NHL GOALTENDING STATISTICS

Playoff picture becoming much clearer

As usual, the March 24 trade deadline didn’t produce any blockbuster deals. But it is always the time where things become a little more clear. Playoff contenders begin to separate themselves from the pack and the real business of prognostication begins in earnest. With that in mind, let’s look at the top three playoff contenders, in order, in each conference: In the Western Conference… 1. Dallas Stars: Two years after missing the playoffs, the Stars have built a team tailor-made for a long playoff run. The Stars give up an average of about 22 shots a game and have the highest difference between goals for and against in the league. The players told management to bolster the ranks and it responded by picking up Mike Keane and Brian Skrudland. 2. Detroit Red Wings: The Wings…

Old guard moves out in rebuilding

Although they made no blockbuster moves at the trade deadline, the Vancouver Canucks did deal away two more longtime veterans in the continued purging of ex-GM Pat Quinn favorites. Defenseman Dave Babych and tough left winger Gino Odjick completed the mass exodus of players brought in by Quinn in the early 1990s. Only Jyrki Lumme, Pavel Bure, Bret Hedican and the injured Dana Murzyn remain from the team that went to the 1994 Stanley Cup final. “It’s a really weird feeling,” said Hedican. “But we haven’t been successful the last few years and this is the result. We’re younger, bigger and I think we can compete with anybody. I think we’re on the upswing.” Odjick, an eight-year Canuck and the team’s all-time penalty king, was dealt to the New York Islanders for young…

NHL ROSTERS AND TRANSACTIONS

Transactions include NHL personnel moves from March 20-27. Rosters and injuries are as of March 27. Players in roster are listed in sequence of line combinations and defense pairings (i.e. first center plays on line with first left winger and first right winger). Injured players status is either day-to-day (returning within the next few games), indefinite extended period) or projected return date. ANAHEIM TRANSACTIONS March 24: Dmitri Mironov. D, traded to Detroit for Jamie Pushor, D, and fourth round draft pick in 1998. Sean Pronger, C, traded to Pittsburgh for Patrick Lalime, G. Warren Rychel, LW, and conditional draft pick in 1999 traded to Colorado for Josef Marha, C. Mike Leclerc, LW, recalled from Cincinnati (AHL). ROSTER C-Josef Marha, Travis Green, Matt Cullen, J.F. Jomphe, Ted Drury. LW-Steve Rucchin, Frank Banham, Jeremy Stevenson, Brent Severyn.…