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February 22, 2002
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.
Toothless Bulldogs lose divisional hold
A lack of scoring has caused the Hamilton Bulldogs to fall from grace in the Canadian Division. Hamilton was first for most of the first half of the season, but their lead disappeared when they scored only 20 goals in a 13-game span through early February and lost a franchise-record six road games in a row. Hamilton’s three most prolific players were all in slumps. One-time American League leading scorer Brian Swanson had two goals in 11 games, Fernando Pisani had two goals in 16 games and Jason Chimera had three in 16 games since returning from a call-up to Edmonton. “There’s no doubt there are guys who are trying, but there’s also no doubt there are guys who could put a little more into the effort to score some goals,” said coach…
Goalie of the month soon ECHL-bound?
The American League’s goalie of the month for January might soon be showing off his jade crystal trophy in Mobile, Ala.–a city in the East Coast League. Simon Lajeunesse earned the AHL honor after sensational play for the Grand Rapids Griffins, but his place on the depth chart becomes cloudy as Martin Prusek gets set to return from a knee injury. Prusek was an allstar before he was hurt (11-2-0, 2.39 goals-against average, .917 save percentage, two shutouts) and Mathieu Chouinard has been solid (10-11-1, 2.46 goals-against average, .895 save percentage). When Prusek was hurt, Lajeunesse was called up from Mobile and soon bulled his way into the No. 1 slot. He was 7-1-3 with a 1.78 GAA and.927 save percentage in January. “I thought we were going to struggle when Prusek got hurt,…
Arkhipov’s value as offensive catalyst not lost on Predator coaches, teammates
If you read the stats sheet, you might think the Nashville Predators have a pair of equal scoring threats in David Legwand and Denis Arkhipov. • In reality though, while Arkhipov’s 13th goal of the season Feb. 6 in a 2-1 victory over Dallas tied him with Legwand for the most scored by a Nashville draft pick in a single season, the 22-year-old Russian had surpassed Legwand in terms of his offensive role with the team weeks earlier. “He’s a force every game,” said coach Barry Trotz. “He doesn’t let plays die. He’s not going to let a hook or a grab keep him from getting to the open spaces.” At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Arkhipov is using his size and skating ability effectively in his first full NHL season. He was Nashville’s…
Stumpel emerges after slow beginning
It was such a quiet, consistent streak that hardly anyone except Jozef Stumpel’s wingers seemed to notice. The 29-year-old center, obtained by Boston with right winger Glen Murray in the Oct. 24 trade of Jason Allison and Mikko Eloranta to Los Angeles, struggled early in his second stint as a Bruin. But from Dec. 26 through Feb. 5, Stumpel produced as steadily as anyone on the team with four goals and 22 points over 21 games. “I don’t really know why,” said Stumpel, who managed just one assist in his first eight games after the trade. “It’s probably just a time where everything’s going right, everything’s going in.” Not much went in for Stumpel, but that was understandable: He took only 29 shots over the 21-game stretch. In seven of the games he…
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