f0040-02

Here are the rosters for the A Pool of the 1996 World Championship, to be held in Vienna, Austria April 21 to May 5. Positions for the Slovakian team were unavailable at the time of printing, as was France&rsquo;s roster. Players are listed by position with their 1995-96 team. Leagues are indicated where the player is playing outside the premier league in his native country or the NHL These are the preliminary rosters and are subject to change.<h2>AUSTRIA</h2>Goaltenders: Michael Puschacher, KAC; Reinhard Divis, VEU; Claus Dalpiaz, Rosenheim (Ger).Defensemen: Robin Doyle, KAC; Martin Krainz, KAC; Peter Kasper, KAC; Englebert Linder. VSV; Herbert Hohenberger, Koln (Ger); Martin Ulrich, CEW; Konrad Dorn, VEU; Michael Shea, VSV. Forwards: Andrea Pusnik, KAC; Werner Kerth, ECG; Richard Nasheim, VEU; Christoph Brandner, KSV; Gerald Ressman, VSV; Dieter Kalt, KAC; Gerhard Puschnik, VEU; Gunther Lanzinger, VSV; Mario Schaden, KAC; Arthur Marczell, CEW; Thomas Cijan, KAC; Craig Nienhuis, National Team; Manfred Muhr, CEW; Kart Heinzie, VEU.<h2>CANADA</h2>Goaltenders: Martin Brodeur, New Jersey; Curtis Joseph, Edmonton; Andrew Verner, National TeamDefensemen: Doug Bodger, San Jose; Steve Duchesne, Ottawa; Garry Galley, Buffalo; Derek Mayer, Tampere (Fin); Luke Richardson, Edmonton; Darryl Sydor, Dallas; Glen Wesley, Hartford. Forwards: Kelly Buchberger, Edmonton; Andrew Cassels, Hartford; Jason Dawe, Buffalo; Ray Ferraro, Los Angeles; Jeff Friesen, San Jose; Travis Green, NY Islanders; Jean-Francois Jomphe, Anaheim; Paul Kariya, Anaheim; David Matsos, National Team; Brad May; Buffalo Sabres; Dean McAmmond; Steve Thomas, New Jersey; Yanic Perreault, Los Angeles.<h2>CZECH REPUBLIC</h2>Goaltenders: Roman Cechmanek, Vsetin; Petr Franck, CHP Litvinov; Roman Turek, 80 Numberg (Ger).Defensemen: Roman Hamriik, Tampa Bay; Frantisek Kaberle, MoDo (Swe); Drahomir Kadlec, Adler Kaufbeuren; Stanislav Neckar, Ottawa; Michal Sykora, San Jose; Jiri Slegr, Edmonton; Bedrich Scerban, Brynas (Swe); Antonin Stavjana, Vsetin; Jiri Veber, Vsetin; Jiri Vykoukal, Sparta Praha; Libor Zabransky, Bude-jovice.Forwards: Radek Belohlav, Budejovice; Radek Bonk, Ottawa; Jan Caloun, San Jose; Jiri Dopita, Vsetin; Robert Kron, Hartford; Robert Kysela, CHP Litvonov; Jiri Kucera, Lulea (Swe); Robert Lang, Los Angeles; Roman Meluzin, ZPS Zlin; Pavel Patera, Kladno; Martin Prochazka, Kladno; Robert Reichel, Loven (Ger); Viktor Ujdk, Slavia Praha; Otakar Vejvoda, Kladno; Vladimir Vujtek, Vitkovice; David Vybomy, Sparta Praha.<h2>FINLAND</h2>Goaltenders: Markus Ketterer, Farjestad (Swe); Ari Sulander, Jokerit; Jarmo Myllys, Lulea (Swe). Defensemen: Joni Lehto, Lukko; Petteri Num-melin, Frolunda (Swe); Erik Hamalainen, AIK; Teemu Jutila, Tappara; Janne Niinamaa, Jokerit; Hannu Virta, Grasshopper (Switz); Miika Stromberg, Jokerit; Kimmo Timonen, TPS.Forwards: Janne Ojanen, Tappara; Esa Keskinen, HV71 (Swe); Marko Jantenin, Frolunda (Swe); Raimo Holminen, Malmo (Swe); Juha Lind, Jokerit; Petri Varis, Jokerit; Juha Ylonen, Jokerit; Christian Ruutu, Frolunda (Swe); Kai Nur-minen, HV71 (Swe); Juha Riihijarvi, Luuko; Mikko Peltoia, Lukko; Ville Peltonen, San Jose; Mikka Nieminen, Grasshopper (Switz); Pasi Saarela, Jokerit.<h2>GERMANY</h2>Goaltenders: Klaus Merk. Preussen; Christian Kunast; Josef Heiss, Kolner Haie.Defensemen: Erich Goldmann, Mannheim; Daniel Nowak, Schweinn; Jorgen Simon, Kaufbeurer Markus Wieland, Rosenheim; Michael Bresagk, Landshut: Andreas Niederberger; DEG; Trosten Kienass, DEG; Brad Bergen, DEG; Jayson Meyer, Kolner Haie; Mirko Ludemann, Kolner Haie; Michael Heidt, Landshut.Forwards: Dieter Hegen, DEG; Benoit Doucet, DEG; Lorenz Funk, DEG; Bernd Kunhauser, DEG; Emst Kopf, DEG; Thomas Brandt, Kolner Haie; Leo Stefan, Kolner Haie; Peter Draisall, Kolner Haie; Jan Benda, Stavia Prag; Martin Reichel, Rosenheim; Rochus Schneider, Augsberger Florian Keller, Rosenheim; Jan Schertz, Berlin; Jochen Hecht, Mannheim; Jurgen Rumrich, Prussen; Jorg Handrick, Landshut; Mark MacKay, Scheweinn; Raimond Hilger, Rosenheim.<h2>ITALY</h2>Goaltenders: Mario Brunetta, Varese; Bruno Campese, Asiago; Andrea Carpano, Fassa; David Delfino, Alleghe; Michael Rosati, Bolzano. Defensemen: Chris Bartolone, Milano; George Comploi, Gardena; Luigi DaCorte, Asiago; Michael DeAngelis, Milano; Leo Insam, Gardena; Carlo Lorenzi, Alleghe; Giovanni Marchetti, Fassa; Robert Nardella, Milano; Robert Ober-rauch, Bolzano; Larry Rucchin, Milano; Frederico ZancaneUa, Milan.Forwards: Scott Beattie, Bolzano; Patrick Brugnoli, Gardena; Markus Brunner, Bolzano; Aggie Casale, Gardena; Armando Chekxii, Asiago; Mario Chitaroni, Varese; Lino DeToni, Alleghe; Dino Felicetti. Fassa; Stefan Figliuzzi, Varese; Alex Gschliesser, Brunico; Maurizio Mansi, Varese; Stefano Margoni, Fassa; John Massara, Milano; Mark Montanari, Varese; Gaetano Orlando, Bern (Switz); Martin Pavlu, Bolzano; Roland Ramoser, Gardena; Lucio Topatigh, Bolgano; Bruno Zarrilo, Bolzano.<h2>NORWAY</h2>Goaltenders: Robert Schistad, Spektrum, Jim Marthinsen, Storhamar; Mattis Haakensen, Lillehammer.Defensemen: Petter Salsten, Storharmar; Rene Hansen, Stjemen; Johnny Nilsen, Lillehammer; Tommy Jakobsen, Djurgarden (Swe); Svein Norstebo, Lillehammer; Atle Olsen, VIF; Cato Andersen, Spektrum; Michael Smithurst, Frisk Asker.Forwards: Erik Olsen, Storhamar, Geir Hoff, Spektrum; Anders Dahl, Trondheim; Orjan Lovdal, Stjemen; Hakon Andersen, Stjemen; Oystein Olsen, VIF; Eskild Dahlstrom, Storhamar Trond Magnussen, Lillehammer Erik Tveten, VIF; Espen Leibnitz, Spektrum; Christian Knold, Stjemen; Robert Nilsen, Lillehammer, Espen Knut-sen, Djurgarden (Swe).<h2>SLOVAKIA</h2>Positions unavailable: Igor Murin, Dukla Trencin; Martin Klempa, SPK PS Poprad; Rene Pucher, HC Kosice; Lubomir Visnovsky, Harvard Bratislava; Radoslav Hed, HC Nitra; Jan Hed, HK 32 L Mikulas; Igor Rataj, SPK PS Poprad; Jan Pardavy, Dukla Trendn; Jozef Voskar, Harvard Bratislava; Jozef Dano, Dukla Trendn; Jaromir Dragan, HC Nitra; Lubomir Kolnik, Kiekko Espoo; Stanislav Medrik, HC Zlin; Vlastimil Plavucha, HC Kosice; Lubomir Sekeras, Dukla Trendn; Marian Smerciak, Dukla Trendn; Jan Varholik, HC Kosice; Stanislav Jasecko, HC Kosice; Slavomir Vorobei, HC Kosice; Jan llavsky, HC Kosice; Lubomir RTybovic, HC Kosice; Juraj Kledrowetz; HC Kosice; Richard Kapus, Harvard Bratislava; Peter Bartos. HK 32 L Mikulas; Ziggy Palffy, NY Islanders; Zdeno Ciger, Edmonton; Miroslav Satan, Edmonton; Pavol Demitra, Ottawa; Robert Petrovicky, Michigan (IHL).<h2>SWEDEN</h2>Goalies: Boo Ahl, HV71; Thomas Ostlund, Djur-gardens; Mikael Sandberg. Vastra Frolunda; Tommy Soderstrom, NY Islanders.Defensemen: Roger Akerstrom, Lulea; Roger Johansson, Farjestads; Hans Jonsson, MoDo; Kenneth Kenneholt, HV 71; Mattias Ohlund, Lulea; Tommy Sjodin, Lugano (Switz); Ronnie Sundin, Vastra Frolunda; Kenny Jonsson, NY Islanders.Forwards: Jonas Bergqvist, Leksand; Andreas Dackell, Brynas; Per-Etrik Eklund, Leksand; Tomas Forslund, Leksand; Tomas Holmstrom, Lulea; Anders Huusko; Djurgardens; Mattias Johansson; Farjestads; Jorgen Jonsson, Farjestads; Andreas Karlsson, Leksand; Fredrik Modin, Brynas; Tomas Strandberg. AIK; Per Svartvadet, Modo; Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa; Nidas Andersson, NY Islanders.<h2>UNITED STATES</h2>Goalies: Parris Duffus, Springfield (AHL); John Grahame, Lake Superior (CCHA); Tim Thomas, Vermont (ECAC).Defensemen: Keith Aldridge, Lake Superior (CCHA); Mike Crowley, Minnesota (WCHA); Mike Lalor, Dallas; Scott Lachance. Islanders; Chris Luongo, Islanders; Tom O&rsquo;Regan, Mannheimer (Ger); Tom Pederson, San Jose; Paul Stanton, Mannheim (Ger).Forwards: Brian Bonin, Minnesota (WCHA); Tom Chorske, Ottawa; Darby Hendrickson, Islanders; Craig Johnson, Los Angeles; Marty McInnis, Islanders; Dan Plante, Islanders; Derek Plante, Buffalo; Bob Reynolds, EC Ratingen (Ger); Brian Rolston, New Jersey; Joe Sacco, Anaheim; Kevin Stevens, Los Angeles; Chris Tandll, San Jose.<h2>RUSSIA</h2>Goalies: Maxim Mikhailovsky, Central Army; Andrei Trefilov, Buffalo; Mikhail Shtaienkov, Anaheim.Defensemen: Sergei Fokin, Farjestad (Swe); Andrei Kozyrev, Severstal; Yuri Kuznetsov, HIFK (Fin); Andrei Skopintsev. Augsburg (Ger); Sergei Sorokin, Dusseldorf (Ger); Alexander Smirnov, National Team; Andrei Yakhonov, Salavat Ufa; Dmitri Yerofeyev, Soviet Wings; Alexei Zhitnik, Buffalo; Darius Kasparaitis, Islanders.Forwards: Alexei Yashin. Ottawa; Andrei Nikolishin, Hartford; Valeri Karpov, Anaheim; Anatoli Semenov, Anaheim; Alexander Semak, Islanders; Viktor Kozlov, San Jose; Valeri Zelepukin, New Jersey: Roman Oksiuta, Anaheim; Alexander Barkov, Tampere (Fin); Yevgeny Davydov, Amiens (France); Vitali Karamnov, JyP HT (Fin); Dmitri Kvartalnov, Ambri (Switz); Andrei Potaichuk, Sparta Prague (Czech); Alexander Prokopjev, Moscow Dynamo; Vladimir Vorobjev, Moscow Dynamo; Ravil Yakubov, Moscow Dynamo. &#9632;

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTERS

<h2>ANAHEIM</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>None.<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Anatoli Semenov, Steve Rucchin, J.F. Jomphe, Alex Hicks, Shaun Van Allen. LW-Paul Kariya, Valeri Karpov, Garry Valk, Ken Baumgartner. RW-Teemu Selanne, Joe Sacco, Roman Oksiuta, Todd Ewen. LD-Bobby Dollas, Darren Van Impe, Jason Marshall, Randy Ladouceur. RD-Jason York, Fredrik Olausson, David Karpa. G-Guy Hebert, Mikhail Shtalenkov.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Peter Douris, RW, hernia surgery. Milos Holan, D, recovering from marrow transplant to treat leukemia.<h2>BOSTON</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>None.<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Adam Oates, Jozef Stumpel, Ron Sutter. LW-Shawn McEachern, Ted Donato, Dave Reid, Tim Sweeney, Cam Stewart. RW-Rick Tocchet, Steve Heinze, Sandy Moger, Marc Potvin. LD-Kyle McLaren, Don Sweeney, John Gruden, Philip Von Stefenelli. RD-Ray Bourque. Jon Rohloff, Steve Staios. G&mdash;Bill Ranford, Craig Billington.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Dean Chynoweth. D, strained left hamstring, day-to-day. Todd Elik, LW, fractured right wrist, day-to-day. Al lafrate, D. sore knees, day-to-day. Joe Mullen, RW, sprained ligament, left knee, day-to-day. Cam Neely. RW, sore right hip, indefinite. Rick Zombo, D, fractured right foot, indefinite.<h2>BUFFALO</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>April 13: Dane Jackson, RW, Barrie Moore, LW, and Brian Holzinger, C, assigned to Rochester (AHL).<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Pat LaFontaine, Derek Plante, Mike Peca. LW-Brad May. Randy Burridge, Brent Hughes. RW-Jason Dawe, Rob Ray, Scott Pearson. LD-Garry Galley, Alexei Zhitnik, Mike Wilson. RD-Darryl Shannon, Bob Boughner, Mark Astley. G-Andrei Trefilov.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Donald Audette, RW, tom knee ligament. Matthew Barnaby. RW, groin pull. Michal Grosek, LW, sprained right shoulder. Dominik Hasek. G, sprained left knee ligament. Darryl Shannon, D, sprained right knee. Richard Smehlik, D, tom knee ligament.<h2>CALGARY</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>None.<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Theo Fleury, Michael Nylander, Dean Evason, Marty Murray, Cory Stillman, Bob Sweeney, Claude Lapointe. LW-German Titov, Paul Kruse, Mike Sullivan, Pavel Torgajev. RW-Ron Stern, Jocelyn Lemieux, Sandy McCarthy, Sheldon Kennedy. LD-Steve Chiasson, Trent Yawney, Tommy Albelin, Cale Hulse. RD-Zarley Zalapski, James Patrick, Kevin Dahl. G-Trevor Kidd, Rick Tabaracci.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Jamie Huscroft, D, pulled groin, day-to-day. Corey Millen. C, pulled groin, indefinite. Gary Roberts, RW, stiff neck, indefinite.<h2>CHICAGO</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>April 15: Ethan Moreau, LW, and Danton Cole, RW, assigned to Indianapolis (IHL).<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Jeremy Roenick, Bernie Nicholls, Brent Sutter, Denis Savard, Steve Dubinsky. LW-Tony Amonte, Murray Craven, Bob Probert, James Black. RW-Eric Daze, Joe Murphy, Jeff Shantz, Jim Cummins. LD-Keith Carney, Gary Suter, Cam Russell, Ivan Droppa. RD-Chris Chelios, Enrico Ciccone, Eric Weinrich. G-Ed Belfour, Jeff Hackett.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Sergei Krivokrasov, RW, sprained left knee, day-to-day. Steve Smith, D, cracked left fibula, indefinite.<h2>COLORADO</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>None.<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic, Mike Ricci, Stephane Yelle, Troy Murray, Dave Hannan. LW-Valeri Kamensky, Chris Simon, Rene Corbet, Warren Rychel. RW-Claude Lemieux, Scott Young, Adam Deadmarsh, Mike Keane. LD-Sylvain Lefebvre, Adam Foote. Sandis Ozolinsh, Craig Wolanin. RD-Curtis Leschyshyn, Uwe Krupp, Alexei Gusarov. G-Patrick Roy, Stephane Fiset.<h3>INJURIES</h3>None.<h2>DALLAS</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>April 12: Patrick Cote. LW, recalled from Michigan (IHL). April 13: Jamie Lan-genbrunner, C, recalled from Michigan. April 15: Cote and Langenbrunner assigned to Michigan.<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Joe Nieuwendyk, Mike Modano, Brent Gilchrist, Guy Carbonneau. LW-Greg Adams, Bob Bassen, Benoit Hogue, Randy Wood, Bill Huard, Brent Fedyk. RW-Todd Harvey, Grant Marshall, Mike Kennedy, Jere Lehtinen. LD-Craig Ludwig, Derian Hatcher, Darryl Sydor. RD-Kevin Hatcher. Grant Ledyard. Richard Matvichuk, Mike Lalor. G-Andy Moog, Darcy Wakaluk.<h3>INJURIES</h3>None.<h2>DETROIT</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>None.<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-lgor Larionov, Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov, Kris Draper, Wes Walz. LW-Vyacheslav Kozlov, Bob Errey, Tim Taylor, Greg Johnson, Doug Brown, Stu Grimson. RW-Keith Primeau, Darren McCarty, Dino Ciccarelli, Kirk Maltby, Mathieu Dandenault. LD-Slava Fetisov, Paul Coffey, Nicklas Lidstrom. RD-Vladimir Konstantinov, Mike Ramsey, Bob Rouse, Jamie Pushor. G-Chris Osgood. Mike Vernon.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Marc Bergevin, D, abdominal strain, day-to-day. Martin Lapointe, RW, sprained left knee, day-to-day.<h2>EDMONTON</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>None.<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Doug Weight, Jason Arnott, Todd Marchant, Scott Thornton, Kent Man-derville. LW-Zdeno Giger, Dean McAmmond, David Roberts, Ryan Smyth, Louie DeBrusk. RW-Miroslav Satan, Mariusz Czerkawski, David Oliver, Kelly Buchberg-er. LD-Bryan Marchment, Luke Richardson, Donald Dufresne. RD-Bryan Muir, Boris Mironov, Jiri Slegr. G-Curtis Joseph, Joaquin Gage.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Jeff Norton, D, left knee surgery.<h2>FLORIDA</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>April 14: Steve Washbum, C, Mike Casselman, LW, and Dave Nemirovsky, RW, recalled from Carolina (AHL).<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Rob Niedermayer, Stu Bames, Tom Fitzgerald, Steve Washbum. LW-Johan Garpenlov, Dave Lowry, Bill Lindsay, Mike Hough, Gilbert Dionne, Mike Casselman. RW-Scott Mellanby, Ray Sheppard, Jody Hull, Radek Dvorak, Dave Nemirovsky. LD-Ed Jovanovski, Terry Carkner, Jason Woolley, Geoff Smith, Magnus Svensson. RD-Paul Laus, Robert Svehla, Rhett War-rener. G-John Vanbiesbrouck, Mark Fitzpatrick.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Gord Murphy, D, non-displaced fracture of right foot, late-April. Brian Skrudland, C, sore left hip, day-to-day. Martin Straka, C, bruised buttocks, day-to-day.<h2>HARTFORD</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>April 10: Kevin Smyth, RW, recalled from Springfield (AHL). April 12: Smyth assigned to Springfield. Marek Malik, D, recalled from Springfield.<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Jeff O&rsquo;Neill, Andrew Cassels, Andrei Nikolishin, Mark Janssens. LW-Brendan Shanahan, Geoff Sanderson, Paul Ran-heim, Scott Daniels. RW-Nelson Emerson, Kevin Dineen, Sami Kapanen, Steven Rice, Kelly Chase. LD-Jeff Brown, Glen Wesley, Marek Malik. RD-Gerald Diduck, Brad McCrimmon, Brian Glynn, Jason McBain. G-Sean Burke, Jason Muzzatti.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Adam Burt, D, broken cheekbone. Glen Featherstone. D, sprained ankle. Robert Kron, RW, abdominal strain.<h2>LOS ANGELES</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>None.<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Ray Ferraro, Yanic Perreault, Kevin Todd, Ian Laperriere, Vladimir Tsyplakov. LW-Dimitri Khristich, Kevin Stevens, Eric Lacroix, Barry Potomski. RW-Craig Johnson, Robert Lang, Nathan LaFayette. LD-Mattias Norstrom, Jaroslav Modry. RD-Philippe Boucher, Sean O&rsquo;Donnell, Jan Vopat, John Slaney. G-Kelly Hrudey, Byron Dafoe.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Rob Blake, D, tom left knee ligament. Steven Finn, D, broken left foot. Tony Granato. RW, intracerebral hematoma. Patrice Tardif, LW, strained left shoulder. Vitali Yachmenev. RW, bruised ribs. Doug Zmolek, D, sprained left knee.<h2>MONTREAL</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>None.<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Pierre Turgeon, Vincent Damp-housse, Saku Koivu, Marc Bureau. LW-Andrei Kovalenko, Oleg Petrov, Brian Savage, Donald Brashear. RW-Mark Recchi, Valeri Bure, Turner Stevenson, Chris Murray. LD-Lyle Odelein, Peter Popovic, David Wilkie. RD-Stephane Quintal. Patrice Brisebois, Rory Fitzpatrick, Craig Rivet. G-Jocelyn Thibault, Pat Jablonski.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Benoit Brunet, LW. bruised right shoulder, day-to-day. Vladimir Malakhov, D, torn left knee ligaments, indefinite. Martin Rucinsky, LW, sprained right knee, indefinite.<h2>NEW JERSEY</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>April 14: Steve Sullivan, C, assigned to Albany (AHL).<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Neal Broten, Petr Sykora, Bobby Carpenter, Bobby Holik, Sergei Brylin. LW-Steve Thomas, Brian Rolston, Reid Simpson, Dave Andreychuk, Mike Peluso, Valeri Zelepukin. RW-Bill Guerin, Stephane Richer, Randy McKay, John MacLean. LD-Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, Phil Housley, Kevin Dean. RD-Shawn Chambers, Jason Smith, Ken Daneyko. G-Martin Brodeur, Corey Schwab.<h3>INJURIES</h3>None.<h2>N.Y. ISLANDERS</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>April 12: Jarrett Deuling, LW, assigned to Worcester (AHL). April 14: Eric Fichaud, G, and Derek Armstrong, C, assigned to Worcester. Andreas Johansson, LW, and Chris Taylor, C, assigned to Utah (IHL).<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Travis Green, Marty McInnis, Alexander Semak. LW-Derek King, Niklas Andersson, Darby Hendrickson, Ken Belanger. RW-Ziggy Palffy, Todd Bertuzzi, Dan Plante, Mick Vukota, Patrick Flatley. LD-Darius Kasparaitis, Bryan McCabe, Scott Lachance. Dennis Vaske. RD-Kenny Jonsson, Brent Severyn, Rich Pilon, Chris Luongo. G-Tommy Soderstrom.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Brad Dalgarno, RW, sore wrist. Brett Lindros. RW, concussion. Chris Marinucci, C, left knee surgery. Milan Tichy, D, herniated back.<h2>N.Y. RANGERS</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>April 12: Peter Ferraro, RW, and Chris Ferraro, C, assigned to Binghamton (AHL). April 13: Barry Richter, D. recalled from Binghamton. April 15: Richter assigned to Binghamton.<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Mark Messier, Niklas Sundstrom, Ken Gemander, Daniel Lacroix. LW-Adam Graves, Sergio Momesso, Luc Robitaille, Bill Berg, Darren Langdon. RW-Pat Verbeek, Alexei Kovalev, Jari Kuril, Shane Churla. LD-Brian Leetch, Ulf Samuelsson, Kevin Lowe. RD-Jeff Beuke-boom, Alexander Karpovtsev. Bruce Driver, Doug Lidster. G-Mike Richter, Glenn Healy.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Marty McSorley, D, strained groin, day-to-day. Sergei Nemchinov, C, lacerated left leg, day-to-day.<h2>OTTAWA</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>March 15: Lance Pitlick, D, and Michel Picard, LW, assigned to P.E.I. (AHL).<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Alexei Yashin. Radek Bonk, Dave Archibald. LW-Randy Cunneyworth, Tom Chorske, Pavel Demitra, Troy Mallette. RW-Rob Gaudreau, Daniel Alfredsson, Trent McCleary. Pat Elynuik, Dennis Vial, Scott Levins. LD-Stan Neckar, Frank Musil, Dan Laperriere. RD-Sean Hill, Steve Duchesne, Chris Dahlquist. G-Damian Rhodes, Mike Bales.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Alexandre Daigle, C, broken right arm. Ted Drury, C, sprained left wrist. Janne Laukkanen, D, sprained left knee.<h2>PHILADELPHIA</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>None.<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Eric Lindros, Rod Brind&rsquo;Amour, Bob Corkum, Dan Quinn. LW-Dale Hawer-chuk, Shjon Podein, Russ Romaniuk, Dan Kordic. RW-Mikael Renberg, Pat Falloon, Trent Klatt, Shawn Antoski. LD-Kevin Haller, Chris Therien, Petr Svoboda, Kerry Huffman. RD-Eric Desjardins, Kjell Samuelsson, Karl Dykhuis. G-Ron Hex-tall, Garth Snow.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Rob DiMaio, RW, sprained right knee, indefinite. John Druce, RW. sprained left knee, indefinite. John LeClair. LW, sprained left ankle, indefinite. Joel Otto. C, sprained left knee-day-to-day.<h2>PITTSBURGH</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>None.<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Mario Lemieux, Ron Francis, Bryan Smolinski, Chris Wells. LW-Brad Lauer, Petr Nedved, Kevin Miller, Dave McLI-wain, Dave Roche. RW-Tomas Sandstrom, Jaromir Jagr, Glen Murray, Alek Stojanov. LD-Chris Tamer, Francois Leroux, J.J. Daigneault. RD-Sergei Zubov, Dmitri Mironov, Neil Wilkinson, Chris Joseph. G-Tom Barrasso, Ken Wregget.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Joe Dziedzic, LW, bruised shoulder, day-to-day. Ian Moran. D. shoulder surgery, indefinite. Ed Patterson, RW, disk surgery, indefinite.<h2>ST. LOUIS</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>April 19: Bruce Racine, G, recalled from Peoria (IHL).<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Wayne Gretzky, Peter Zezel, Adam Creighton, Craig MacTavish. LW-Shayne Corson, Geoff Courtnall, Stephane Matteau, Tony Twist, Basil McRae, Yuri Khmylev, Greg Gilbert. RW-Brett Hull, Brian Noonan, Steve Leach, Rob Pearson, Glenn Anderson. LD-Murray Baron, Charlie Huddy, Jay Wells, Christer Olsson. RD-AI Maclnnis, Chris Pronger, Igor Kravchuk. G-Jon Casey, Bruce Racine.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Grant Fuhr, G, tom knee ligament, out for season. Mike Hudson, LW, pinched nerve, indefinite.<h2>SAN JOSE</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>April 13: Jan Caloun, RW, Shean Donovan, RW, and Geoff Sarjeant, G, assigned to Kansas City (IHL).<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Ray Whitney, Darren Turcotte, Jamie Baker, Viktor Kozlov. LW-Jeff Friesen, Ville Peltonen, Chris Tancill, Dody Wood. RW-Owen Nolan, Ulf Dahlen, Jeff Odgers, Dave Brown. LD-Doug Bodger, Marcus Ragnarsson, Jim Kyte. RD-Jayson More, Michal Sykora, Tom Pederson. G-Arturs I rhe. Geoff Sarjeant.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Wade Flaherty, G, back spasms Yves Racine. D, sprained knee Chris Terreri, G, strained arm muscle.<h2>TAMPA BAY</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>None.<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Chris Gratton, John Cullen, Aaron Gavey, Mikael Andersson. LW-Jason Wiemer, Shawn Burr, Paul Ysebaert, Rob Zamuner, Petr Klima. RW-Brian Bellows, Alexander Selivanov, Patrick Poulin, John Tucker. LD-Roman Hamrlik, Igor Ulanov, Cory Cross. RD&mdash;Bill Houlder, David Shaw, Michel Petit, Rudy Poeschek, Chris LiPuma. G-Daren Puppa, Jeff Reese, Derek Wilkinson.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Brian Bradley, C, bruised left hand, day-to-day.<h2>TORONTO</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>None.<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Doug Gilmour, Kirk Muller, Brandon Convery. Mark Kolesar. LW-Wendel Clark, Dave Gagner, Todd Warriner, Nick Kypreos. RW-Mats Sundin, Mike Gartner, Wayne Presley, Tie Domi. Mike Craig. LD-Todd Gill, Mathieu Schneider, Jamie Macoun, Rob Zettler. RD-Larry Murphy, Dave Ellett, Dmitri Yushkevich. G-Felix Potvin, Don Beaupre.<h3>INJURIES</h3>None.<h2>VANCOUVER</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>None.<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Trevor Linden, Cliff Ronning, Mike Ridley, Jesse Belanger, Josef Beranek, Jim Dowd. LW-Martin Gelinas, Esa Tikkanen, Markus Naslund, Gino Odjick. RW-Alexander Mogilny, Russ Courtnall, Mike Sillinger, Joey Kocur, Tim Hunter, Jim Sandlak. LD-Dana Murzyn, Bret Hed-ican, Frantisek Kucera, Jassen Cullimore, Dean Malkoc. RD-Jyrki Lumme, Adrian Aucoin, Leif Rohlin. G-Kirk McLean, Corey Hirsch.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Dave Babych, D, bruised right foot, day-to-day. Pavel Bure. RW, right knee surgery, indefinite.<h2>WASHINGTON</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>April 12: Richard Zednik, RW, recalled from Portland (AHL). April 13: Jason Allison, C, assigned to Portland.<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Dale Hunter, Michal Pivonka. Joe Juneau, Mike Eagles. LW-Jeff Nelson, Todd Krygier, Andrew Brunette, Stefan Ustorf, Kevin Kaminski. RW-Kelly Miller, Peter Bondra, Martin Gendron, Pat Peake, Richard Zednik. LD-Mark Tinordi, Eric Charron, Steve Poapst. RD-Sylvain Cote, Sergei Gonchar, Jim Johnson. G-Jim Carey, Olie Kolzig.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Craig Berube, LW, sprained right knee, indefinite. Calle Johansson. D, broken right wrist, early-May. Keith Jones. LW, groin tear, indefinite. Ken Klee. D, strained groin, late-April. Steve Konowalchuk, LW, broken left hand, indefinite. Stewart Malgunas. D, dislocated left shoulder, indefinite. Joe Reekie. D, bruised left foot, day-to-day Brendan Witt, D, broken left wrist, indefinite.<h2>WINNIPEG</h2><h3>TRANSACTIONS</h3>None.<h3>ROSTER</h3>C-Alexei Zhamnov. Craig Janney, Mike Eastwood, Mike Stapleton, Chad Kilger, lain Fraser. LW-Keith Tkachuk, Igor Korolev, Darrin Shannon, Kris King, Jim McKenzie. RW-Ed Olczyk, Dallas Drake, Shane Doan, Denis Chasse. LD-Teppo Numminen, Dave Manson, Craig Muni, Dallas Eakins. RD-Jeff Finley, Norm Maciver, Oleg Tverdovsky. G-Nikolai Khabibulin, Dominic Roussel.<h3>INJURIES</h3>Randy Gilhen, C, arthroscopic right knee surgery, indefinite. &#9632;

NHL ROSTERS AND TRANSACTIONS

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0043-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-01369/6390213-1-eng-US/f0043-012.jpg"></div> &#9632;

f0043-01

AMERICAN LEAGUE

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0044-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-01278/6390244-1-eng-US/f0044-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Cleveland Lumberjacks&rsquo; Len Barrie</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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May 3, 1996

SCOREBOARD

Kontos satisfied with life in Cinci

Sorry season finally ends

Renberg adds to his lineup before returning to Flyers’