ON THE FLY

DID YOU KNOW? On Jan. 22, 1987, the New Jersey area was struck by a blizzard, covering the ground with 15 inches of snow. Only 334 fans made it to see the Devils beat Calgary 7-5. And only 13 Devils were there for the start of the game. TRIVIA In what season did the NHL change from a 60-game schedule to a 70-game schedule? a. 1946-47 c. 1949-50 b. 1945-46 d. 1942-43 NUMBER CRUNCH 10 Consecutive seasons Canadiens finished as NHL’s top-scoring team (1953-54 to 1962-63) 303 PIMs earned by Denis Polonich in rookie year 1932 Year first table-top hockey game came out The correct answer to the trivia question will appear in next week’s issue of The Hockey News and at thehockeynews.com Last week’s answer: d. Lester Patrick lost by 15 goals in his last game.…

Veteran Sydor’s job to tutor young Klesla

One of Darryl Sydor’s jobs this season will be to help Rostislav Klesla turn his sophomore slump into a third-year success story. Klesla, the Blue Jackets’ top pick in 2000 (No. 4 overall), did not fare well last season. It wasn’t until the final six weeks that he began to steady his game. Sydor, acquired in a three-way trade with Phoenix and Dallas over the summer, understands the struggles of a young blueliner in the NHL. “When I came into the league (with Los Angeles in 1991-92), I was very similar to where (Klesla) is now,” Sydor said. “Not as skilled, but a guy with offensive ability who had to learn the defensive game. Charlie Huddy was there for me. I think about what Charlie meant to me and that’s the challenge I…

Capitals look for way Zubrus can break out

Washington has played Dainius Zubrus on all sorts of lines and at all three forward positions during his two-and-a-half seasons with the Capitals, but the Russian power forward has never been able to fulfill his potential. Now, everything seems to be lining up for Zubrus. Coach Bruce Cassidy vows to keep him on the right wing with a top line and hopes to establish some set linemates. Zubrus will get ample time on the power play and penalty kill and, for just the second time in his eight-year career, will be playing for the same coach in consecutive season openers. “I am in a very good situation here,” said Zubrus, who scored 13 goals and 35 points in 63 games last year. “I just have to take advantage of that. Everything depends…

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