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.

March 7, 2003

The Hockey News March 7, 2003

<div class="byline">-BRENDAN SAVAGE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-05272/8118350-1-eng-US/f0029-052.jpg" title="f0029-05" width="189" height="102"></div>Chris Brooks, an assistant coach at Western Michigan, ended a three-year retirement Feb. 5 to join United League Kalamazoo. The 30-year-old center played three pro seasons after finishing his college career with Western Michigan in 1996. He will be a part-time player for the Wings until the Broncos&rsquo; season is done. Brooks had one goal and two points in his first three games with Kalamazoo&hellip;Adirondack&rsquo;s game in Port Huron Feb. 11 was postponed because the IceHawks&rsquo; bus caught fire as it was leaving Glens Falls, N.Y. Nobody was hurt. &#9632;

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DEPARTMENTS

NOTEBOOK

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0039-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-02621/8119013-1-eng-US/f0039-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Minimum 30 games played (BRUCE BENNETT/BBS)</figcaption></div>Here&rsquo;s a compilation of five players whose salary grossly exceeds their points output and five whose output grossly exceeds their salary. &#9632;

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NHL Stats

POINTS PER DOLLAR

<div class="byline">BY KEVIN OKLOBZIJA</div>The Rochester Americans are on their way to a rare on-ice trifecta if left winger Jason Botterill continues to score goals, center Chris Taylor continues to set them up and Sean McMorrow keeps dropping the gloves.Botterill was leading the American League in goals (34), Taylor was the leader in assists (43) and McMorrow, a rookie right winger, was the penalty-minute king with 259. (That included 165 PIMs through 33 fights.)Only once in the AHL&rsquo;s 67 years has one team had the leader in all three categories. The 1944-45 Calder Cup-champion Cleveland Barons swept with Lou Trudel leading in goals (45), Tom Burlington in assists (60) and Pete Bessone in PIMs (100).&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not something we&rsquo;re thinking about,&rdquo; Taylor said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d trade my assists for wins.&rdquo;WELCOME HOME Having grown up in neighboring Troy, N.Y., Matt Murley turned Albany&rsquo;s Pepsi Arena into his own playground.Murley scored 33 seconds into the game, then set up three more goals to lead the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to a 5-3 win over the River Rats Feb. 15.&ldquo;I hadn&rsquo;t scored a goal in a while (Jan. 31), so I figured there was no better place to break my slump,&rdquo; said Murley, Pittsburgh&rsquo;s second-round pick in 1999 out of RPI. He had 11 goals and 40 points through 50 AHL games this year.ANYTHING FOR A LAUGH When the in-arena video-board camera in Rochester zoomed in on Jason Williams on the Grand Rapids bench during the KissCam segment, the Griffins&rsquo; center proved he&rsquo;s secure in his masculinity.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-02793/8118143-1-eng-US/f0028-022.jpg" title="f0028-02" width="242" height="247"></div>AHL WEST NOTEBOOKWilliams put his arm around teammate Rob Collins and gave him a peck, drawing a loud ovation and laughter from fans and teammates.&ldquo;(Teammate) Ed Campbell was yelling from the end of the bench, &lsquo;Do it,&rsquo; so I figured it would be sort of funny,&rdquo; Williams said.He&rsquo;s having fun on the ice, too, with 12 goals in a nine-game stretch and a total of 15 goals and 25 points in 23 games.NOTEBOOK San Antonio winger Jeff Toms scored five goals and six points to earn player-of-the-week honors, then was recalled by Florida&hellip;The Houston Aeros will wear a Shuttle Columbia mission patch on their uniforms as a tribute to the crew that perished in the Feb. 1 tragedy&hellip;Utah lost the AHL All-Star Game MVP when Dallas traded Jon Sim to Nashville, but gained defenseman Bubba Berenzweig in return. &ldquo;The first reaction is you lose a top scorer, but you get a defenseman with NHL experience,&rdquo; said Grizzlies coach Don Hay to the Salt Lake Tribune.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-03582/8118136-1-eng-US/f0028-032.jpg" title="f0028-03" width="1025" height="1495"><figcaption class="caption-body">Philadelphia winger Peter Vandermeer is third in AHL penalty minutes with 223. He also has a goal and seven points in 53 games. (BRUCE BENNETT STUDIOS)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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Amerks’ trio playing with skill, fists

<div class="byline">FROM THE EDITORS</div>When the NHL put the slugger in a three-game slammer, the silence that followed was refreshing. Nobody squawked, nobody hollered, nobody wept. Nobody turned over the nearest rock to uncover a crusading lawyer representing the wrongfully convicted.Tampa Bay&rsquo;s Andre Roy spent an automatic three games in the press box for his lemme-at-&rsquo;em routine with two officials following a Feb. 11 fight with Islanders rookie Eric Godard. Roy was in full zany mode post-scrap as he first fought to break free from linesman Lyle Seitz and later brushed up against referee Paul Stewart. He has had practice, after all; Roy missed the first six games of this season serving the bottom half of a 13-gamer from last year-10 for leaving the bench, three for the zebra ragdoll act.&ldquo;While we appreciate what Andre was trying to do to give the team a lift, he needs to understand the consequences of his actions,&rdquo; said Lightning GM Jay Feaster to the Tampa Tribune. &ldquo;The team is not going to try to justify or rationalize what he did.&rdquo;And neither, to his credit, did Roy.Our only concern is whether the penalty handed out is strong enough for the times. Three games was the by-the-book minimum, but more games easily could have been tacked on.The rationale for making it a heavier punishment wouldn&rsquo;t have been exclusively for its deterrent effect on a repeat offender such as Roy. It also has to do with the microscope under which the NHL finds itself this season.<blockquote class="pullQuote">In this climate, respect for officials is one area that cannot withstand a slip-up.</blockquote>Given the huge dollars at stake for players and teams; given that jobs and playoff spots can be lost in the outcome of a single game; given the collective bargaining agreement angle and the obstruction angle and ubiquitous media coverage provided by the mainstream press and on the Internet and through countless highlight shows, there are precious few events that are not seen, heard and dissected by everyone in the hockey world.In this climate, respect for officials is one area that cannot withstand a slip-up. We saw what happened last year in the playoffs, where for a two-week span the game degenerated into farce. Coaches went off the deep end. GMs staged events intended to mock the league and create scape-goats-in-stripes.Such antics undermine the credibility of referees and linesmen on a number of levels. By not being able to control himself after a fight-or by not having realized there are bounds with officials that cannot be crossed-Roy does exactly the same thing.The NHL decided at the start of 2002-03 to clamp down with quick unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on the ice and sizeable fines off of it. This was a wise and much-needed step. Now the crazy season is nearly upon us again. As the temperature inevitably rises, the NHL needs more than ever to back its officials with the strongest possible punishments wherever and whenever their integrity is challenged. &#9632;

Any abuses of officials demand forceful response

<div class="image-hero"><img title="Cover-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/cover-011000/8119673-1-eng-US/cover-012.jpg"></div>2002-03 BARGAINS & BUSTSBROPHY&rsquo;S PICKS FOR WORLD CUPLook out NHL, the Avs have found their grooveWHY THE PENGUINS MUST HIT ROCK BOTTOMPETER FORSBERG COLORADO AVALANCHEMARIO LEMIEUX PITTSBURGH PENGUINS &#9632;

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IN THIS ISSUE

THEY’RE BACK!

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-011909/8116143-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Few players are delivering as much bang for the buck as Tampa&rsquo;s Martin St-Louis. See pg. 39 for the best and worst dollars-per-point producers.(COVER: FORSBERG: BRIAN BABINEAU/SA; LEMIEUX: JIM MCISAAC/BBS CONTENTS: BRUCE BENNETT/BBS)</figcaption></div><h2>QUOTE OF THE WEEK</h2>I told him he just couldn&rsquo;t do it any more. And he can&rsquo;t, He should pack it in. He&rsquo;s finished.Vancouver&rsquo;s Todd Bertuzzi, responding to Detroit&rsquo;s Chris Chelios after Chelios called him &lsquo;fat.&rsquo; &#9632;

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STICK ’EM

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-011856/8116195-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="292" height="332"><figcaption class="caption-body">EDITORS NOTEBOOK&nbsp;Jason Kay Managing Editor</figcaption></div>Obstruction has been the preoccupation of NHL referees this season, but they&rsquo;ve also focused much attention on &ldquo;too many men on the ice&rdquo;-in more ways than one.With the proliferation of diving, both onto the ice and over the boards, officials have been keeping close tabs on actors and cheaters and calling more penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct and too many men on the ice.Let&rsquo;s begin with the Speedo bunch. Thanks in large part to the obstruction crackdown, diving has returned to prominence. Little tugs too frequently are resulting in Oscar-caliber performances as players try to take advantage of more stringent penalty guidelines.It has forced referees to step up their games in the name of fair play. While there is no data available from the NHL on the number of diving calls this season-some are officially recorded as dives, others just as unsportsmanlike conduct-it&rsquo;s universally accepted it&rsquo;s on the increase.The question is, how do you detect a dive? When is a player intentionally trying to mislead?<blockquote class="pullQuote">Obstruction not the only fouls NHL trying to crack down on this season</blockquote>&ldquo;You&rsquo;re looking for unnatural actions,&rdquo; said an NHL referee who requested anonymity. &ldquo;If a guy is being hooked backwards and he flies forward, that doesn&rsquo;t add up.Sometimes, if a guy is being pulled at his hips and his feet go flying forward, it (defies) gravity. It&rsquo;s a gut call, you only have a split second/but you&rsquo;re looking for things that look unnatural.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-07319/8116188-1-eng-US/f0004-072.jpg" title="f0004-07" width="2467" height="2379"></div>Another indicator can be how a player falls to the ice. If he&rsquo;s being obstructed in stride, chances are he&rsquo;ll go down on one leg. If he succumbs on both legs, he may well be acting.&ldquo;The trick is being sure,&rdquo; said the referee. &ldquo;Sometimes you want to call the dive and you get proven wrong on video later. It&rsquo;s hard just to call that individual penalty. You want to make sure you didn&rsquo;t guess wrong.&rdquo;In many instances, coincidental minors for obstruction and diving are called on the same play, which has earned referees some grief. How, critics want to know, can there be an obstruction call if the fouled player is faking?&ldquo;I hate the thought of evening up,&rsquo; but that&rsquo;s not what we&rsquo;re calling,&rdquo; said the referee, who maintains he and his brethren decide to penalize for diving after they&rsquo;ve already put their arms in the air for an obstruction penalty. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m saying to the (diver), &lsquo;You know what, you just took away your power play because I was already calling the hook.&rsquo; It&rsquo;s an appropriate call to make.&rdquo;So, too, in recent weeks, is the too-many-men-on-the-ice infraction. Apparently, it was missed a few times early this season and the officials were reminded to call it as it&rsquo;s set out in the rule book.&ldquo;We were just told, &lsquo;Gentiemen, call it the way it was intended to be called.&rsquo; That falls in line with everything (director of officiating) Andy (VanHellemond) has been doing.&rdquo;Clearly, the officials are following their instructions. Too-many-men calls have risen steadily this season, to the point where there is now one infraction whistled every 2.6 games. Earlier this year, it was once every 4.5 games. (See chart at left.)The officials are willing to give players three-to-five feet of leeway during a change when the play is away from the bench, but won&rsquo;t tolerate clear violations. In some instances, you may even notice a referee or linesman holding up his hand in warning to a player about to jump on.&ldquo;There have been a lot more penalties because the changes were getting too loose, there was too much cheating,&rdquo; the referee said.And nobody likes a cheater&hellip;or a diver.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-031267/8116181-1-eng-US/f0004-032.jpg" title="f0004-03" width="403" height="215"></div><h2>TOO MANY MEN</h2>NHL refs are issuing too-many-men-on-the-ice penalties more frequently as 200203 progresses.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-021560/8116174-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="456" height="211"></div> &#9632;

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FEATURES & COLUMNS

Refs on prowl for cheaters

<h2>MILESTONES</h2>Scott Mellanby &bull; RW, 36St. Louis, Feb. 13 vs. Philadelphia Gritty veteran becomes the 52nd player to play 1,200 games.Steve Thomas &bull; RW, 39Chicago, Feb. 17 vs. Colorado &lsquo;Stumpy&rsquo; scores career goal No. 400 against Patrick Roy.Jacques Martin &bull; coach, 50Ottawa, Feb. 20 vs. Florida He becomes the sixth active coach to reach the 750-game mark.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-041028/8116233-1-eng-US/f0004-042.jpg" title="f0004-04" width="281" height="456"><figcaption class="caption-body">STEVE THOMAS</figcaption></div><h2>NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS</h2>Bob Hartley &bull; coach, 42Atlanta, Feb. 7 at New Jersey He becomes the sixth-fastest coach to notch 200 wins (369 games.)Mighty Ducks of AnaheimFeb. 12 4-3 win vs. Calgary Tenth straight one-goal victory breaks Ottawa&rsquo;s 1926-27 record.Mike Knuble &bull; RW, 30Boston, Feb. 14 at Florida Records fastest two goals by one person to start a game (27 seconds.)<h2>NHL DEBUTS</h2>Ryan Bayda &bull; LW, 22Carolina, Feb. 14 vs Washington Left college a year early; debuts on top line with Francis and O&rsquo;Neill.Tomas Surovy &bull; LW, 21Pittsburgh, Feb. 14 at N.Y. Rangers Crafty Czech winger scores twice in first three games.Mikko Jokela &bull; D, 22Vancouver, Feb. 18 at Detroit Arrives at rink during anthems; plays 5:09 and has three shots.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-05833/8116226-1-eng-US/f0004-052.jpg" title="f0004-05" width="279" height="459"><figcaption class="caption-body">RYAN BAYDA</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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WORTH NOTING

<div class="byline">-MIKE BROPHY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0005-06" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-06196/8116295-1-eng-US/f0005-062.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">A DEAL&nbsp;Montreal is getting more than its money&rsquo;s worth from budding blueliner Andrei Markov. (JIM MCISAAC/BBS)</figcaption></div>As Cyndi Lauper sang, money changes everything, including our expectations on how a player should perform. With that in mind, here are some of this season&rsquo;s biggest bargains and busts. Stats include games played, goals, assists and points. Also listed is this year&rsquo;s salary.<h2>BARGAINS</h2>Dany Heatley, Atlanta, 54-25-29-54, $1,075 million. Only the rookie salary cap and (eventually) restricted free agency stand between Heatley and many more millions of dollars. He is a budding superstar.Andreas Johansson, Nashville, 52-20-17-37, $650,000. After failing in auditions with the Islanders, Penguins, Senators, Lightning, Flames and Rangers, Johansson has become the guy the Predators look to when they need a goal.Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh, 48-22-55-77, $5.25 million. This guy would be the highest paid in the league if he wasn&rsquo;t so busy playing savior for the Penguins. At his current salary, he is the NHL&rsquo;s best bargain.Andrei Markov, Montreal,61-11-19-30, $700,000. After two years split between the NHL and the minors, Markov is now the Habs&rsquo; top defender. He&rsquo;s a responsible defensive citizen and a scoring threat to boot.Todd White, Ottawa, 61-20-27-47, $750,000. This local product has blossomed in the past two years after four seasons of scratching and clawing to stay in the show. He has already tied his single-season high of 20 goals.<h2>BUSTS</h2>Tony Amonte, Phoenix, 50-13-17-30, $5.82 million. The Coyotes weren&rsquo;t scared off by the fact Amonte has been in decline the past few years. They should have been.Sami Kapanen, Philadelphia, 49-7-13-20, $3 million. After a career-best 27 goals last season, Kapanen scored just once in 23 playoff games. This season he had six goals in 43 games with Carolina before being dealt to the Flyers.Rob Niedermayer, Calgary, 47-7-10-17, $2.1 million. What the heck were the Flames thinking when they resigned this guy at his asking price? He is the poster child for underachievers.Chris Simon, Chicago, 50-5-5-10, $2.25 million. A couple years after he was one of the best combinations of goals and grit, Simon&rsquo;s effective ness these days barely registers a blip.Alexei Yashin, Islanders, 59-14-30-44, $7.4 million. Some wondered whether Yashin&rsquo;s production would slip after he signed the monster 10-year contract last season. You be the judge.<h2>FIT TO BE TIED?</h2>Nearly three times many goals this season have been scored into the empty net as with the extra man when teams have pulled their goalie.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-03846/8116288-1-eng-US/f0005-032.jpg" title="f0005-03" width="896" height="671"></div> &#9632;

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ON THE COVER

Bargains and busts

TAKE THAT! The Vancouver Canucks prove they are for real beating both Colorado and Detroit in overtime in a five-day span.QICK ON THE DRAW Boston&rsquo;s Mike Knuble sets and NHL mark for fastest two goals at the start of a game scoring at 0:10 and 0:27 against Florida.OK, SO TRADE ME THEN Calgary&rsquo;s Jarome Iginla reacts to trade rumors by scoring eight goals and 10 points in seven games.ONE FOR THE ROAD The disappointing San Jose Sharks manage just one victory during a seven-game road trip.YASHIN BASHIN&rsquo; The Islanders respond to Alexei Yashin&rsquo;s uninspired play by demoting him to fourth line duty.BAD DECISION Calgary&rsquo;s Bob Boughner nails Dallas&rsquo;s Mike Modano from behind following an escalation of trash talk by the Flames<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-011864/8116333-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg" title="f0005-01" width="253" height="404"><figcaption class="caption-body">MIKE KNUBLE</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-021317/8116326-1-eng-US/f0005-022.jpg" title="f0005-02" width="253" height="404"><figcaption class="caption-body">ALEXEI YASHIN</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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PLUS MINUS

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-04523/8116371-1-eng-US/f0005-042.jpg" title="f0005-04" width="603" height="144"></div>&bull; Don&rsquo;t be surprised to see an increasing number of &ldquo;offensive pass interference&rdquo; penalties. Referees have been reminded to call obstruction-interference penalties on forwards who push off while trying to get separation between themselves and a defenseman. It&rsquo;s the type of infraction for which Todd Bertuzzi is quickly becoming known.&bull; The only thing Patrice Brisebois did wrong when he went to Paris was not inform the Canadiens of his whereabouts. Ordered by doctors to take a week off following a heart scare, Brisebois could have spent the seven days on Mars, as long as he was getting R&R.&bull; The 2002-03 San Jose Sharks are the NHL&rsquo;s biggest disappointment of the century. Yes, even moreso than the Rangers.&bull; In the Anaheim team media guide, Jean-Sebastien Giguere, when asked what change he&rsquo;d like to make to the game, responded, &ldquo;make the nets smaller.&rdquo; Don&rsquo;t worry, he won&rsquo;t be replacing Brett Hull as the players&rsquo; unofficial spokesman any time soon.&bull; One referee says players have selective recall when they suggest the obstruction crackdown has eroded: &ldquo;You just have to look at tapes of last season and see guys locking onto players and water-skiing. That doesn&rsquo;t happen anymore. There has been a big improvement. I think the players are complaining because they&rsquo;ve gotten used to not being touched at all.&rdquo;&bull; Is it just coincidence the Calgary streaker who hurled his butt onto the ice is named Tim Hurlbut?<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-05323/8116364-1-eng-US/f0005-052.jpg" title="f0005-05" width="286" height="458"><figcaption class="caption-body">JEAN-SEBASTIEN GIGUERE</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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SNAPSHOTS From around the NHL

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0006-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-012072/8116426-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg"></div> &#9632;

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Elson

<h2>PENS MIGHTY NO MORE</h2>With the salary structure the way it is, my interest in the Pittsburgh Penguins and the NHL is sinking fast.The Penguins are turing into a developmental team for the NHL&rsquo;s big-money clubs. Over the last few years they have had to sell off Jaromir Jagr, Robert Lang and now Alexei Kovalev. It&rsquo;s a good thing Mario Lemieux owns the team or he&rsquo;d have been traded, too.All in all, it is a sad situation.Tint Rosene, West Bend, Wis.<h2>NEW ALL-STAR GAME FORMAT</h2>If the NHL is going to allow financially strapped clubs to sell their star players to the same couple of teams, I would like to propose a new format for the 2004 All-Star Game.The league could have the New York Rangers play against the dwindling number of talented, high-salaried guys who haven&rsquo;t been signed by GM Glen Sather.It could be billed as The Millionaires Club vs. The League Average.Vito Bratta, Staten Island, N.Y.<h2>LETTER OF THE WEEK</h2>There has been a big uproar of late about the difficult financial situations faced by teams in Ottawa, Buffalo and Pittsburgh, but commissioner Gary Bettman and the rest of the NHL should be more concerned about some other teams, most notably the Blackhawks and Rangers.Both Original Six franchises have been badly mismanaged for a number of years now, especially the Hawks.It is beyond comprehension how owner Bill Wirtz and management mainstay Bob Pulford have run such a storied franchise. Not surprisingly, as the organization has consistently failed to ice a contender, local media coverage of the team has become an afterthought.As long as high-profile, big market teams like the Rangers and Blackhawks continue to be mismanaged, the NHL&rsquo;s image will continue to take a pounding.Joe Gleeson, Hoffman Estates, III.<h2>OIL NOT BIG IN U.S.?</h2>Can the Oilers get some respect?As an Edmonton fan who lives in New Jersey, I&rsquo;m bewildered by the lack of press the team gets in the United States.Hopefully, the Oilers will make the playoffs and American fans will see how good they really are.Eric Sirois, Kendall Park, N.J.<h2>POTVIN&rsquo;S ARTICLE BANG-ON</h2>I was very impressed by the article by former Islanders great Denis Potvin. (THN, Feb. 21)His thoughts on the lack of scoring spaces is the type of analytical reporting a hockey junkie craves. I always knew it took a defenseman to best understand hockey!Richard Thompson, Portage, Mich.<h2>SALARY CAP A NECESSITY</h2>NHL owners and players must recognize that even big-money teams like the New York Rangers need small-market teams to remain viable opponents.Who wants to pay to watch a game in which one team has no hope of winning?The NHL&rsquo;s only chance for long-term viability is a salary cap and revenue sharing.A. Ridland, Colwyn Bay, Wales<h2>AUTOGRAPHS ARE FOR FANS</h2>As someone who collects autographs from NHL players, I&rsquo;ve become increasingly disenchanted with collectors who do it just for the money.It&rsquo;s no surprise today&rsquo;s players are unwilling to sign when they see hoards of people with jerseys, sticks and color photographs.For those of us who collect memorabilia for ourselves, -or, in my case, for my 21-month-old son, Colin-these sharks are the worst things to ever happen to the hobby.Ron Saar, Quincy, Mass.<h2>SATHER FOOLING NOBODY</h2>I took Rangers GM Glen Sather&rsquo;s comments on the Alexei Kovalev trade as a slap in the face.Sather said the trade was fair and not a salary dump. Who is he trying to kid? Does he think hockey fans are complete idiots?Jason McCarthy, Raritan, N.J.<h2>Got something to say?</h2>U.S.A.: Letters, The Hockey News, P.O. Box 904, Buffalo, N.Y., 14240-9947.Canada: Letters, The Hockey News, 25 Sheppard Ave. W., Suite 100, Toronto, Ont, M2N 6S7E-mail: <a href="mailto:aproteau@thehockeynews.com">aproteau@thehockeynews.com</a> or visit <a href="http://www.thehockeynews.com">www.thehockeynews.com</a> Include name, hometown, province/state and phone number.Submissions will be edited. &#9632;

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0007-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-011874/8116488-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">TIME TO GO?&nbsp;The Penguins could save $4.3 million next season by trading away Martin Straka. (JIM MCISAAC/BBS)</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-021242/8116481-1-eng-US/f0007-022.jpg" title="f0007-02" width="290" height="385"><figcaption class="caption-body">Joe Starkey&nbsp;Columnist</figcaption></div>Craig Patrick and Mario Lemieux weren&rsquo;t enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame because they failed to seize chances, or because they lacked a sense of timing. When opportunities for greatness presented themselves to these two men, they reached out and L snatched them. That is why the Pittsburgh Penguins have twice captured the Stanley Cup.Things are much different now, but a new opportunity has arisen-and it&rsquo;s every bit as challenging as the one that appeared 12 years ago. Patrick will need to show as much moxie and foresight as he did on March 4,1990, when he sent popular point producer John Cullen to Hartford as part of the deal that brought Ron Francis and Ulf Samuelsson to Pittsburgh. Lemieux will need to show the sort of courage he displayed in the 1991 final, when he battled through back pain to destroy the Minnesota North Stars.<h2>CRITICAL DECISION FOR LEMIEUX, PATRICK</h2>Only it&rsquo;s not greatness that knocks on Pittsburgh&rsquo;s door this time, it&rsquo;s abject misery. Lemieux, the owner, and Patrick, the GM, must make a critical decision before next season. They must choose between mediocrity and rock bottom.The latter sounds better to me. Imperative, actually. The Penguins&rsquo; fate rests on their ability to think ahead and position themselves for what the post-lockout NHL will look like. This is their chance to get a head start. They must continue the painful process of gutting their payroll. It began when Jaromir Jagr was sent to Washington two years ago (although he wasn&rsquo;t the first player jettisoned for financial reasons). It continued when Alexei Kovalev was sold to the New York Rangers for $3,999,999.99, Mikael Samuelsson and three guys who were available on waivers long before then.With that deal, the Penguins&rsquo; payroll sunk to $27.7 million. Lemieux should shoot for $20 million next season.No need to wait until summer. The Penguins should be entertaining offers for players such as Martin Straka, who is slated to make more than $4 million in 2003-04. Some owners and GMs haven&rsquo;t yet begun to make decisions based on what a new collective bargaining agreement might look like. These guys have visions of a Stanley Cup dancing in their heads and could use players like Straka or Jan Hrdina.<h2>SLASH TICKET PRICES</h2>Next season, the Penguins should retain a few low-priced veterans, bring up their prospects to play with Lemieux-don&rsquo;t worry, he&rsquo;ll be back-slash ticket prices and situate themselves for a high draft pick. Lemieux won&rsquo;t say if he has entertained these thoughts. He doesn&rsquo;t have to. He said enough recently when he talked about having to make some &ldquo;tough decisions&rdquo; if the &ldquo;numbers don&rsquo;t work&rdquo; and about having to sit down this summer to &ldquo;see what kind of team we want to put on the ice.&rdquo;Look, the Penguins aren&rsquo;t going to survive without a new arena and a revamped economic system in the NHL. Their only chance is to tailor their team for the league&rsquo;s new world and pray it&rsquo;s one that includes a salary cap and revenue sharing. If so, the Penguins could be one of the teams without hefty contracts, with room under a cap and with a bunch of talented prospects because of trades and drafting position.Fans could live with a horrible season if they knew the team would benefit in the long run, but they would deserve lower ticket prices and a heavy dose of honesty.Patrick angered many when he said the Kovalev deal made the Penguins a better team. Lemieux basically refuted the notion the very next day. If the fire sale is coming, Patrick and Lemieux must stand before the fans-just as they did 11 years ago at a Stanley Cup celebration-and tell them the truth.-JOE STARKEYIS A COLUMNIST FOR THE PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE REVIEW &#9632;

f0007-01

Penguins need gutting

Here are the five franchises that joined the NHL in 1967 and the arenas they have called home. (A sixth expansion team, Oakland, ultimately folded.) Minnesota relocated to Dallas in 1993. Pittsburgh is the only team still in the same rink.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-03764/8116547-1-eng-US/f0007-032.jpg" title="f0007-03" width="256" height="85"></div>1967-93 Met Center (Min.)1993-01 Reunion Arena2001-present American Airlines<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-04493/8116540-1-eng-US/f0007-042.jpg" title="f0007-04" width="321" height="108"></div>1967-94 St. Louis Arena1994-present Savvis Center<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-05340/8116533-1-eng-US/f0007-052.jpg" title="f0007-05" width="357" height="88"></div>1967-96 The Spectrum1996-present First Union Center<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-06263/8116526-1-eng-US/f0007-062.jpg" title="f0007-06" width="335" height="86"></div>1967-99 Great Western Forum1999-present Staples Center<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-07201/8116519-1-eng-US/f0007-072.jpg" title="f0007-07" width="330" height="93"></div>1967-present Mellon Arena &#9632;

f0007-03

…AND RINK, TOO

<div class="byline">BY MIKE BROPHY &#x2022; Senior Writer</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0010-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-011930/8116634-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">MILAN HEJDUKPATRICK ROY (BRAIN BABINEAU/SA)</figcaption></div><blockquote class="pullQuote">When you have Roy in every night, you have a chance to win. -TONY GRANATO</blockquote>It begins and ends with Patrick. No Patrick, no chance.Sure, there are other mitigating factors. The Colorado Avalanche responded positively to a shakeup behind the bench. Peter Forsberg is back to being the game&rsquo;s best two-way threat. Milan Hejduk is unquestionably enjoying his finest season. Rob Blake is a tower of strength on the blueline. Adam Foote rules the boards. And Joe Sakic, when he&rsquo;s healthy, remains one of the most dangerous gunners in the league.But, honestly, where are the Colorado Avalanche without Patrick Roy?&ldquo;One reason we&rsquo;re on a roll is because of Patty,&rdquo; said Hejduk, who&rsquo;s on pace for a career-high 45 goals. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s on his game; playing unbelievably. Even in some of the games where the other team has way more shots or the times when the team has a bad start to the game, Patty gives us a chance to win.&rdquo;Said coach Tony Granato: &ldquo;Patrick has played great. When you have him in every night, you have a chance to win. We have had a chance to win every game the last three weeks because of him. He has made big saves in every key situation and when he plays like that, everybody else around him plays better.&rdquo;For a while, it looked like this was the year the Avs would take a step back. What goes up must come down, right? Colorado has been up for a long, long time. Eight straight division titles (and counting) and two Stanley Cups.Roy, by his own admission, started the season poorly-bothered by inconsistency. Thirteen games into the season, the Avs sat ninth in the Western Conference, out of the playoffs, and had to look up to see the likes of Columbus and Minnesota. Thirteen games later, by early December, the Avs moved up to eighth, but were still struggling.Roy said the team appeared fatigued at the start of the season from having played so much hockey the past few years-103 games last season, 105 in 2000-01 when they won the Cup, 99 in 1999-2000,101 in 199899. That&rsquo;s like five seasons played in the span of four.&ldquo;We were sloppy,&rdquo; Roy said. &ldquo;Not paying enough attention to small details.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-011712/8116627-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg" title="f0011-01" width="1718" height="2767"><figcaption class="caption-body">(DALE MACMILLAN/BBS)</figcaption></div>Colorado&rsquo;s quest for a record ninth straight division crown was serious peril and that did not sit well with headstrong Pierre Lacroix, who appears determined to go down in history as the best hockey GM ever.So it wasn&rsquo;t a huge surprise when coach Bob Hartley was fired Dec. 18, but it was when Granato, who had no head coaching experience, was announced as Hartley&rsquo;s replacement. Though the Avs immediately reeled off three straight wins, they weren&rsquo;t out of the woods.After a 4-2 loss against Detroit Jan. 16, Roy&rsquo;s confidence was sinking, but luckily, help arrived. Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque, in town to watch Roy play his 1,000th career game Jan. 20, took his pal aside and told him to relax. He convinced the fragile Roy to concentrate on doing what he does best-stop pucks-and let the rest take care of itself.Bourque, who helped the Avs win the Cup in 2001, gave the team a pep talk last year which prompted Colorado to go on a 10-game unbeaten streak. His latest words had a similar affect as the Avs went 7-0-1-0 in their next eight games.<h2>TUNING OUT NEGATIVE THOUGHTS</h2>&ldquo;Ray and I talk on the phone all year, maybe four or five times a month,&rdquo; Roy said. &ldquo;He has such a good approach to the game. I&rsquo;m not saying he doesn&rsquo;t take it seriously, but he&rsquo;s able to push aside negative stuff and focus on what you have to do as a player.&rdquo;Just like that, Roy became, well, the Roy of old. Twice in a three-week period he was named NHL player of the week and as his play picked up, so has that of his teammates.The line of Forsberg between Hejduk and Alex Tanguay has been unstoppable. Forsberg slipped into the middle of the line when Sakic broke his foot; there is no plan to break up the trio when Sakic makes his anticipated return in late February.After missing all but last year&rsquo;s playoffs (which he led with 27 points in 20 games) with injuries and mental fatigue, Forsberg has rediscovered his passion. That in itself gives the Avs an edge over most teams. When Colorado beat Calgary 4-2 on the strength of three Forsberg goals Feb. 9, Flames coach Darryl Sutter proclaimed: &ldquo;We just got Forsberged.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-011880/8116620-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="3245" height="3243"><figcaption class="caption-body">DEFENSE LEADER Though on pace for his worst offensive totals in four years, Rob Blake is again among league leaders in ice time.</figcaption></div><h2>COACHING CHANGE SPARKS TEAM</h2>As often happens when there is a coaching change, a breath of fresh air revived the Avs. Youngsters such as Tanguay, Martin Skoula and Steve Reinprecht, who struggled under Hartley, were reborn with Granato at the helm. Tanguay had 10 goals and 31 points (including 11 two-point games) in 27 games under Granato, while Reinprecht managed eight goals and 18 points.With Sakic in the on-deck circle, the Avs have a fighting chance at winning the Northwest Division with a hard push in March. The Vancouver Canucks were six points ahead and had defeated Colorado 2-1 in overtime Feb. 13.As for Stanley Cup aspirations, just making it to the final as the Western Conference representative will be a chore. Besides the Avs and Canucks, the Dallas Stars are back on track after a year in the dumps and the defending champion Detroit Red Wings remain very much a factor. Then there is the upstart St. Louis Blues, who have overcome the loss of defenseman Chris Pronger to make some serious noise.Roy said the Avs can only worry about themselves.&ldquo;Every day I am fortunate to go to the rink to play with players who have a commitment to winning,&rdquo; Roy said. &ldquo;We have a very good group of guys who want to win. They put their stats aside for team success. I think we all agree it&rsquo;s all about the team. That&rsquo;s where success starts.&rdquo;The coached echoed that sentiment&ldquo;We play to win the Stanley Cup,&rdquo; Granato said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s all. That&rsquo;s why we come to the rink. That&rsquo;s what motivates us. Nothing else; just winning the Cup.&rdquo;<h2>CONSECUTIVE DIVISION TITLES</h2>Colorado has won eight division titles in a row, tying the 1975-82 Montreal Canadiens. Baseball&rsquo;s Atlanta Braves are the pacesetters, at 11 and counting, followed by the NBA&rsquo;s Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics (nine) and the NFL&rsquo;s Los Angeles Rams (seven).<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-021482/8116613-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="512" height="200"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-03960/8116606-1-eng-US/f0012-032.jpg" title="f0012-03" width="478" height="240"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-04567/8116599-1-eng-US/f0012-042.jpg" title="f0012-04" width="481" height="232"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-05409/8116592-1-eng-US/f0012-052.jpg" title="f0012-05" width="483" height="224"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-06332/8116585-1-eng-US/f0012-062.jpg" title="f0012-06" width="479" height="218"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-07279/8116578-1-eng-US/f0012-072.jpg" title="f0012-07" width="486" height="239"></div> &#9632;

f0010-01

AVALANCHE WARNINGS!

<div class="byline">-MIKE BROPHY</div>If you want to get the most out of a player, you&rsquo;d better think like one.That was Tony Granato&rsquo;s motto when he stepped behind the bench of the Colorado Avalanche for his first head coaching stint Dec. 19.&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t ever stop thinking like a player,&rdquo; said the 38-year-old Granato, who was in his first season as an assistant coach with the Avs before replacing Bob Hartley Dec. 18. &ldquo;In any meeting I prepare for or any video I prepare for the team, I always try to think about what the player is thinking. I think that is the most effective way to get your message across.&rdquo;Its working. The Avs were 17-8-2-1 under Granato, who took to the job as though it were his destiny. After a 13-year career with the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks-in which he scored 248 goals and 492 points with 1,425 penalty minutes in 773 games-Granato felt he had more to offer.&ldquo;I feel very comfortable in the room and behind the bench,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Everyone told me it was going to be a huge transition, but it hasn&rsquo;t been. My last four years in San Jose I was basically teaching young kids how to turn themselves into pros so they could take my job. As a role player at the end of your career, that&rsquo;s your job. From an experience standpoint, that situation in San Jose helped prepare me for this.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-08235/8116665-1-eng-US/f0012-082.jpg" title="f0012-08" width="283" height="460"><figcaption class="caption-body">TONY GRANATO (SPORTS ACTION)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0012-08

Granato takes short cut on learning curve

<h2>RUSSIANS SWEEP</h2>STOCKHOLM The Big Red Machine is rolling again. Following a decade of ups and downs after the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russia&rsquo;s hockey program is rebounding. Using five 19-year-olds who won gold at the World Junior Championship, Russia&rsquo;s senior national team easily won the Sweden Games tournament in Stockholm, going undefeated in four games. Canada, represented by a team of players from the European and minor pro ranks, finished fourth in the five-team competition. Russia also grabbed gold at the traditional February tournaments for Under-18 players in the Czech Republic, Under-17 in Russia and Under-16 in Finland. Finland came out on top at the Under-19 tourney in the Czech Republic, but Russia did not compete. Sweden, Germany, Switzerland and the Czech Republic also participated.<h2>STREAKER GETS HELP</h2>CALGARY A Calgary nightclub wants to raise money to help streaker Tim Hurlbut pay $2,500 to two charities, an order handed down by an Alberta judge in mid-February. Cowboys Dance Hall is planning a fundraiser to assist the sock-clad streaker who hopped on the ice at a Flames game in Calgary Oct. 17 only to slip and knock himself out. &ldquo;Come down and lend support for a man who brought so much joy into our lives with a simple pair of red socks,&rdquo; said Cowboys manager Todd Bowman.<h2>HALL OF FAME FACELIFT</h2>TORONTO As part of its 10-year anniversary celebration, the Hockey Hall of Fame is getting a $7-million renovation. The exhibit revitalization project began in January when 9,000 square feet of existing space in the interactive areas were temporarily shut down. Re-opening is slated for March 6. The Hall of Fame moved to its current location at Yonge and Front in Toronto in 1993.<h2>MINI-ME JERSEY?</h2>TORONTO Some of hockey&rsquo;s most unique collectibles are available until March 5 in an online auction. The rare items include the goalie mask worn by Denis Lemieux in Slap Shot, Jacques Plante&rsquo;s 1971 Toronto Maple Leafs contract, Rocket Richard&rsquo;s personal bowling ball, and the Toronto Maple Leafs jersey worn by Mini-Me in the movie Goldmember. Bidding is conducted at <a href="http://www.frozenpond.com">www.frozenpond.com</a> &#9632;

HOCKEY WORLD IN BRIEF

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-021205/8116720-1-eng-US/f0013-022.jpg" title="f0013-02" width="679" height="693"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-011720/8116727-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg" title="f0013-01" width="117" height="130"></div>Do you think the NHL should adopt the shootout in the regular season if games are still tied after five minutes of 4-on-4 overtime?Fans love it, but the majority of players polled by The Hockey News would rather take a pass than shoot.Twenty-three of the 30 players (one from each team) said they don&rsquo;t like the idea of games being decided by a shootout.&ldquo;I&rsquo;d hate to see a team with five Pavel Datsyuks sit back with five minutes to go just to get to a shootout,&rdquo; said Detroit&rsquo;s Brendan Shanahan.&ldquo;The shootout is not an appropriate way to decide a hockey game,&rdquo; added the Rangers&rsquo; Bobby Holik. &ldquo;An All-Star Game, maybe, but not a game that counts.&rdquo;Claude Lemieux, veteran right winger for the Dallas Stars, likes the shootout.&ldquo;I thought the All-Star Game was awesome,&rdquo; Lemieux said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m sure goalies don&rsquo;t like it, but it was pretty awesome.&rdquo;</div><div style="clear: both;"> &#9632;</div>

f0013-02

PLAYER POLL

<div class="byline">BY THN STAFF</div>The president of the International Ice Hockey Federation wants a rule in place that would prohibit women from playing hockey in men&rsquo;s professional leagues.Rene Fasel said in an editorial published in the March issue of The IIHF News that there is no future for mixed leagues. The issue became topical when Canada&rsquo;s Hayley Wickenheiser decided to play professional for a men&rsquo;s second-division team in the Finnish city of Kirkkonummen.Fasel said his main argument revolves around the issue of potential injury. There is currently no hitting allowed in competitive women&rsquo;s hockey, yet Wickenheiser is now in a league that allows hitting.&ldquo;As much as I admire the determination and the barrier-breaking commitment of the multiple world champion and the MVP from Salt Lake City,&rdquo; Fasel wrote, &ldquo;I am pretty sure that there is no future in mixed hockey and there are several reasons why the IIHF does not want to promote women playing in men&rsquo;s leagues.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-03881/8116758-1-eng-US/f0013-032.jpg" title="f0013-03" width="255" height="411"><figcaption class="caption-body">RENE FASEL</figcaption></div>&ldquo;Hockey is a tougher game than soccer, handball or basketball. You don&rsquo;t see girls playing in men&rsquo;s leagues in those sports.&rdquo;Fasel is pushing the IIHF congress at its June meeting for a policy to prohibit co-ed hockey. There is nothing the IIHF can do to prevent Wickenheiser from returning to Finland next season. It has no jurisdiction over the internal operations of the national governing bodies.In nine games with Kirkkonummen, Wickenheiser has a goal, four points and has won 82 per cent of faceoffs, tops in the league. &#9632;

f0013-03

Fasel slams co-ed brand

<div class="byline">-GREG HARDER</div>ARDROSSAN, Alta.A group of 40 amateur players from Alberta broke the record for the world&rsquo;s longest hockey game Feb. 16, completing an 80-hour marathon on an outdoor rink in Ardrossan, near Sherwood Park.The previous mark of 62 hours 15 minutes was set Jan. 12 by a team from Moosomin, Sask.The 40 friends played in hour-long shifts, taking staggered rest breaks in the makeshift dressing room in the garage, and taking dips in a hot tub.They were split into two teams, played in full equipment and followed NHL rules, with five attackers and a goalie on each side, and kept physical contact to a minimum. The final score was 650-628 for the Blue team.The game was organized by Brent Saik, an optometrist for the Edmonton Oilers and founder of the Alberta Sports Vision Institute. The game raised $40,000 for cancer research.Saik registered the game with Guinness and now must file the certified paperwork to make it official.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re feeling a bit tired but we could go on for another 10 or 20 hours,&rdquo; Saik said after the marathon.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re not surprised it was broken,&rdquo; said Mike Schwean, the Moosomin recreation director who organized the January game.The Moosomin group is planning another attempt at the record. &#9632;

New longest game record

<div class="byline">BY MARK BRENDER &#x2022; Contributing Editor</div>As the son of a world-class Greco-Roman wrestler, Ottawa defenseman Zdeno Chara knows about getting up off the mat. It&rsquo;s a good thing, because as a kid he stumbled plenty. Still, he kept on picking himself up again, year after year, until one season he felt he couldn&rsquo;t pick himself up any longer.&ldquo;I really thought I was just going to finish the year,&rdquo; Chara said, &ldquo;and that was it, I wouldn&rsquo;t be playing hockey any more.&rdquo;Chara was 15 or 16 and playing for the Jr. B club in Trencin, Slovakia, when he decided to kiss the game goodbye. He couldn&rsquo;t take the grief. Maybe everybody was right: his game wasn&rsquo;t any more complete. It was just getting taller.And so it appeared his more aptly proportioned papa Zdenek Chara, who competed for Czechoslovakia in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal a year before Zdeno was born-and was blessed with a reasonable 6-foot-2 frame-would be the only elite athlete in the family. The Chara kid, they said, was too big for his own good. They told him so every time he was at the rink.You&rsquo;ll never be mobile enough to keep up with the little guys, the voices said. They&rsquo;re all too fast and quick. You&rsquo;re too slow and awkward. You should be playing basketball, hah, hah, hah.When the next season rolled around, it was those same voices that convinced Chara to keep going. His determination fed off all who would make a molehill out of this mountain, try to embarrass him out of the game. He kept skating, kept falling, kept getting up. And so the NHL&rsquo;s tallest tale marched forward toward an elite-level career few would have predicted a decade ago.&ldquo;I went through those awkward stages a lot,&rdquo; Chara said. &ldquo;It was so tough-and not just physically, but mentally, too.&rdquo;<h2>BIG PROGRESS, QUIET SATISFACTION</h2>So much is written about the never-say-die attitude of the undersized underdog-Theo Fleury, Steve Sullivan, Mike Comrie, on and on. But there&rsquo;s no cute factor to being too big. Nobody describes you as scrappy or courageous. Everybody sees a crane. When you fall, you crash. When you get up, you look like a giraffe. It&rsquo;s impossible to add muscle fast enough to fill in the spaces around those stretching bones and ligaments that don&rsquo;t know when to stop.Now that Chara has plateaued at 6-foot-9 and 255 pounds, he isn&rsquo;t one to gloat. His way is to express quiet satisfaction (but not surprise) at his personal development and the success of his team. He leaves the plaudits to others.This season the plaudits can be seen everywhere-in his selection to the All-Star Game; in Ottawa coach Jacques Martin&rsquo;s decision to give him the &lsquo;A&rsquo; when Curtis Leschyshyn went down with injury; in former Ottawa GM and current Chicago executive Marshall Johnston&rsquo;s assertion that Chara for Alexei Yashin straight up right now, forget about the draft pick that turned out to be Jason Spezza, would be a good deal; in the added attention he&rsquo;s getting from opposition troublemakers. That last bit is a sure sign he&rsquo;s making it big.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-011863/8116827-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg" title="f0014-01" width="530" height="801"></div><h2>INTIMIDATING PRESENCE</h2>&ldquo;Every team has got some key players, players that play a lot,&rdquo; Chara said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the same thing I do. I try to go hard after the guys who play a lot and score the goals and make a difference. That&rsquo;s the nature of this game.&rdquo;While the Sens have been near the top of the NHL standings due to their talent and discipline, they also seem to have a grittier resolve, perhaps because their most intimidating physical presence is averaging a team-high 25:16 minutes of ice time per night, 16th-most in the NHL.&ldquo;That&rsquo;s why I work so hard in the summer,&rdquo; said Chara, who doesn&rsquo;t take a single day off to rest in the off-season. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not working out two, three times a day to get 10 minutes (of ice time).&rdquo;&ldquo;I think he rates up there with the top defensemen in the league,&rdquo; said Sens GM John Muckier. &ldquo;The thing that really amazes me about him, with his height, is the coordination he has. It boggles my mind. He has put it all together.&rdquo;Chara&rsquo;s improvements have come in reading the play and jumping into the rush offensively. With 22 assists and 28 points in 59 games, he has already posted career-best numbers. He is an immovable presence in front of the net on the power play and boasts a remarkably quick rebound-snaring stick, used to score Ottawa&rsquo;s lone goal in a Feb. 15 game, won 2-1 by the Leafs.In the dressing room afterward Chara was very much in demand. As he spoke to the scribes, he had an ice pack on his shoulder and his right hand held a plastic cup with a grainy brown liquid. (Spittle from chewing tobacco? Nah, he said, a chocolate protein shake.) There was a crowd around Daniel Alfredsson and much interest in hometown rookie Jason Spezza. After that Chara was the man.These days Spezza is the novelty who receives attention far out of whack with his impact or performance, but not so long ago that player was Chara. Back on Long Island in the late 1990s, he was coat rack on skates first-the tallest player in NHL history, haven&rsquo;t you heard?-and hockey player second.Today he is legit not because of his size, but for what he has done with it Zdeno Chara is an NHL star, a tall tale no longer.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-021410/8116820-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg" title="f0014-02" width="3281" height="3321"><figcaption class="caption-body">SUPER SIZED&nbsp;At 6-foot-9 and 255 pounds, the only thing bigger than Zdeno Chara in NHL rinks is the Zamboni. (JIM MCISAAC/BBS)</figcaption></div>The Hockey News&nbsp;Scout says:&nbsp;&ldquo;This season, he knows what to do with the puck. He is improved in every way.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-03979/8116813-1-eng-US/f0014-032.jpg" title="f0014-03" width="194" height="313"></div> &#9632;

f0014-01

Chara takes giant step

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0015-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-011696/8116858-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">TOMAS VOKOUN NASHVILLE PREDATORS (JOHN RUSSELL/BBS)</figcaption></div>It&rsquo;s late February-and there is still meaningful hockey being played in Nashville.Granted, the Predators need a great stretch drive to make the playoffs for the first time in their five-year history. They were tied for 11th in the West, 10 points out of eighth. A little more offense would help, though, because they&rsquo;ve been getting the goaltending.Tomas Vokoun, who spent four-plus years as Mike Dunham&rsquo;s backup, took over the No. 1 job when Nashville shipped Dunham to the Rangers in mid-December. (Vokoun and Dunham are the only goalies to ever record wins for the Preds.)The 26-year-old Czech responded by starting 32 of 33 games, going 14-9-4, and surrendering more than three goals just three times in that span. Overall, he&rsquo;s 19-18-7 with a 2.27 goals-against average and .916 save percentage; all are career bests.&ldquo;Tomas has worked really hard and gotten better every year,&rdquo; said Preds GM David Poile. &ldquo;His confidence has been higher each year. We are giving Tomas the puck to make him our No. 1 goaltender.&rdquo;STRETCH DRIVE REPORT The NHL team reports take a look at the final weeks of the season. There&rsquo;s a stretch drive overview for each team, plus categories outlining Needs, an Above & Beyond player, a Down & Out player, Schedule analysis and Hardware Hopefuls.PENALTY MINUTES IN SPOTLIGHT The five players who lead their team in penalty minutes are featured in the &lsquo;Spotlight&rsquo; box. The player with the most PIMs is pictured. Columbus&rsquo;s Jody Shelley, with 179 penalty minutes, leads the NHL. Minnesota&rsquo;s Matt Johnson (164), Florida&rsquo;s Peter Worrell (159), Boston&rsquo;s PJ. Stock (151) and St. Louis&rsquo;s Reed Low (134) round out the top five. Stats are as of Feb. 19.<h2>GOALS FOR & AGAINST</h2>Here is each team&rsquo;s average number of goals scored per game (GPG), goals-against average (GAA) and the difference. Stats are through games played Feb. 19. &#9632;

f0015-01

NHL TEAM REPORTS

<div class="byline">-DAN WOOD</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-03845/8116889-1-eng-US/f0015-032.jpg" title="f0015-03" width="259" height="555"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-021209/8116896-1-eng-US/f0015-022.jpg" title="f0015-02" width="215" height="283"></div>As the Mighty Ducks entered the final days of February, they not only had an opportunity to secure their first Stanley Cup playoff berth since 1999, but needed only to take care of their own business to do so.In sixth place in the Western Conference after putting together a 13-4-1-1 run since early January, the Ducks had climbed into an enviable position.&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t have to watch the scoreboard,&rdquo; said coach Mike Babcock. &ldquo;All you have to do is look after your job. What comes with that is a little bit of pressure, but that&rsquo;s what we want, to be under pressure to perform.&rdquo;NEEDS While the Ducks could benefit from another talented addition or two before the trade deadline, they&rsquo;d settle for the return of center Andy McDonald, enforcer Kevin Sawyer and right winger Dan Bylsma from injuries.All were sidelined indefinitely.ABOVE & BEYOND Defenseman Niclas Havelid&rsquo;s strong play after recovering from reconstructive knee surgery was one thing the Ducks hadn&rsquo;t expected. Havelid&rsquo;s ability to move the puck and provide strong two-way play has been an oft-overlooked factor in the club&rsquo;s improvement.DOWN & OUT The Ducks signed defenseman Fredrik Olausson last summer hoping he could become a key element on their power play. It didn&rsquo;t happen and the mid-season acquisition of defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh left Olausson unlikely to play unless injuries struck.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (11), Road (11). The Ducks host Chicago March 12 and visit the Blackhawks a week later in what could be pivotal games as both teams pursue playoff berths.HARDWARE HOPEFULS Stanislav Chistov, Calder.NOTEBOOK Forty-five members of backup goaltender Martin Gerber&rsquo;s Switzerland-based fan club attended three games in Anaheim Feb. 17-21. &#9632;

f0015-03

Post-season in future for resurgent Ducks

<div class="byline">-JEFF SCHULTZ</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-05430/8116927-1-eng-US/f0015-052.jpg" title="f0015-05" width="257" height="553"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-04620/8116934-1-eng-US/f0015-042.jpg" title="f0015-04" width="218" height="282"></div>The boost the Thrashers received following the hiring of coach Bob Hartley is dissolving in a training room whirlpool.The Thrashers took off for a season-long, seven-game road trip, having lost two goalies (Byron Dafoe and Pasi Nurminen) to groin injuries and top defenseman Andy Sutton to a high-ankle sprain. This came on the heels of left winger Shawn McEachern requiring back surgery that may end his season.So instead of competing for a playoff spot down the stretch, the Thrashers are merely trying to stay upright.NEEDS Other than a healthy, competent goalie, the team&rsquo;s top need hasn&rsquo;t changed in three-and-a-half seasons: a dependable, physical defenseman who can provide toughness and leadership to steady a young blueline.ABOVE & BEYOND Though currently out with an ankle sprain, Sutton went from roster bubble player to the team&rsquo;s best and most consistent defenseman, bringing a physical edge and showing an unexpected offensive upside (10 assists in 15 January games).DOWN & OUT Consider it a tie between two netminders. Milan Hnilicka went from NHL starter to the American League after nine straight losses to open the year, while Dafoe (5-11-1,4.36 goals-against average) has struggled.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (9), Road (13). A grueling five-game western swing starting in Edmonton Feb. 23 sits in the middle of a seven-game road stretch. The highlight: a meeting with Hartley&rsquo;s former team in Colorado Feb. 27.HARDWARE HOPEFULS None.NOTEBOOK Fourth-year center Patrik Stefan, 22, is finally realizing his potential. His overtime goal against Buffalo Feb. 17 gave him a career-high 12 this year. &#9632;

f0015-05

Hartley’s effect negated by injuries

<div class="byline">-NANCY MARRAPESE-BURRELL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-021291/8116965-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="258" height="550"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-011659/8116972-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="222" height="279"></div>After the first two months of the season, it appeared the Bruins would be a top contender to win the Eastern Conference.However, since then, they&rsquo;ve been unable to play with any consistency. They&rsquo;ve been floundering, losing more than they win, and are just trying to stay in the playoff hunt.NEEDS The Bruins felt they had no choice but to deal Kyle McLaren for help in goal, but it left them short behind the blueline. Injuries to Sean O&rsquo;Donnell and Hal Gill put them further behind the 8-ball. If they need to shore up one area of their game, it&rsquo;s on defense.ABOVE & BEYOND Mike Knuble has played every forward position, from top line to fourth line. Whatever he has been asked to do, he has done. This year, he has thrived on a line with Joe Thornton and Glen Murray, reaching a career high in goals.DOWN & OUT From a broken foot early in the season to a strained groin later on, injuries have plagued Martin Lapointe. Partly because linemates P.J. Axelsson and Brian Rolston are pressed into special teams service so often, it has been harder for Lapointe to get into any kind of groove.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (12), Road (12). There are a lot of big games on the schedule, but none with more emotion than when Bill Guerin comes back to town with Dallas Feb. 25HARDWARE HOPEFULS Joe Thornton, Hart, Art Ross.NOTEBOOK Upset at being insulted by a fan when he was pulled against the Predators in Nashville Feb. 17, goalie Jeff Hackett responded with a few choice words, but regretted it. &ldquo;I shouldn&rsquo;t have wasted my time on him,&rdquo; Hackett said. &ldquo;The bottom line is I&rsquo;m not proud of what I said, but you compete and if he ever puts himself into a situation where he&rsquo;s competing, he&rsquo;d pretty well understand that that isn&rsquo;t a fun skate.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0016-02

Once-promising year beginning to unravel

<div class="byline">-BUCKY GLEASON</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-04736/8117003-1-eng-US/f0016-042.jpg" title="f0016-04" width="262" height="549"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-03973/8117010-1-eng-US/f0016-032.jpg" title="f0016-03" width="213" height="278"></div>The Sabres knew they were out of the playoff race long before now and are left with the spoiler role.Those who want to remain in Buffalo can attempt to impress prospective owners, should the franchise get sold. Those who want to leave should play hard simply to become trade bait.The Sabres already have traveled in different directions this season and many players could have more trips to take before the season is over.NEEDS The Sabres need stable ownership before addressing the future. Rochester billionaire Tom Golisano was crunching numbers in hopes of buying the team, but nothing was certain. The Sabres could have a new management team, a new coach and several new players before next season. Without an owner, they might not have a team.ABOVE & BEYOND Adam Mair has shown hard work pays off. He battled his way off the fourth line, contributed on both ends and added much-needed grit.DOWN & OUT Goaltender Mika Noronen was expected to challenge Martin Biron for playing time, but he struggled in net, was late for a practice and spent most of the season in American League Rochester.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (11) Road (12). They&rsquo;ll miss the playoffs, but they can muddle the Eastern Conference playoff picture in the third week of March when they play Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, the Rangers and Toronto in a nine-day stretch.HARDWARE HOPEFULS Ales Kotalik, Calder.NOTEBOOK The Sabres&rsquo; AHL affiliate in Rochester might exercise an escape clause and look for a new parent club unless prospective owner Tom Golisano successfully purchases the franchise&hellip;Center Curtis Brown scored shorthanded goals in back-to-back games, including the winner in a 5-4 win over the New York Rangers Feb. 15. &#9632;

f0016-04

Playoffs out of picture, so Sabres play spoiler

<div class="byline">-ERIC DUHATSCHEK</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-06443/8117041-1-eng-US/f0016-062.jpg" title="f0016-06" width="260" height="553"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-05535/8117048-1-eng-US/f0016-052.jpg" title="f0016-05" width="210" height="271"></div>After six consecutive years out of the playoffs, the early-season optimism of October gave way to the same sad storyline soon after-the Flames are awful again, lumbering along at the bottom of the Western Conference, facing a seventh year of answering the same question: What went wrong this time?The answer: Just about everything. Special teams were abysmal, goaltending was below par, the defense proved mistake-prone and not enough forwards contributed the necessary or timely scoring.NEEDS The Western Conference&rsquo;s lowest-scoring team, Calgary&rsquo;s need for improved offense revolved around virtually all areas of the game. They also needed more offense from defense and additional scoring from secondary sources.ABOVE & BEYOND Center Stephane Yelle anchored the third line all season and gave the Flames everything they&rsquo;d asked from him-a strong faceoff man, and a solid defensive presence.DOWN & OUT In mid-February, goalie Roman Turek&rsquo;s save percentage dipped below .900 and his goals-against average crept above 2.70. Turek had his moments this season, but his overall inconsistency set back a team whose scoring woes put an enormous amount of pressure on the goaltender to minimize mistakes.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (11) Road (10). Long gone from the playoff race, about all the Flames have left to play for at this stage of the season is to be the spoiler again.HARDWARE HOPEFULS None.NOTEBOOK GM Craig Button confirmed the New York Rangers had called to inquire about the availability of right winger Jarome Iginla after Iginla&rsquo;s name popped up again in trade rumors, but reiterated the organization was not planning to deal their leading scorer and the reigning NHL scoring champion. &#9632;

f0016-06

Dismal performance plagues entire team

<div class="byline">-LUKE DECOCK</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-021152/8117079-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg" title="f0017-02" width="261" height="551"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-011482/8117086-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="216" height="233"></div>The Carolina Hurricanes lost 26 games all last season. This season, they reached that mark Feb. 5.So the task for Carolina isn&rsquo;t so much to rally, but to rebuild.That&rsquo;s why players such as left winger Ryan Bayda and right winger Pavel Brendl are getting all the ice time they can handle. Right winger Jeff Heerema would be as well had he not broken his wrist, yet another in the long list of injuries to befall the Canes this season.NEEDS Carolina is almost certain to get its first top-10 pick in the draft since the team selected center Jeff O&rsquo;Neill fifth overall in 1995. Trading away some older players for picks and prospects-the Sami Kapanen-for-Brendl deal being the first of many expected before the March 11 deadline-would help replenish a farm system that lacks depth.ABOVE & BEYOND Expected to spend this season in the minors, right winger Craig Adams made it impossible for the Canes to cut him in training camp. His numbers-three goals and seven points-don&rsquo;t do justice to his effort.DOWN & OUT Left winger Bates Battaglia turned a breakthrough, 21-goal campaign last year into a wretched mess of a season this year. He had only five goals through 60 games, which will cost the restricted free agent a hefty wad of cash this summer, in terms of lost potential salary.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (11), Road (10). The Hurricanes have four chances left to improve their wretched 4-8-2-2 record in the Southeast Division. A March 2 game at Washington and April 4 game at Florida stand out as critical tests.HARDWARE HOPEFULS None.NOTEBOOK Coincidence or not, goaltender Kevin Weekes got hot when Arturs Irbe was placed on waivers and sent to Lowell (AHL). Weekes stopped 146 of 155 shots (a .942 save percentage) in the next four games&hellip;The reeling Hurricanes lost two more players to injuries. Left winger Jaroslav Svoboda sustained a shoulder injury and right winger Jesse Boulerice sustained a concussion in a one-punch knockout by Dallas right winger Aaron Downey. &#9632;

f0017-02

Carolina to try out prospects with playoff dreams dead

<div class="byline">-TIM SASSONE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-04612/8117117-1-eng-US/f0017-042.jpg" title="f0017-04" width="259" height="551"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-03835/8117124-1-eng-US/f0017-032.jpg" title="f0017-03" width="215" height="279"></div>If the Blackhawks are going to make the postseason for the second consecutive year, they will need Jocelyn Thibault to take them there.At one time in December, Chicago had a seven-point grip on a playoff spot in the West only to hit a rough stretch after New Year&rsquo;s Day that saw the Hawks win just five of 22 games (5-10-4-3).Thibault went 4-9-2 in 15 decisions since a Jan. 2 win at St. Louis, but the Hawks&rsquo; popgun offense was at the root of their struggles-particularly a power play that ranked last in the league (11.8 per cent).NEEDS The Blackhawks have lacked a clutch goal-scorer all season, someone to make a difference late in games and on the power play. Left winger Eric Daze has battled injuries much of the year and left winger Theoren Fleury has been a disappointment.ABOVE & BEYOND It&rsquo;s hard to imagine where Chicago would be defensively without blueliner Steve Poapst&rsquo;s steady and poised play. No Hawks defenseman played more minutes than Poapst (22:26) and his plus-11 through 60 games topped all Chicago blueliners.DOWN & OUT Fleury hasn&rsquo;t turned out to be the difference maker the Hawks gambled millions he would be and his off-ice problems have been a big distraction. The team hasn&rsquo;t been the same since the Columbus strip-club incident.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (13), Road (9). Games on March 12 and March 19 against Anaheim could be keys to making the playoffs. The Hawks have it tough with two games remaining against Philadelphia, Dallas, Colorado and St. Louis in addition to the Mighty Ducks.HARDWARE HOPEFULS Tyler Arnason, Calder; Jocelyn Thibault, Vezina; Alex Zhamnov, Selke.NOTEBOOK Defenseman Phil Housley broke his right foot blocking a shot against Toronto Feb. 12 and isn&rsquo;t expected back until late March&hellip;Right winger Steve Thomas scored his 400th career goal Feb. 17 against Colorado&hellip;GM Mike Smith fired Jim Jenkins, left winger Theoren Fleury&rsquo;s team-paid sponsor&hellip;When Steve Passmore beat Columbus 7-1 Feb. 15, he became the first Blackhawks goaltender other than Jocelyn Thibault to register a victory this season. &#9632;

f0017-04

Blackhawks turn to Thibault to help them secure berth

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0017-05" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-05425/8117155-1-eng-US/f0017-052.jpg"></div>Thursday, February 27 Atlanta at Colorado &bull; 9pmETIt&rsquo;s the first visit to Colorado for ex-Avs coach Bob Hartley since he was fired in December. The Atlanta bench boss doesn&rsquo;t have the horses he had in Denver, but he has them trotting to a beat.Monday, March 3 NY Islanders at NY Rangers &bull; 8pmETIt&rsquo;s a shame deposed Rangers&rsquo; coach Bryan Trottier isn&rsquo;t around for this tilt against the team for which he starred. But it never seemed right to begin with. At least we know he&rsquo;s cheering for the Isles again.Tuesday, March 4 New Jersey at Minnesota &bull; 8pmETSince we&rsquo;re on these yarns about coaches, this will be a good test for the Jacques Lemaire-coach Wild against Lemaire&rsquo;s former team. March has always been a good month for the Wild&rsquo;s Marian Gaborik.<h2>NHL TELEVISION DIRECTORY FOR UPCOMING GAMES &#9632;</h2>

f0017-05

BIG THREE GAMES OF THE WEEK

<div class="byline">-ADRIAN DATER</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-021178/8117186-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg" title="f0018-02" width="256" height="552"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-011540/8117193-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="217" height="270"></div>A season that, as recently as mid-January, looked lost for the Colorado Avalanche has now been found.The Avs entered the stretch run on a 13-game streak in which they earned at least one point (10-0-2-1), vaulting the club from the bottom of the Western Conference playoff rungs to within breathing distance of the leaders. Patrick Roy had reclaimed his usual fine form in goal, while the line of right winger Milan Hejduk, center Peter Forsberg and left winger Alex Tanguay was a three-headed monster. Multiple-point games for the trio was becoming the norm and the Avs were winning every night even without captain Joe Sakic.Indeed, things are looking good again in the Mile High City as the playoffs approach. (See pg. 10 for cover story on Avs.)NEEDS Someone to help out on the penalty kill would certainly help Colorado. The Avs still rank among the bottom five teams on the penalty kill, something that could kill them in the playoffs.The Avs have trouble clearing pucks too often, even though lead penalty killers Eric Messier, Mike Keane and Jeff Shantz work hard and are good shot-blockers. They need a pesky player to knock pucks loose and get them out.ABOVE & BEYOND Hejduk was on pace to beat his career high of 41 goals. The smooth winger scored his first career hat trick in a big Feb. 8 win over Detroit and had 32 goals in 58 games as of Feb. 19.DOWN & OUT Gritty right winger Dan Hinote has been plagued by injuries all year and has received dwindling ice time when he has played. Hinote&rsquo;s crashing style may be catching up to his 190-pound frame.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (11), Away (13). Key dates include Bob Hartley&rsquo;s return to Colorado with Atlanta Feb.27, along with a March 15 game against Detroit and a game the following day in Washington.HARDWARE HOPEFULS Peter Forsberg, Hart; Milan Hejduk, Rocket Richard.NOTEBOOK The Avs hoped to have center Joe Sakic back by the end of February. He has been out since Jan. 20 with a broken foot&hellip;Over a nine-game stretch, the line of Peter Forsberg, Milan Hejduk and Alex Tanguay combined for 41 points. &#9632;

f0018-02

Forsberg’s line returns Colorado to league’s upper echelon

<div class="byline">-AARON PORTZLINE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-04567/8117224-1-eng-US/f0018-042.jpg" title="f0018-04" width="257" height="550"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03850/8117231-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg" title="f0018-03" width="217" height="280"></div>Regardless of what the Blue Jackets say, they haven&rsquo;t really been in the playoff chase. It has been a fine season, but making the playoffs is still a year away, if not longer.What they&rsquo;ve got left is a couple of noble goals.First, they&rsquo;d like to finish with as many points as the Florida Panthers. Remember, as part of the trade that gave Columbus the No. 1 pick last June-they drafted Calder candidate Rick Nash-the Panthers have the option of flopping first round draft picks in this year&rsquo;s entry draft.Second, they&rsquo;d like to break the franchise records for wins (28) and points (71), both set during their inaugural 2000-01 season.NEEDS The Blue Jackets desperately need more offense from their defensemen. Jaroslav Spacek, acquired last March in a trade with Chicago, has been dependable, but he can&rsquo;t do it alone. Luke Richardson and Scott Lachance were brought in as free agents to be steady and reliable, but puck-movers and offensive threats they are not. It would behoove the Blue Jackets to surround them with blueliners who are.ABOVE & BEYOND Right winger David Vyborny could well have been shipped back to Europe during training camp. But the Blue Jackets kept him around and he has repaid them with a career year.DOWN & OUT It&rsquo;s hard to get a read on defenseman&rsquo;s Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre&rsquo;s season, because it has been interrupted by two significant injuries. But the 26-year-old&rsquo;s NHL future is up in the air.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (12), Road (11). The Blue Jackets hope they&rsquo;re setting themselves up for a big finish, playing 10 of 12 games in Nationwide Arena between Feb. 27 and March 22. The playoff charge they&rsquo;d hoped for never materialized.HARDWARE HOPEFULS Rick Nash, Calder.NOTEBOOK Coach-GM Doug MacLean should have left the Blue Jackets&rsquo; forward lines alone. In six games after he shuffled the deck-promoting left winger Rick Nash to the top line next to center Andrew Cassels-the Blue Jackets scored one even-strength goal&hellip;Left winger Geoff Sanderson ended a 14-game scoring drought with a goal Feb. 13 in Montreal&hellip;The Blue Jackets&rsquo; 2-1 win over the Canadiens was their first overtime win of the season. &#9632;

f0018-04

Blue Jackets see improvements, but it’ll be golf in spring, not playoffs

<div class="byline">-CHUCK CARLTON</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-06296/8117262-1-eng-US/f0018-062.jpg" title="f0018-06" width="255" height="551"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-05381/8117269-1-eng-US/f0018-052.jpg" title="f0018-05" width="210" height="244"></div>The Dallas Stars have already achieved so much this season that many of their goals have been metThey&rsquo;re all but mathematically assured of the Pacific Division title. But they want more, which means holding off a handful of teams in the Western Conference and dueling Ottawa for the Presidents&rsquo; Trophy.&ldquo;We want to finish as high as we can,&rdquo; said coach Dave Tippett, who has shown no willingness to back off the team&rsquo;s goals.NEEDS At full strength, the Stars might be as deep as any NHL team. But they&rsquo;ve been beset by several nagging injuries and a significant one&mdash;a sprained ankle to goaltender Marty Turco. Originally, the team worried Turco could be sidelined until late March. He should be back sooner, but until he returns, Ron Tugnutt is the No. 1 goaltender. The fourth line remains unsettled, which could lead to a trade deadline pickup.ABOVE & BEYOND Center Niko Kapanen leads all rookies in plus-minus and assists. And offense is far from his biggest contribution. As a checker, he&rsquo;s ably gone head-to-head with players as diverse as Eric Lindros and Sergei Fedorov.DOWN & OUT Defenseman Richard Matvichuk was just starting to turn his season around when he went down with a cracked fibula. So far, Matvichuk has dealt with a new defensive partner, a new system and a new role. But he still could be effective in the playoffs.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (11), Road (II). Within the span of eight days, the Stars play Vancouver twice (March 17 and 25). The result could determine the top seed in the West. The Canucks recently won overtime games against both Colorado and Detroit in their quest to capture the conference.HARDWARE HOPEFULS Mike Modano, Hart; Niko Kapanen, Calder; Sergei Zubov, Derian Hatcher, Norris; Marty Turco, Vezina; Jere Lehtinen, Selke, Lady Byng.NOTEBOOK In honor of his 1,000th game and 1,000th assist, center Mike Modano was honored by the Stars Feb. 16. Among the gifts: a Big Dog Chopper motorcycle&hellip;Goaltender Ron Tugnutt was 4-0-0 with a 1.02 goals-against average after losses this season&hellip;The Stars traded perennial prospect Jon Sim to Nashville Feb. 17 for defenseman Andy &lsquo;Bubba&rsquo; Berenzweig. &#9632;

f0018-06

Stars have accomplished plenty, but Tippett won’t rest on laurels

<div class="byline">-NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-021064/8117300-1-eng-US/f0019-022.jpg" title="f0019-02" width="257" height="552"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-011414/8117307-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg" title="f0019-01" width="223" height="267"></div>The Detroit Red Wings won the 2002 Stanley Cup and entered 2003 as the No. 1 team in the NHL. But they&rsquo;ve been mediocre at best since then and have a lot of question marks down the stretch, including: the returns of defenseman Jiri Fischer and captain Steve Yzerman from major knee injuries; the inconsistent performances of their star players; and the porous nature of their defense.NEEDS The Wings would love to add a veteran defenseman (or two) who could make opponents think twice before going into a corner or in front of the net. After veteran blueliners Chris Chelios and Nicklas Lidstrom, the team&rsquo;s defense corps thins out fast. An injury could cause major problems.ABOVE & BEYOND Defenseman Patrick Boileau was minus-1 in his first game up from the minors. He wasn&rsquo;t a minus again for 17 straight games.DOWN & OUT Left winger Luc Robitaille had goals in two straight games recently, but they gave him only seven in 58 games this season.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (11), Road (12). The Wings&rsquo; goal is to win the Central Division and they face the St. Louis Blues three times in March. Curtis Joseph should be between the pipes for his first meeting against his former Maple Leaf mates, Feb. 27 in Detroit.HARDWARE HOPEFULS Nicklas Lidstrom, Norris; Kirk Maltby, Selke.NOTEBOOK Agent Pat Brisson and Red Wings GM Ken Holland have started negotiating a contract extension for center Sergei Fedorov, a potential unrestricted free agent as of this summer&hellip;Defenseman Jason Woolley scored in the Wings&rsquo; 4-2 victory over Buffalo Feb. 13, his first game against the Sabres since they traded him Nov. 15&hellip;The Red Wings had trouble with third period leads after the all-star break, blowing a three-goal lead against the Nashville Predators Feb. 4, a one-goal lead against the Colorado Avalanche Feb. 8 and a three-goal lead against the Vancouver Canucks Feb. 18. &ldquo;When you&rsquo;re winning going into the third like we were, you want to win,&rdquo; said goaltender Curtis Joseph. &ldquo;You&rsquo;ve got to win. That&rsquo;s all there is to it.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0019-02

Health status of Yzerman, Fischer among Wings stretch drive issues

<div class="byline">-ROB TYCHKOWSKI</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-04562/8117338-1-eng-US/f0019-042.jpg" title="f0019-04" width="256" height="550"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-03735/8117345-1-eng-US/f0019-032.jpg" title="f0019-03" width="213" height="283"></div>Injured and slumping, the Oilers-who put together a 2-5-0-0 record following the all-star break-aren&rsquo;t in great shape for their usual life or death dash for the final spot Defenseman Jason Smith is out a month with a separated shoulder, Janne Niinimaa is on the limp and left winger Ryan Smyth has been sidelined twice with a bad shoulder. On the bright side, there&rsquo;s no logjam of playoff contenders underneath them. Only the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings have realistic chances to steal the eighth spotNEEDS Small up front and injured on defense, the Oilers could use a physical forward who can chip in offense and a reliable blueliner. But on their budget there is no cavalry. They simply need everyone at the top of their game like they had during their 10-1-1-0 stretch. The talent is there. The consistency is missing.ABOVE & BEYOND Normally a defensive specialist, center Todd Marchant elevated his play all the way to the first line and No. 1 power play unit He&rsquo;s also near the league lead in faceoff percentage.DOWN & OUT After a great pre-season, Dan Cleary had only four goals in 50 games. He has been decent defensively, but has to do more with the amount of ice he&rsquo;s getting.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (12), Road (11). After facing Detroit, Vancouver, Colorado and St Louis from Feb. 20 to 27,13 of their last 18 games are against teams currently out of the playoffs.HARUWARE HOPEFULS None.NOTEBOOK The Oilers and Alberta-rival Calgary Flames have expanded their hockey lottery, introducing a $5 scratch-and-win ticket called &ldquo;3 Star Selection.&rdquo; Proceeds will be split between the two clubs. Two earlier hockey lotteries realized a total of $1.5 million (Cdn.) for each team&hellip;An 0-for-4 effort against Montreal Feb. 15 dropped Edmonton&rsquo;s power play into a 3-for-53 drought&hellip;Defenseman Jason Smith had no problem with the hit from Toronto&rsquo;s Darcy Tucker that separated his shoulder: &ldquo;If I had a chance to hit somebody like that I&rsquo;d probably take it,&rdquo; Smith said&hellip;Oilers optometrist Dr. Brent Saik and 39 friends broke the world record for the longest hockey game Feb. 13-15. The 80-hour marathon, played on a rink in Saik&rsquo;s front yard, raised $50,000 for cancer research. &ldquo;My father passed away nine years ago with cancer,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;During his last few days he said, &lsquo;When I&rsquo;m gone, do whatever you can to try and raise funds.&rsquo;&rdquo; The final score: 656-628. (See pg. 13 for more on longest game.) &#9632;

f0019-04

Oilers limping into final leg of annual mad dash for playoffs

<div class="byline">-DAVID J. NEAL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-06305/8117376-1-eng-US/f0019-062.jpg" title="f0019-06" width="260" height="552"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-05413/8117383-1-eng-US/f0019-052.jpg" title="f0019-05" width="205" height="283"></div>All season, the Florida Panthers have been right there on the edge of the playoffs, never quite able to make it completely in the door. That&rsquo;s how they have appeared in many games, as well.They&rsquo;ve been good enough to get ties and overtime losses. But that leaves them vulnerable on the wins tiebreaker for the playoffs. And their inconsistencies make winning streaks unlikely. Also, they don&rsquo;t have enough games left with teams they&rsquo;re battling in the race for a post-season slot.NEEDS Perhaps the local Seminoles can remove the curse that has kept Valeri Bure, Kristian Huselius and Niklas Hagman to a combined 26 goals this year. On the less supernatural side, a power winger or a big center would help the Panthers, who have matchup problems against some of the bulkier centers in the Eastern Conference.ABOVE & BEYOND As a 19-year-old rookie, defenseman Jay Bouwmeester is a solid No. 1. Against the Tampa Bay Lightning recently, he put the game into overtime, then was the defenseman out to kill the Lightning&rsquo;s power play in overtime.DOWN & OUT Bure&rsquo;s goals-per-game average pro-rates to a meager nine over an 82-game season. Even a career-high assist-per-game ratio of .565 doesn&rsquo;t make up for that.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (10), Road (13). If the Panthers are serious about sticking around the playoff race, they&rsquo;ll need points in the six games from Feb. 24 to March 1, especially the last two-road games at Tampa Bay and at the New York Rangers.HARDWARE HOPEFULS Jay Bouwmeester, Calder.NOTEBOOK Goaltender Roberto Luongo&rsquo;s shutout of the Montreal Canadiens Feb. 18 was his sixth of the season, breaking his own franchise record set in 2000-01&hellip;A South Florida Panthers beat writer wrote a column stating Mike Keenan, who favors big, physical veterans, was the wrong coach for the young, medium-sized, European-flavored Panthers. Keenan replied, in part, &ldquo;We&rsquo;re pretty much ahead of schedule. We have done better than what anyone expected, including the media here.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0019-06

Panthers aim for post-season, but inconsistency hurts cause

<div class="byline">-MATT MCHALE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-02944/8117414-1-eng-US/f0020-022.jpg" title="f0020-02" width="252" height="554"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-011314/8117421-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg" title="f0020-01" width="212" height="283"></div>The Los Angeles Kings won six of their first eight games after the All-Star break, but still had to jump past Chicago and Edmonton to get the final playoff spot in the West.The club was riding a Ziggy Palffy scoring spree plus improved defense and goaltending as Jamie Storr stepped in for the injured Felix Potvin.The defense has been bolstered by Aaron Miller, who missed most of first half with abdominal surgery and a broken foot.NEEDS If Storr can provide consistent goaltending, the search for more scoring should come from within when Jason Allison returns from his hip flexor injury. The Kings are hopeful he&rsquo;ll be back by March 1. Any significant trades will be to shed salary, not take more on.ABOVE AND BEYOND Palffy almost singlehandedly pushed the Kings back into the playoff chase with a nine-game scoring streak and a 14-game run that included 11 goals and 21 points. All this came while the club was listening to trade offers for Palffy from playoff contenders including Philadelphia and the New York Islanders.DOWN AND OUT Potvin, an unrestricted free agent this summer, was hoping he would get a contract extension after this season. His badly sprained right knee and inconsistent play have put that in doubt.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (11), Road (12). Two of the Kings&rsquo; final five games are against Vancouver, March 29 and the April 6 season finale. Last season, the Canucks beat the Kings twice and tied them once in the last 10 days.HARDWARE HOPEFULS None.NOTEBOOK Defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky returned to the lineup as a left winger on the top line with center Ziggy Palffy and Derek Armstrong after missing a month with a sprained left knee. &#9632;

f0020-02

Return of Allison key to stretch drive

<div class="byline">-TOM JONES</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-04464/8117452-1-eng-US/f0020-042.jpg" title="f0020-04" width="255" height="553"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-03677/8117459-1-eng-US/f0020-032.jpg" title="f0020-03" width="216" height="252"></div>When Minnesota began this season, its third in the NHL, only it-and no one else-expected to be in the thick of the playoff race with six weeks left.Minnesota has proven it&rsquo;s capable of playing well for long stretches. What it hasn&rsquo;t proven is whether it can play well in the heat of the post-season.Wild coach Jacques Lemaire has been there before, but most of his players haven&rsquo;t.NEEDS Minnesota likely will stick with what it has, and not add any players. But it needs more offensive production out of the current staff, particularly veterans such as Andrew Brunette, Wes Walz and Darby Hendrickson. Marian Gaborik is good, but he needs help.ABOVE & BEYOND Goalie Dwayne Roloson&rsquo;s career year is the reason why the Wild is alive and kicking. He equaled his career-high mark of 14 victories Jan. 23 and is still going strong.DOWN & OUT Two seasons ago, Darby Hendrickson tied for the team lead in goals with 18. He had none through mid-February, mostly because he was out much of the season with a fractured arm.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (9), Road (13). The Wild&rsquo;s schedule gets rough with two games each against Ottawa, Dallas, Detroit and St. Louis. The Wild&rsquo;s last five games, though, don&rsquo;t look too daunting: home against Chicago, Calgary and Columbus, and at Columbus and Toronto.HARDWARE HOPEFULS Wes Walz, Selke.NOTEBOOK The Wild hopes the return of left winger Jeremy Stevenson from a shoulder injury will get right winger Marian Gaborik going again. Gaborik went through a stretch of three goals in 21 games. Wild coach Lemaire said he would like to reunite Stevenson on a line with Marian Gaborik and rookie center Pierre-Marc Bouchard. &#9632;

f0020-04

Unproven Wild aiming for first playoff berth

<div class="byline">-HERB ZURKOWSKY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-06214/8117490-1-eng-US/f0020-062.jpg" title="f0020-06" width="255" height="553"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-05268/8117497-1-eng-US/f0020-052.jpg" title="f0020-05" width="214" height="251"></div>For the second consecutive year, it appears the Montreal Canadiens won&rsquo;t know until April whether or not they&rsquo;ll be in the playoffs.Lack of consistency has meant the Canadiens have oscillated between seventh and 10th place in the Eastern Conference most of the season, depending on whether the team was on a winning or losing streak.Montreal caught fire late last season, winning seven straight to earn a playoff berth for the first time in four years. It might take a repeat performance this time.NEEDS The Canadiens have failed to address their lack of size, be it on defense or at forward.Team after team has come into the Bell Centre and watched the Canadiens fail to create traffic in front of the net, because their players can&rsquo;t or are unwilling to pay the price.ABOVE & BEYOND Russian blueliner Andrei Markov, in only his third pro season, has emerged as the team&rsquo;s most talented defender.DOWN & OUT Jose Theodore hasn&rsquo;t hit skid row, but the goaltender hasn&rsquo;t duplicated his 2001-02 career season, when he singlehandedly carried the team into the playoffs. But he&rsquo;s also had little help from his defense.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (10), Road (10). The Canadiens have a six-game road trip between March 5-13 that could well make or break the season, especially since they&rsquo;ve struggled on the road this season (10-14-3-4).HARDWARE HOPEFULS None.NOTEBOOK Defenseman Patrice Brisebois, ordered to rest for a week due to an irregular heartbeat caused by stress, caught management by surprise when he went on a five-day European vacation in Paris without its knowledge. GM Andre Savard said Brisebois would neither be fined nor suspended, but his future with the team following 13 seasons appears tenuous. &#9632;

f0020-06

Once again, Habs live on post-season bubble

<div class="byline">-DAVID BOCLAIR</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-08130/8117528-1-eng-US/f0020-082.jpg" title="f0020-08" width="254" height="553"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-07182/8117535-1-eng-US/f0020-072.jpg" title="f0020-07" width="215" height="248"></div>Nashville has averaged fewer than 10 victories following the all-star break in its four-year history, and its 2-10-4-4 start to this season has meant it must do better to generate any sort of buzz.This time, four wins and a tie in the first six, capped by a 5-1 rout of Boston Feb. 17, created optimism, but only lifted the Predators to sole possession of 11th place in the Western Conference&hellip;still a long way out.NEEDS A bruising, true top-four defenseman not only would clean up in front of the net, but would allow smallish Kimmo Timonen to limit his ice time and focus on offensive situations. A big winger with soft hands would be a nice addition.ABOVE & BEYOND Goalie Tomas Vokoun, has answered all questions regarding his mental toughness from the moment Mike Dunham was traded. The team has been better than .500 since.DOWN & OUT Center Denis Arkhipov failed to score goals early in the season and let it affect the rest of his game, which in turn minimized his scoring chances.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (11), Road (13). The reality of the Preds&rsquo; situation is such that late-season games against Chicago (March 27), Atlanta (March 29) and Phoenix (April 4) will likely be more about draft positioning than playoff positioning.HARDWARE HOPEFULS Adam Hall, Calder.NOTEBOOK Left winger Andreas Johansson is the sixth player in franchise history to score 20 goals in a season, and the fastest ever to get there (50 games)&hellip;Nashville was the last team in the league to record a shutout, which it finally did Feb. 13 against the Islanders. Goalie Tomas Vokoun stopped 36 shots for the whitewash&hellip;Right winger Adam Hall tied the franchise record for goals by a rookie when he scored his 13th Feb. 17 against Boston. &#9632;

f0020-08

Improving Predators still no threat in West

<div class="byline">-RICH CHERE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-02668/8117566-1-eng-US/f0021-022.jpg" title="f0021-02" width="257" height="563"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-011057/8117573-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg" title="f0021-01" width="208" height="274"></div>They always believed they had the talent.And since the New Jersey Devils have proved willing to be held accountable by coach Pat Burns for their rare lapses, they have not gone two straight games all season without earning at least one point, through games played Feb. 19.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the coach,&rdquo; said goalie Martin Brodeur. &ldquo;He demands a lot. He&rsquo;s not going to let us go out and not work hard. He takes it personally when we don&rsquo;t play well. We&rsquo;re starting to take on that personality.&rdquo;With such consistency, the Devils were confident of winning the Atlantic Division and hopeful of winning the Eastern Conference.NEEDS A truce between Burns and forwards Patrik Elias and Scott Gomez. Elias, in serious jeopardy of failing to reach the 30-goal plateau, was displeased with a recent benching. Gomez tried to downplay his benching and Burns&rsquo;s claim that he needed to mature. Burns has tried the tough approach. Perhaps a different tactic could get more out of these two players and make the Devils truly dangerous.ABOVE & BEYOND Right winger Jamie Langenbrunner has a good chance of posting the best offensive numbers of his career, but it&rsquo;s the timeliness of his goals that has most impressed his teammates. Through 59 games, he had a team-high five game-winners.DOWN & OUT The Devils were still awaiting the return of defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky, who had played just two games since Jan. 3 because of dizziness and fatigue. Neurologist Dr. Karen Johnston diagnosed it as post-concussion syndrome.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (10), Road (13). With four games against the Islanders and three against the Rangers, both fighting for playoff spots, New Jersey can determine which team they might meet in the post-season. The final two months are basically a New York-area round-robin tournament.HARDWARE HOPEFULS Martin Brodeur, Hart, Vezina; Scott Niedermayer, Norris; John Madden, Selke.NOTEBOOK Rookie Mike Rupp impressed coach Pat Burns enough to be moved up to the Patrik Elias-Scott Gomez line. &#9632;

f0021-02

Burns earning accolades tor Devilish consistency

<div class="byline">-PETER BOTTE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-04311/8117604-1-eng-US/f0021-042.jpg" title="f0021-04" width="258" height="563"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-03420/8117611-1-eng-US/f0021-032.jpg" title="f0021-03" width="227" height="292"></div>The New York Islanders hope to use the stretch drive to maximize their positioning in the Eastern Conference playoff picture rather than simply solidify their place in it.Their 28-23-6-2 record through Feb. 19 was impressive, considering the Isles opened the season without Michael Peca (they&rsquo;re 23-13-5-2 with him, 5-10-1-0 without). They&rsquo;ve also survived much of the season with inconsistent goal production from Alexei Yashin (14 in 59 games), who recently spent time on the fourth line.But a strong finish, similar to their surge at the end of last season, might land them as high as the fifth or sixth seed in the East.NEEDS GM Mike Milbury was on the lookout for a skilled winger, preferably a left-handed shot such as Los Angeles&rsquo;s Ziggy Palffy or Columbus&rsquo;s Geoff Sanderson, to pair with Yashin on the top line and on the righty-laden power play. A crease-clearing defenseman also remained a coveted rental.ABOVE & BEYOND Worker bee and superpest Jason Blake (earning $600,000) was a team-leading plus-18 and had 17 goals despite receiving scant power play minutes. Honorable mention goes to backup goalie Garth Snow during Chris Osgood&rsquo;s injury absence.DOWN & OUT It&rsquo;s hard to put the team&rsquo;s scoring leader in this category, but Yashin, who&rsquo;s pulling down $7.4 million this season, is barely on pace for 20 goals. He at least responded to a demotion to the fourth line with a huge game-tying tally Feb. 17 in Anaheim.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (10), Road (13). Seven of the Isles&rsquo; final 23 games were against the four teams they were competing with for the final three playoff spots in the East-Boston (twice), Tampa (once), Montreal (once) and the Rangers (three times).HARDWARE HOPEFULS None.NOTEBOOK Coach Peter Laviolette finally took minutes away from center Alexei Yashin, who played a season-low 9:35 Feb. 15 versus Los Angeles. Said left winger Arron Asham: &ldquo;Yash is a great player when he wants to go out there and give it his all. This might be good for him. It should get him back on track. I sure hope so, because we need him for the playoffs.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0021-04

Yashin’s time on bench springboard to better days?

<div class="byline">-LARRY BROOKS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-02870/8117642-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="254" height="552"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-011193/8117649-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="209" height="277"></div>When Pavel Bure returned to New York&rsquo;s lineup in Ottawa Feb. 17, it allowed the Rangers to put their full team on the ice for the first time since Oct 26 and for only the seventh time this season. But Bure&rsquo;s presence could not a fuel a victory that night; as such, the Blueshirts have dipped to six games under .500 and were in need of a minor miracle to make the playoffs for the first time since 1997.NEEDS Big, strong forwards who can retrieve the puck, penalty-killing specialists, discipline and chemistry. These are all attributes the Rangers lack-and all are necessary in order for them to become a respectable team, never mind a playoff qualifier.ABOVE & BEYOND Matthew Barnaby, a career third- and fourth-liner, provided solid work on left wing with Eric Lindros and Bobby Holik on the team&rsquo;s first line through the winter months. He has been the Rangers&rsquo; most (if not only) pleasant surprise this season.DOWN & OUT Begin with Lindros, defenseman Darius Kasparaitis and right winger Radek Dvorak and go from there. Shifted over to the right side in early December, Lindros has never found the offensive game the Rangers so desperately require of him. Kasparaitis has been a shell of his former self. Dvorak is suffering through his second straight dreadful year. Each, however, has plenty of company.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (9), Road (10). Making the large assumption that any of New York&rsquo;s remaining games mean much, the Rangers&rsquo; three dates with the Islanders (on the road March 3 and April 1 and at home March 17) present the best &ldquo;four-point&rdquo; opportunities to make headway in the stretch run. And even if the Blueshirts are out, they present the chance to significantly damage the chances of their historical rivals.HARDWARE HOPEFULS None.NOTEBOOK The NHL&rsquo;s archaic formula for determining goalie wins and losses was exposed once again as fraudulent when Dan Blackburn was hung with the 5-4 defeat in Buffalo Feb. 15 after replacing Mike Dunham. Blackburn allowed just one goal in 37:15, while Dunham was pulled after surrendering four goals in 22:10. But because Blackburn allowed the statistical winner, he was hung with the loss. &#9632;

f0022-02

Post-season hopes fading fast despite return of Russian Rocket

<div class="byline">-BRUCE GARRIOCH</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-04467/8117680-1-eng-US/f0022-042.jpg" title="f0022-04" width="255" height="552"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-03652/8117687-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="206" height="281"></div>The Senators go down the stretch looking out for No. 1.Battling for the Presidents&rsquo; Trophy as the NHL&rsquo;s regular season champions, the Senators desperately want to make sure they have home-ice advantage in the playoffs.Eliminated by Toronto in Game 7 of their second round series last spring, the Senators believe they would have stood a better chance at victory if the game had been played at the Corel Centre.&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been battling for first place all year, so it would be nice to get it,&rdquo; said Senators goaltender Patrick Lalime. &ldquo;Why not go for it? We&rsquo;ve got a strong team here and we&rsquo;ve got a good opportunity to get the top spot.&rdquo;NEEDS A left winger with grit. That&rsquo;s it. That&rsquo;s all. End of story. As the March 11 NHL trade deadline approaches, GM John Muckier can show his mettle by making the change necessary to help the Sens be more productive in the playoffs. Muckier has held talks with the Coyotes about Brad May, the Sabres about Vaclav Varada and also covets Carolina&rsquo;s Bates Battaglia. One thing is perfectly clear: the Senators are going make a change in this area, meaning unrestricted free agent left winger Magnus Arvedson could be on the move.ABOVE & BEYOND Center Todd White has been one of the biggest surprises this season. Picking up where he left off last year, White was under a lot of pressure after being a top performer in 2001-02. Named the NHL&rsquo;s player of the month for January, he&rsquo;s on pace for a 55-point season.DOWN & OUT The heat was on center Radek Bonk coming into the season and he hasn&rsquo;t delivered what was expected of him. After an arbitrator awarded him $6.7 million over two seasons, Bonk should be the club&rsquo;s No. 1 middleman. It hasn&rsquo;t worked out that way.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (13), Road (8). Any time the Senators face the Leafs (March 4 in Ottawa and April 5 in Toronto), they&rsquo;re big Northeast Division matchups. If the club wants a shot at first in the NHL, they also must get a win Feb. 27 at Dallas.HARDWARE HOPEFULS Patrick Lalime, Marian Hossa, Daniel Alfredsson, Hart; Zdeno Chara, Wade Redden, Norris.NOTEBOOK Prospect center Jason Spezza, called up on an emergency basis because of a back injury to center Radek Bonk, was sent back to the club&rsquo;s AHL affiliate in Binghamton. &#9632;

f0022-04

Presidents’ Trophy within reach as Senators continue to dominate

<div class="byline">-WAYNE FISH</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-06265/8117718-1-eng-US/f0022-062.jpg" title="f0022-06" width="257" height="552"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-05343/8117725-1-eng-US/f0022-052.jpg" title="f0022-05" width="227" height="253"></div>It&rsquo;s not about where the Philadelphia Flyers are, but rather, how they got there.Even though the Flyers are behind last year&rsquo;s point pace, which had them in the Eastern Conference lead at the Olympic break, the players and coaches aren&rsquo;t necessarily upset with the third-best record in the conference.That&rsquo;s because the Flyers have developed a proven system under coach Ken Hitchcock, one which they believe is going to serve them well come playoff time.NEEDS With injured left wingers John LeClair and Simon Gagne due back to fortify the offense, the Flyers are looking to upgrade their blueline. At the top of their shopping list is a defenseman who can run the power play effectively. One of the main reasons the Flyers had only 29 power play goals in 59 games was because they had only six from their defensemen.ABOVE & BEYOND Seven game-winning goals say it all about center Michal Handzus, who has performed the most above expectations. In addition to clutch offensive performances, Handzus is a Selke Trophy candidate.DOWN & OUT No one can argue with 25-year-old rookie right winger Radovan Somik&rsquo;s defensive prowess. But Sotnik, dubbed by Hitchcock as a budding Jere Lehtinen, had only two goals through three-quarters of the season.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (12), Road (11). The Flyers get their last regular season chance to beat New Jersey March 17. Of Philadelphia&rsquo;s last 23 games, 14 are against teams with sub-.500 records, including four games against state-rival Pittsburgh.HARDWARE HOPEFULS Michal Handzus, Selke.NOTEBOOK The Flyers&rsquo; four-goal rally from a 3-0 deficit at St. Louis Feb. 13 marked the team&rsquo;s first such comeback since April, 2001&hellip;Left winger John LeClair, out of the lineup since November with a dislocated right shoulder, was scheduled to be examined by team doctors Feb. 22. A green light could have LeClair playing by the end of the month&hellip;GM Bob Clarke said he planned to begin contract talks with Eric Desjardins as soon as the veteran defenseman hires an agent. Desjardins&rsquo; current four-year, $16-million deal runs out July 1 and he&rsquo;s eligible for unrestricted free agency. &#9632;

f0022-06

Flyers behind last year’s pace, but confidence level is higher

<div class="byline">-BOB MCMANAMAN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-02744/8117763-1-eng-US/f0023-022.jpg" title="f0023-02" width="258" height="553"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-011076/8117770-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg" title="f0023-01" width="207" height="286"></div>They&rsquo;re finally getting healthy, but the Coyotes&rsquo; league-leading total of man-games lost to injury-353 through 59 games-may ultimately be the straw that breaks their back.When they have most of their components on the ice, the Desert Dogs are capable of running with the rest of the pack. But they are an energy and effort team, and when they don&rsquo;t show up to the rink armed with both, they are notorious for shooting blanks.&ldquo;When we have it, we&rsquo;re good and when we don&rsquo;t we&rsquo;re bad and that&rsquo;s pretty obvious after this many games,&rdquo; said right winger Mike Johnson.&rdquo; &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got miles and miles to go yet.&rdquo;NEEDS A playmaking center remains their biggest void. It&rsquo;s pivotal for the success of right winger Tony Amonte and it&rsquo;s a hole they&rsquo;ve been unable to fill. Parting with some veterans and building for the future is an option, but does Amonte suffer if the team reloads with youth?ABOVE & BEYOND Mike Johnson parlayed a strong second half of last season into a career year in 2002-03, leading the Coyotes with 18 goals and a career-high 50 points through 58 games.DOWN & OUT Amonte was in such a slump, Coyotes rookie Ramzi Abid nearly matched his goal total in half the amount of games. Not having a pure passing centermen has hurt, but so did Amonte playing too much of a perimeter game and not creating enough of his own chances.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (13), Road (11). The Coyotes play seven of eight games on home ice in early March, six against conference opponents. If they haven&rsquo;t faltered too much by then, the stretch will define their season.HARDWARE HOPEFULS Ramzi Abid, Calder.NOTEBOOK GM Mike Barnett denied reports he and the Blues were trying to work a deal to send goalie Sean Burke to St. Louis.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-03545/8117756-1-eng-US/f0023-032.jpg" title="f0023-03" width="1218" height="1337"><figcaption class="caption-body">Phoenix winger Tony Amonte mixes it up with Flyers defenseman Kim Johnsson. (SCOTT LEVY/BBS)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0023-02

Coyotes healthy again, but it may be too late

<div class="byline">-JOE STARKEY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-05286/8117801-1-eng-US/f0023-052.jpg" title="f0023-05" width="259" height="555"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-04392/8117808-1-eng-US/f0023-042.jpg" title="f0023-04" width="212" height="286"></div>With a little over a quarter of the season left, Pittsburgh had nothing to lose except a bunch of games, or so many people believed.The Penguins split their first four games after trading right winger Alexei Kovalev and were convinced they could still make a playoff run. But a tough schedule and a five-point deficit in the standings stood in their way.NEEDS Pittsburgh needs goals, good health and lots of luck to avoid consecutive playoff misses for the first time since the late 1980s. In no position to acquire a goal scorer, they have to hope that left wingers Martin Straka and Jan Hrdina get healthy and that call-up center Tomas Surovys early success wasn&rsquo;t a fluke.ABOVE & BEYOND Defenseman Dick Tarnstrom, a waiver pick-up, had five goals and 35 points through 41 games despite nagging injuries. He was a big reason why the Penguins&rsquo; power play was among the league&rsquo;s top five.DOWN & OUT Goalie J.S. Aubin came into the season with a new, two-year contract and the promise of more ice time. He responded with team-worst numbers, including a 17-0 road record.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (13), Road (10). Seventeen of the Penguins&rsquo; 23 remaining opponents are above .500.HARDWARE HOPEFUL Mario Lemieux, Hart.NOTEBOOK Right winger Rico Fata was moved to the top line with center Mario Lemieux. &ldquo;It gave Mario a little extra speed that he likes to have on his line,&rdquo; said GM Craig Patrick&hellip;Lemieux on life after the trade of right winger Alexei Kovalev. &ldquo;We can still compete. Put a good system in that plays good defense and wait for your chances.&rdquo;&hellip;Pittsburgh will have Alexei Kovalev Bobblehead Night Mar. 6 even though Kovalev was traded to the New York Rangers. The Penguins are hosting Carolina that night. &#9632;

f0023-05

Cards stacked against Penguins’ playoff bid

<div class="byline">-DERRICK GOOLD</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-07192/8117839-1-eng-US/f0023-072.jpg" title="f0023-07" width="256" height="553"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-06224/8117846-1-eng-US/f0023-062.jpg" title="f0023-06" width="213" height="271"></div>Despite injuries of plague proportions, the Blues remain in position win more than just the Central Division.The NHL&rsquo;s highest-scoring team has a bundle of talent returning from injury-Doug Weight and Petr Cajanek, chiefly-but must address its goaltending. The team&rsquo;s chemistry has been &ldquo;unbelievable,&rdquo; said coach Joel Quenneville. But they need quality netminding to match their defensive staunchness and offensive sparkle.NEEDS Goalie Brent Johnson could save his starting job with an dose of intensity, but rumors also have the Blues looking for a goalie such as Phoenix&rsquo;s Sean Burke.ABOVE & BEYOND Al Maclnnis and Barret Jackman have been the soul and defensive force of the team. Jackman brings youthful vigor, while MacInnis molds the team in his calm, cool image.DOWN & OUT Goaie Brent Johnson has been the only thing this season to derail the Blues. Poorly timed lapses and recurring weak goals cost the team points and could send them scrambling for a replacement-unless Johnson fortifies his mental approach and shares the team&rsquo;s resolve.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (12), Road (10). By television&rsquo;s will, the Blues&rsquo; most important games come on back-to-back Saturdays, the final Saturdays of the season, when they play division rival Detroit at home March 22 and 29. Starting Feb. 23,19 of their last 20 are against conference foes.HARDWARE HOPEFULS Barret Jackman, Calder; Pavol Demitra, Byng; Al MacInnis, Norris, Hart.NOTEBOOK Defenseman Chris Pronger gave his most optimistic update yet Feb. 14, saying he was prepared to begin skating and working on hockey-specific exercises with his surgically altered left wrist. He skated a few days later, hinting his reconstructed knee is progressing as well. &#9632;

f0023-07

Goaltending a concern as Cup run heats up

<div class="byline">-ROSS MCKEON</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-09136/8117877-1-eng-US/f0023-092.jpg" title="f0023-09" width="258" height="554"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-08162/8117884-1-eng-US/f0023-082.jpg" title="f0023-08" width="215" height="288"></div>Like virtually everyone around the league, the Sharks not only didn&rsquo;t expect to miss the playoffs, but to be completely out of the race at this juncture as well.For the first time in seven seasons, San Jose is battling to avoid the division cellar instead of readying itself for a first round playoff matchup. Not only is the Sharks&rsquo; streak of six straight seasons of point improvement over, but their franchise-record run of five straight playoff appearances is history also.NEEDS With goaltending and defense likely set for years to come, the Sharks need to inject more speed at forward. With the exception of linemates Patrick Marleau, Teemu Selanne and Marco Sturm, San Jose lacks speed on all three of its other groups. It is especially noticeable at the center-ice position.ABOVE & BEYOND Thrust into a top-four role with 185 games of experience before the season, defenseman Scott Hannan has responded as the team&rsquo;s second-leading ice time contributor and has the best plus-minus rating. Hannan has played in all situations while earning the confidence of the coaching staff and teammates.DOWN & OUT He hasn&rsquo;t been awful, but goalie Evgeni Nabokov has had the kind of season that approaches his first two in the NHL. Having missed the first month of the season due to a contract holdout, Nabokov has been inconsistent and unable to put together a string of hot goaltending.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (12) Road (10). Games against Phoenix on March 8 and the season finale on April 6 could go a long way in determining which team finishes last in the Pacific.HARDWARE HOPEFULS None.NOTEBOOK Right winger Niko Dimitrakos scored his first NHL goal and earned his initial assist in his second game, Feb. 17 in Los Angeles. &#9632;

f0023-09

Shockingly bad season leaves Sharks reeling

<div class="byline">-DAMIAN CRISTODERO</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-02816/8117922-1-eng-US/f0026-022.jpg" title="f0026-02" width="255" height="554"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-011160/8117929-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg" title="f0026-01" width="222" height="287"></div>Though very few would have predicted it before the start of the season, Tampa Bay could very well break a six-season playoff drought.As of Feb. 19, the Lightning held the final playoff spot in the East. It also was two points behind the first-place Capitals in the Southeast with a game in hand.If the Lightning and especially goalie Nikolai Khabibulin show more consistency down the stretch, the playoff prospects will be even greater.NEEDS The team desperately needs a top-four defenseman. With Jassen Cullimore (torn rotator cuff) lost for most of the season and Stan Neckar hampered by a strained groin, the blueline has been under siege. Another big body would pick up some of the slack.ABOVE & BEYOND Blueliner Dan Boyle has not only contributed offensively&mdash;11 goals and 45 points-but was plus-8 in 55 games, a significant stat considering defense was always Boyles&rsquo; Achilles heel.DOWN & OUT Goalie Nikolai Khabibulin&rsquo;s save percentage dipped below .900 during a 0-6-3 streak. Khabibulin rebounded with wins over Boston and Washington Feb. 15 and 17, but he has been the weakest link in the team&rsquo;s playoff drive.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (11), Road (11). March 4 at the Islanders, March 15 at Montreal and March 31 at Boston are pivotal games in determining whether the Bolts secure a playoff spotHARDWARE HOPEFULS Brad Richards, Lady Byng.NOTEBOOK: When the Lightning scored three third-period goals Feb. 17 to beat the Caps, it was the team&rsquo;s fourth win this season when trailing after two periods&hellip;With two assists against Washington, center Vinny Lecavalier passed ex-Bolt pivot Chris Gratton to move into second place for most points in team history, with 237. Center Brian Bradley, who retired in 1998, is first with 300.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-03659/8117915-1-eng-US/f0026-032.jpg" title="f0026-03" width="1208" height="1360"><figcaption class="caption-body">Steady Mattias Ohlund is one of the lynchpins on a strong Vancouver blueline. (DALE MACMILLAN/BBS)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0026-02

Bolts’ playoff hopes hang on consistency

<div class="byline">-KEN CAMPBELL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-05349/8117960-1-eng-US/f0026-052.jpg" title="f0026-05" width="252" height="551"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-04474/8117967-1-eng-US/f0026-042.jpg" title="f0026-04" width="210" height="289"></div>Even if Toronto stands pat on the trade front, the Leafs enter the stretch drive a radically different team than the one that started the season.Through the latter part of January and the first half of February, the Leafs were one of the NHL&rsquo;s hottest teams. That was in stark contrast to the first 15 games of the season when they were riddled with inconsistency and poor play and were entrenched in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference.NEEDS Although the Maple Leafs went after Alexei Kovalev and were reportedly in the hunt for Owen Nolan, what they really need is a top-four defenseman who can play effectively at both ends of the ice. The only problem is, approximately 29 other teams need the same thing.ABOVE & BEYOND It would have been difficult to fathom that Ed Belfour could possibly have a season worse than last year, but only an ardent optimist would have expected the level of play he delivered through the first three-quarters of 2002-03. If there were a comeback player of the year award in the NHL, Belfour would have to be considered a favorite.DOWN & OUT Shayne Corson&rsquo;s injury-riddled and inconsistent season took a dreadful turn when he was a healthy scratch for the first time in his 17-year career in the Leafs&rsquo; 2-1 win over Ottawa Feb. 15. Corson said he would consider waiving his no-trade clause, but later said he wants to stay in Toronto.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (10), Road (12). The Leafs could face former goalie Curtis Joseph for the first time Feb. 27 in Detroit.HARDWARE HOPEFULS Ed Belfour, Vezina.NOTEBOOK Left winger Gary Roberts returned to the lineup Feb. 15 after missing the first 57 games with off-season surgery on both shoulders and signed a one-year, $4.25-million contract extension Feb. 18. &#9632;

f0026-05

Season’s second half a joy for red-hot Leafs

<div class="byline">-ELLIOTT PAP</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-07248/8117998-1-eng-US/f0026-072.jpg" title="f0026-07" width="255" height="551"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-06282/8118005-1-eng-US/f0026-062.jpg" title="f0026-06" width="199" height="282"></div>The Vancouver Canucks figured they had a pretty decent team entering this season, but even they would have to concede their performance has exceeded expectations.As the Canucks entered the stretch run, they sat first in the Northwest Division and second in the Western Conference. Among their accomplishments were a 10-game winning streak in the first half and a 10-game unbeaten streak (6-0-4-0) in the second.Their goal was to capture the division crown and enter the playoffs as a top-three seed, thus avoiding a Cup favorite in the first round.NEEDS The Canucks do not have much playoff experience, so a playoff-hardened veteran would be a big help. More specifically, they could use another playmaking center as they are thin in this area after Brendan Morrison.ABOVE & BEYOND Left winger Markus Naslund continues to score clutch goals and, at one point in February, he led the NHL in five offensive categories, including points, goals and game-winning goals.DOWN & OUT Left winger Daniel Sedin, the second overall pick in 1999, has not come close to matching his 20-goal rookie season and was a healthy scratch three times.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (11), Road (12). If the Canucks continue to challenge Dallas for top spot in the West, their fate will be determined by two dates with the Stars, March 17 and 25.HARDWARE HOPEFULS Markus Naslund, Hart, Rocket Richard, Art Ross; Marc Crawford, Adams.NOTEBOOK Right winger Todd Betuzzi fired back after Detroit defenseman Chris Chelios and left winger Kirk Maltby called him fat in a Feb. 18 taunt-fest &ldquo;I told them, &lsquo;Is that the best you can come up with?&rsquo;&rdquo; Bertuzzi said. &ldquo;I told Chelios he&rsquo;s finished and should retire. I told him he just couldn&rsquo;t do it any more. And he can&rsquo;t He should pack it in. He&rsquo;s finished.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0026-07

Surging Canucks aim for top spot in West

<div class="byline">-DAVE FAY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-09180/8118036-1-eng-US/f0026-092.jpg" title="f0026-09" width="254" height="555"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-08203/8118043-1-eng-US/f0026-082.jpg" title="f0026-08" width="207" height="283"></div>The Washington Capitals are using the regular season as a testing ground, finding out what works well and who plays well with whom. So far, they like what they&rsquo;ve discovered.After some experimentation and some failures, the Caps are where they want to be heading for the post-season. The power play has improved, the penalty killing has come to life, the full-strength performance is better and the team is healthy.NEEDS Washington has four proven veterans on defense and some promising youngsters, but it still could use another experienced hand on the blueline, someone who could work on the third unit, but could step up quickly when needed. Ideally, it would be someone who could move the puck efficiently.ABOVE & BEYOND Left winger Kip Miller has stepped into a gaping hole as right winger Jaromir Jagr&rsquo;s set-up man and is having a career season.DOWN & OUT Right winger Dainius Zubrus held out for all of training camp and has been plagued by injuries this season. Still, he might come close to meeting the team&rsquo;s expectations.SCHEDULE&nbsp;Home (12), Road (9). The key to the team&rsquo;s finish will be a cross-Canada trip March 20-29, facing five legitimate playoff contenders.HARDWARE Sergei Gonchar, Norris; Jaromir Jagr, Art Ross.NOTEBOOK How&rsquo;s this for timing-the Caps left Carolina hours before an ice storm hit then had games against Florida and Tampa Bay during the period when the Washington area was ravaged by a massive snowstorm. Closed airports delayed the team&rsquo;s return by a day. When they got back, they found their cars buried under snow&hellip;The penalty-killing unit has been operating at a 90 percent efficiency rate since Jan. 1. Prior to that, it ranked in the bottom five. &#9632;

f0026-09

Caps coming together after rocky first half

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0027-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-011107/8118074-1-eng-US/f0027-012.jpg"></div> &#9632;

f0027-01

NHL DEPTH CHARTS

<div class="byline">BY KEVIN OKLOBZIJA</div>The disappointment of demotion to the American League&rsquo;s Philadelphia Phantoms one week into the NHL season wasn&rsquo;t that hard for rookie center Patrick Sharp to overcome.After all, the swift-skating Sharp had gone to the Philadelphia Flyers&rsquo; training camp as a relative unknown out of the University of Vermont. He made the opening-night NHL roster in Edmonton Oct. 10. But staying on the roster of one of the best teams in the NHL was a bit far-fetched.The most difficult situation Sharp has had to deal with came in late November, when he stumbled feet-first into the boards and broke his left ankle.&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t know for sure if it was broken, but I&rsquo;d never felt pain Eke that before,&rdquo; said Sharp, a third round pick in 2001. &ldquo;A lot of people think the toughest part about an injury is physical, but I can attest the mental aspect is a lot tougher. So I decided to make it a positive. I said I&rsquo;d be able to watch a lot of hockey and learn from the veterans.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-011148/8118105-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg" title="f0028-01" width="224" height="360"><figcaption class="caption-body">PATRICK SHARP</figcaption></div>That&rsquo;s just what Sharp did. Having left Vermont two years early to sign with the Flyers, he was back to being a student, this time of the game.When he returned to action 10 weeks later, Sharp was doing his best to make up for lost time. In his fourth game back in just a five-day stretch, he scored one goal and set up two others in a 5-3 win over Syracuse. He had five goals and 12 points in 26 AHL games through Feb. 18.&ldquo;Just coming back off the injury, I kept expecting a dropoff and it didn&rsquo;t happen,&rdquo; said Phantoms coach John Stevens. &ldquo;He competed hard and skated hard.&rdquo;Said Sharp: &ldquo;I guess that&rsquo;s what 10 weeks off did; I know how valuable it is to be out on the ice. I don&rsquo;t take anything for granted.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0028-01

Philly’s Sharp a keen student of game

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-04402/8118181-1-eng-US/f0028-042.jpg" title="f0028-04" width="262" height="424"><figcaption class="caption-body">TOMAS ZIZKA</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-05303/8118188-1-eng-US/f0028-052.jpg" title="f0028-05" width="201" height="145"></div>POSITION DefensemanAGE 23SIZE 6-1, 198HOMETOWNStern berk, Czech Rep.LAST AMATEUR CLUBZlin (Czech Republic)2002-03 Manchester Monarchs<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-06255/8118174-1-eng-US/f0028-062.jpg" title="f0028-06" width="452" height="119"></div>NHL AFFILIATIONLos Angeles KingsNOTEWORTHYDrafted 163rd overall in 1998&hellip;Spent seven years in Zlin before coming to North America in 2001-02 (four goals and 21 points in 58 Monarchs games)&hellip;Sixth-ranked prospect for Los Angeles in Future Watch 2003.BOTTOM LINEHe&rsquo;ll never be a tough, punishing defenseman, but his offensive prowess could keep him involved as a role player. Plays a Jaroslav Modry-style game. &#9632;

f0028-04

SCOUTING REPORT

<div class="byline">BY ROB MUELLER</div>When Pee Dee Pride goalie Matt Underhill was learning his craft, there were two pretty good shooters on his bantam team who helped him hone his skills-current Tampa Bay stars Vincent Lecavalier and Brad Richards.&ldquo;Facing guys like that every day in practice, you can&rsquo;t help but improve,&rdquo; Underhill said.The 23-year-old rookie&rsquo;s goal is to join his former mates in the NHL, but the former all-American out at Cornell has learned the road to the top is filled with bumps.&ldquo;I was drafted by Calgary, but things didn&rsquo;t work out,&rdquo; said the native of Campbell River, B.C. &ldquo;I had a couple of good seasons at Cornell, but I didn&rsquo;t have any contact with the Flames and I didn&rsquo;t get any offers to go to camps. I was surprised, but now I&rsquo;ve just got to prove myself and hope I get a shot next year.&rdquo;Underhill&rsquo;s play is becoming difficult to ignore. His .915 save percentage ranks in the top 10 in the East Coast League.&ldquo;He&rsquo;s one of those kids that is very driven and has goals in mind and he won&rsquo;t stop until he reaches those goals,&rdquo; said Pride coach Davis Payne.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-07224/8118219-1-eng-US/f0028-072.jpg" title="f0028-07" width="215" height="218"></div>NOTEBOOKGOALIE BRAWL There was no love lost on Valentine&rsquo;s Day between Cincinnati goalie Gregg Naumenko and his Columbia counterpart Patrick Couture, who went toe-to-toe at center ice.Cincinnati coach Malcolm Cameron said the brawl started when Cyclones right winger John Campbell inadvertently shot the puck at Couture after the whistle. The fight ended with Couture pinning Naumenko to the ice as his special Valentine&rsquo;s Day Inferno jersey was torn from his body.FIRE SALE The last-place Baton Rouge Kingfish traded their two best players Feb. 14-center Bryan Richardson and defenseman Trevor Demmans in two separate deals.Richardson and center Mike Oliveira were sent to Greensboro for center Chris Bell and cash, while Demmans was dealt to Columbia for defenseman Erik Adams and cash. &#9632;

f0028-07

Pride goalie Underhill aims to succeed

<div class="byline">BY TIM CAMPBELL</div>Goalie Jean-Marc Pelletier spent three seasons in the Carolina system and hadn&rsquo;t been given an NHL sniff. So when he was dealt to Phoenix Dec. 31, he had no objections.&ldquo;Maybe it was time for a change,&rdquo; Pelletier said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d never asked to be traded. It just happened, just like when I got traded from Philadelphia to Carolina (in January of 2000).Pelletier, who was drafted 30th overall in 1997 by Philadelphia, had one NHL start for the Flyers in 1998-99.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very thankful to the Carolina organization,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t going to play for them, that was pretty obvious, and they gave me a shot by trading me.&rdquo;Pelletier&rsquo;s immediate move-from American League Lowell to Springfield-wasn&rsquo;t scheduled to be taxing. But before he could join the Falcons, the Coyotes suddenly needed a stand-in because of minor injuries to Brian Boucher and Sean Burke.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-011017/8118250-1-eng-US/f0029-012.jpg" title="f0029-01" width="223" height="363"><figcaption class="caption-body">JEAN-MARC PELLETIER</figcaption></div>Before he knew it, the 24-year-old had two more NHL starts under his belt. Pelletier went 0-2-0, losing 2-0 to Columbus and 4-3 in overtime to Nashville.&ldquo;I was a little disappointed in that I had a stomach virus that whole week I was with them,&rdquo; Pelletier said, &ldquo;It took away from being there because it was just an effort to get through practice without any major accidents instead of trying to focus on stopping the puck.&ldquo;No excuses. But I had only played one NHL game before and I got traded. The week after, I played two games for Phoenix. It shows you how quick things can happen.&rdquo;Since his return to Springfield, Pelletier has shown Phoenix it won&rsquo;t be sorry they acquired him. He has quickened the pulse of the Falcons, going 7-1-2 in 10 appearances, including an eight-game unbeaten streak. &#9632;

f0029-01

Mid-season move positive for Pelletier

<div class="byline">BY TIM CAMPBELL</div>Arturs Irbe reported to American League Lowell missing something: a bad attitude.The winningest goalie in Carolina Hurricanes history was assigned to the last-place Lock Monsters Feb. 12 after clearing NHL waivers. Irbe had no idea how long his stay would be, but, remarkably, he wasn&rsquo;t pouting.&ldquo;The only thing I can do is play my best,&rdquo; said Irbe, 36. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a soldier. That&rsquo;s how I approach it.&rdquo;Monsters coach Ron Smith was surprised by the veteran netminder&rsquo;s positive attitude.&ldquo;He asked about the playoffs,&rdquo; Smith said. &ldquo;I said, &lsquo;Arturs, if you come in here and win 20 games, we&rsquo;ve got a chance.&rsquo;&rdquo;Irbe wasn&rsquo;t treated very well by Springfield in his debut, a 5-1 loss Feb. 14, but earned a 3-3 tie Feb. 16 against Saint John.FEUDING NEIGHBORS The Toronto Roadrunners are still eight months from their first AHL game as Edmonton&rsquo;s affiliate, but the one-upmanship is already underway with their NHL neighbors, the Toronto Maple Leafs.Few understand why the Maple Leafs appear concerned about having the Roadrunners in their backyard, considering the Leafs&rsquo; hold on Toronto fans.But that didn&rsquo;t stop the NHL team from upstaging their AHL neighbor&rsquo;s official launch by scheduling their own ownership-change press conference an hour earlier on the same day.At the Roadrunners&rsquo; kick-off in the middle of the $38-million refit at Ricoh Coliseum, Oilers GM Kevin Lowe returned a sharp salvo at the Maple Leafs when he talked of bringing a championship to town.&ldquo;Because, God knows, it will be a long time before the Leafs win one,&rdquo; Lowe said.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-02677/8118288-1-eng-US/f0029-022.jpg" title="f0029-02" width="241" height="243"></div>AHL EAST NOTEBOOKNOTEBOOK Goalie Scott Stirling won his first five outings for Bridgeport, which goes a long way for Stirling family unity. The Sound Tigers are coached by Stirling&rsquo;s father, Steve Stirling&hellip;Hamilton center Benoit Gratton, who has been out of the lineup since early January with a blood clot in his hand, was back skating with the Bulldogs in mid-February. Coach Geoff Ward said Gratton&rsquo;s recuperation was ahead of schedule and that it was likely Gratton could be cleared to play by mid-March&hellip;One statistic that illustrates why the Manitoba Moose might struggle down the stretch is the 36 of 58 games in which their opponents have scored the first goal, the second-worst mark in the AHL. Manitoba went 10 straight games, from Jan. 25 to Feb. 13, giving up the first goal.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-03465/8118281-1-eng-US/f0029-032.jpg" title="f0029-03" width="1009" height="1483"><figcaption class="caption-body">Former Dallas Star center Roman Lyashenko is third on the Hartford Wolf Pack in scoring with 13 goals and 37 points in 48 games.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0029-02

Humble Irbe making best of AHL stint

<div class="byline">-PAVEL BARTA</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-04331/8118319-1-eng-US/f0029-042.jpg" title="f0029-04" width="444" height="178"></div>Future and former NHLers are performing in Europe this season. Here are four such players with NHL rights in parentheses.&bull; Roman Kukhtinov, D, 27 (N.Y. Islanders). Selected 280th overall in 2001, Kukhtinov is the top blueliner on Russian league Salavat Yulayev Ufa, and has 10 points in 41 games.&bull; Greg Adams, LW, 39 (free agent). The 17-season NHL veteran is still solid in his first year with German league Frankfurt. Adams is second in team scoring with 16 goals and 36 points in 43 games.&bull; Mattias Wennerberg, C, 21 (Chicago). Picked 194th overall in 1999, Wennerberg not only has 17 goals and 24 points through 45 games with Swedish league MoDo, but also impresses with tough two-way play.&bull; Anti-Jussi Niemi, D, 25 (free agent). Niemi totaled 29 NHL games with Anaheim. He is back with the Finnish national team and has six goals and 15 points in 40 games with Jokerit Helsinki in the Finnish League. &#9632;

f0029-04

EYE ON EUROPE

<div class="byline">-CHADO CRIPE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-06217/8118381-1-eng-US/f0029-062.jpg" title="f0029-06" width="205" height="65"></div>Fresno right winger Kris Porter, who was last year&rsquo;s West Coast League playoff MVP, is having another strong season. This year, Porter, a known sniper, has become more of a playmaker. He eclipsed his career high for assists in early February and is on pace to end this season with more assists than goals for the first time in his Falcons career. Porter, 28, has had both a four-goal game and a six-assist game this season. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s the one thing he developed,&rdquo; said coach Blaine Moore, &ldquo;the ability to make plays.&rdquo; Porter had 22 goals and 51 points through 46 games. &#9632;

f0029-06

<div class="byline">-DAVID HENRY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-07178/8118412-1-eng-US/f0029-072.jpg" title="f0029-07" width="189" height="104"></div>Don Parsons of the Memphis RiverKings, the reigning Central League regular season and post-season MVP, led the CHL in points (77) and goals (40) after 48 games. This year Parsons is accepting monetary pledges for each goal scored, with the proceeds benefiting the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf and the National Lymphoma and Leukemia Society. Parsons&rsquo;s infant daughter was born deaf and his father has non-Hodgkin&rsquo;s lymphoma, prompting him to create what is being called &lsquo;The Parsons Pledge.&rdquo; Pledges are being accepted at the team&rsquo;s website (<a href="http://www.riverkings.com">www.riverkings.com</a>). &#9632;

f0029-07

<div class="byline">-NICK GATES</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-08151/8118443-1-eng-US/f0029-082.jpg" title="f0029-08" width="207" height="72"></div>After Orlando&rsquo;s team bus ran out of fuel on 1-95 in Georgia Feb. 8, the Seals hitched a ride on the Barracudas&rsquo; bus to complete their journey to Jacksonville. Orlando showed its appreciation by beating Jacksonville 2-1, for its eighth consecutive win, tying the Atlantic Coast League record&hellip;Knoxville&rsquo;s Kevin Swider is a FireAntz killer. His hat trick led the Ice Bears to a 7-1 victory over Cape Fear Feb. 8. The ACHL&rsquo;s first 30-goal scorer has torched the FireAntz, the team that didn&rsquo;t want him at the start of the season, for 13 goals in 10 games. &#9632;

f0029-08

<div class="byline">BY WILLY PALOV</div>It&rsquo;s official. The Quebec League will have franchises in Prince Edward Island and Maine next year.The league&rsquo;s owners voted to allow the Montreal Rocket to move to Charlottetown, P.E.I. and the Sherbrooke Castors to relocate to Lewiston, Maine.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-011149/8118481-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg" title="f0030-01" width="274" height="294"></div>Both teams attempted moves the past two years, but couldn&rsquo;t secure the proper approval. The Rocket wanted to go to Fredericton two years ago and Charlottetown last year, while the Castors looked into moving to Charlottetown in 2001 and Summerside, P.E.I., last year.The Rocket entered the league in 1999 as an expansion franchise, but struggled to establish a following. The Castors also failed to attract fans despite being in an above-average-sized city with an excellent arena. Majority owner Mark Just said they lost money for five straight years.QMJHL commissioner Gilles Courteau was glad to get both situations resolved, but was sorry to lose two teams from Quebec. Only 10 of the 16 teams are based in the province of Quebec.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-02771/8118474-1-eng-US/f0030-022.jpg" title="f0030-02" width="255" height="675"></div>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s sad that we lose two great locations like Montreal and Sherbrooke,&rdquo; Courteau said. &ldquo;But on the other side of it, with the success we had in Halifax and the rest of the expansion into the Maritimes (since 1994), we&rsquo;ve done very well down there. With the relocation to Lewiston, that&rsquo;s a good first step into the U.S. We can create more interest in the league down there.&rdquo;This will be the league&rsquo;s first venture to P.E.I. and its second into the U.S. There was a team in Plattsburgh, N.Y. in 1984-85 that folded after playing just 17 games.REALIGNMENT COMING To accommodate the relocations, the league will change to a three-division format from its current four-division structure. Charlottetown will join Halifax, Moncton, Acadie-Bathurst and Cape Breton in the Maritime Division; Lewiston will play in the Central Division with Rimouski, Baie-Comeau, Chicoutimi and Quebec and the West Division will be Hull, Val-d&rsquo;Or, Rouyn-Noranda, Shawinigan, Victoriaville and Drummondville.A new playoff format has yet to be determined.CHAZ CHASTISED Val-d&rsquo;Or right winger Chaz Johnson received a five-game suspension for hitting Rouyn-Noranda right winger Giulio Scandella from behind. League disciplinarian Maurice Filion based his decision on video of the incident and the fact Scandella suffered a concussion on the play. &#9632;

f0030-01

Two teams relocating out of home province

<div class="byline">BY JIM CRESSMAN</div>This season is just what the doctor ordered for Kingston Frontenacs&rsquo; Bryan Rodney.When he was diagnosed 13 months ago with ulcerative colitis, Rodney was told to avoid stress. He is doing just that as he is third among Ontario League defensemen with seven goals and 53 points through 54 games.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-03549/8118519-1-eng-US/f0030-032.jpg" title="f0030-03" width="283" height="204"></div>Rodney, 18, was dealt to Kingston by the Ottawa 67&rsquo;s at last year&rsquo;s trade deadline. He played two games with the Frontenacs, then went home to London and into hospital.&ldquo;I was so fed up with how I was feeling,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I was run down. I hadn&rsquo;t eaten in 10 days. I was just overwhelmed with what was going on (health-wise).&rdquo;It was diagnosed as ulcerative colitis, a painful inflammatory disease of the colon. Doctors can&rsquo;t explain why it develops, but it&rsquo;s usually diagnosed before a person is 30.&ldquo;For some, it&rsquo;s so severe, they have to have the intestine removed,&rdquo; said Rodney, who takes 10 pills a day, follows a strict diet but so far has avoided surgery. The pain is based on stress. If I had only two goals and five assists, maybe I&rsquo;d be in hospital.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-04386/8118512-1-eng-US/f0030-042.jpg" title="f0030-04" width="254" height="675"></div>&ldquo;The best case scenario will be at some point I can come off the pills. The first three years are going to dictate how long it sticks around and how severe it will be for me.&rdquo;STORM SNIPER LOST Guelph&rsquo;s playoff hopes suffered a blow when center Daniel Paille, the Storm&rsquo;s top goal-scorer, was lost until mid-March after suffering a bad ankle sprain. The Storm are in a five-team battle for the final four playoff spots in the Western Conference.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s going to come down on the final day to a fluke goal, a bad penalty&hellip;or an injury,&rdquo; said Storm coach Shawn Camp. &ldquo;Everyone has an opportunity, but everyone also has the devil staring them in the face.&rdquo;LEGEND NEARS MILESTONE Ottawa coach Brian Kilrea registered his 993rd career win when the 67&rsquo;s defeated the Kitchener Rangers 5-2 Feb. 16.He needed seven wins in the final 12 games to become the first Canadian Hockey League coach to reach 1,000 wins.&ldquo;I think endurance is the word,&rdquo; said Ranger coach Peter DeBoer. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s unbelievable at 68 he can put the kind of miles on his body. Even for the young guys, it&rsquo;s a chore to get on that bus and travel all over Ontario and get home at all hours of the night and be back out for practice.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0030-03

Rodney eases stress by lighting up lamp

<div class="byline">BY ROB VANSTONE</div>Kelly Guard was guardedly optimistic when he joined the Kelowna Rockets this season.As a 19-year-old Western League rookie netminder, he didn&rsquo;t set any extravagant goals. His primary objective was to play.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-05282/8118557-1-eng-US/f0030-052.jpg" title="f0030-05" width="268" height="269"></div>Guard has gone several steps further. He was leading the Western League in shutouts (six) and goals-against average (1.99) while helping the Rockets boast a 20-game undefeated streak.&ldquo;So far, it has been going pretty well,&rdquo; Guard said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve put up some decent numbers, but that&rsquo;s a testament to the guys in front of me and how they&rsquo;re playing.&rdquo;Kelowna acquired Guard from Prince Albert in June for a fifth round pick in the 2003 bantam draft. The Raiders had drafted Guard in the fifth round in 1998.Guard, who is a Prince Albert native, was deemed expendable when the Raiders opted to keep goalies Aaron Sorochan, 18, and Rej Beauchemin, 17.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-06223/8118550-1-eng-US/f0030-062.jpg" title="f0030-06" width="255" height="674"></div>On Feb. 7, Guard played against Prince Albert for the first time-and registered a 5-0 shutout.&ldquo;I guess I got my redemption,&rdquo; Guard said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m happy that&rsquo;s over and done with. I&rsquo;m moving on and we&rsquo;re on a roll.&rdquo;Kelowna outscored its opponents 100-32 during the 20-game unbeaten streak (19 wins, one tie). The Rockets were threatening the WHL and Canadian Hockey League single-season record of 29 straight games without a loss, set by Brandon in 1978-79.HAPPY NEW YEAR Moose Jaw Warriors goaltender Blake Grenier is enjoying a fantastic 2003.Grenier recorded his first four WHL shutouts in the New Year to help the Warriors ascend to second place in the five-team East Division.&ldquo;There&rsquo;s nothing more I want to do in life than what I&rsquo;m doing right now,&rdquo; said Grenier, 19. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s exactly what I planned to do as a child. I&rsquo;m having the most fun I could possibly have.&rdquo;Grenier was the Eastern Conference player of the month for January, while Guard earned Western Conference honors.HAND OF STONE Brandon center Ryan Stone will miss the rest of the regular season after undergoing surgery to repair a broken bone in his right hand-which was injured in a fight.Stone, 17, was ranked ninth overall among North American skaters by Central Scouting for the 2003 NHL draft. He hopes to return for the first round of the playoffs. &#9632;

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March 7, 2003

NOTEBOOK

POINTS PER DOLLAR

Amerks’ trio playing with skill, fists

Any abuses of officials demand forceful response