NOTEBOOK

Newcomers Ryan Kiley and Kevin Fines provided the transfusion struggling Cape Fear needed. Fines, 22, is 4-1 with a .933 save percentage after leaving Lubbock of the Central League while Kiley, 25, has four goals and seven points since bolting Miami (WHA2). “Td heard morale was down,” said Kiley to the Fayetteville Observer, “but as soon as I walked into the locker room, I got nothing but good vibes,” After the pair’s arrival, the FireAntz snapped a seven-game losing streak, running off four straight wins, but remaining in the South East League cellar at 10-17.…

2003-04 NHL STATISTICS

The Hockey News PLAYER POLL

They’re the players you love to hate…unless they’re on your team. Agitators get a lot of attention because of the trouble they stir up. In a poll of 30 players, one from each NHL team, 11 (37 per cent) said Phoenix Coyotes left winger Tyson Nash is the biggest shift disturber in the league. (See pg. 26 for more.) “He shows up every game and is always in your face,” said Boston winger Martin Lapointe. Matthew Barnaby of the New York Rangers finished second in player voting with seven, while Sean Avery of the Los Angeles Kings was third with six. Toronto’s Darcy Tucker got two votes. “We haven’t played (Nash) this year,” said Detroit’s Ray Whitney, “but I know everybody can’t stand him.” No worries. The Wings face the Coyotes Jan. 16 and…

Horton’s season-ending injury a crushing blow to fragile Panthers

The importance of 18-year-old rookie Nathan Horton to the Florida Panthers shows how far he already is toward NHL stardom and how far the Panthers are from being a solidly good team. That makes the season-ending torn rotator cuff Horton sustained in Vancouver all the more damaging to Horton and the Panthers. “I just want to play hockey. You can’t do that with this,” said Horton, with a slight movement of his left arm. Coach-GM Rick Dudley said: “He’s probably our best player over the last 10 or 12 games.” Horton, not captain Olli Jokinen, was driving the No. 1 line. The improvement in the Panthers’ power play can be traced to practice; Valeri Bure being a power play quarterback willing to shoot; and Horton doing the gritty work in front of the net. “It’s…