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March 16, 2001
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.
Mario-inspired Penguins hit stride, but defense, goaltending still shaky
Pittsburgh has been a model of consistency. Going into March, the team hadn’t lost three consecutive games all season. They were 15-5-1-1 since Jan. 1 and had become one of the NHL’s highest-scoring clubs since Mario Lemieux came out of retirement Dec. 27. The Penguins also hadn’t won five games in a row, which indicated they might have another level to reach come playoff time. The question is, do they need to get goaltending help? STRETCH DRIVE ISSUES 1. Mario Lemieux’s health. Lemieux aggravated an old back/hip injury Feb. 9 and is basically day-to-day for the rest of the season. He plans to sit out the second of back-to-back games down the stretch. 2. Goaltending. Garth Snow was battling a nagging groin injury as March rolled around. He and Jean-Sebastien Aubin have…
Bolts’ main goal to avoid 50 losses
The Tampa Bay Lightning changed coaches and added to the payroll with trades for Adrian Aucoin and Matthew Barnaby, but had little to show for its efforts. Tampa Bay had the league’s fewest points (41), had given up the most goals (224) and had the second-lowest power play efficiency (11.4 per cent). Still, GM Rick Dudley remains optimistic. A power forward here, a solid goaltender there and Dudley says the team could make the playoffs next season. STRETCH DRIVE ISSUES 1. Avoiding 50 losses. The Lightning could become the first NHL team to lose at least 50 games four consecutive seasons. Tampa had 39 losses with 18 games remaining. 2. Find a No. 1 goalie. Is Kevin Weekes the goalie of the future? Weekes has the rest of the season to prove it.…
Loss of Dafoe hurt on long road trip
Five straight losses at the end of a six-game road stretch (the last two in overtime) put a huge dent in the Boston Bruins’ chances of moving into the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff pack and left them facing a battle with Carolina for the final berth. Goalie Byron Dafoe, who helped turn a 10-15-3-3 team into a 24-21-6-5 outfit in 25 straight starts (Dec. 16-Feb. 10), left the lineup with his third injury - and second hamstring strain - of the year. The goalie tandem of Peter Skudra and John Grahame went 2-3-0-2 and allowed 30 goals over the next seven games. STRETCH DRIVE ISSUES 1. Goaltending. Boston needed Grahame or Skudra to keep them in the race until Dafoe was healthy enough to take over. They struggled. 2. Second-line…
Veterans shopped for deadline deals
A local joke has it that vultures circling Dade County Courthouse are the souls of dead lawyers. Now they say they’re scouts waiting for the next Florida Panthers’ game to start. The carcass is available for picking. Expect more veterans-for-picks-and-prospects deals, such as the one that sent Scott Mellanby to St. Louis. Contracts and playing time might hasten the exits of left winger Ray Whitney and goalie Trevor Kidd. STRETCH DRIVE ISSUES 1. Assessing the team. Management must decide if this year’s dismal performance is an aberration or if they should raze the team and rebuild. 2. Free agent question. Can they re-sign center Mike Sillinger or will they have to trade him? 3. Goaltending dilemma. Does Trevor Kidd or Roberto Luongo take solid hold of the No. 1 position? HARDWARE HOPEFULS Pavel…
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