GOALTENDING STATISTICS

Enthusiastic veteran Oliver sets tone after being recalled from minors

David Oliver has a certain philosophy about playing NHL games these days. “At the stage I’m at, I look at every one as though it could be the last game I play in the NHL,” said the 32-year-old journey-man winger. “You get to this point and you really don’t know. So I don’t take any day up here for granted.” Oliver, an NHL regular with Edmonton and ’ the New York Rangers for two seasons in the mid-1990s, has given the Stars a boost in January after being called up from Utah of the American League and dropping in on a line with Jason Arnott and Steve Ott. He had two assists and was plus-3 in five games. What’s more, he brought a tangible hunger that has been felt throughout the dressing…

Demotion comes as no surprise to struggling Austrian Brandner

The Minnesota Wild ran out of patience with struggling left winger Christoph Brandner, demoting the towering Austrian to Houston of the American League. Brandner, who became the first Austrian skater to play in the NHL after a strong training camp, was scoreless in 11 games with only one goal in his last 22. Moreover, the unrelenting pace of the NHL schedule helped to wear down Brandner’s confidence. He never played more than 59 games in a six-year European career. “To be honest, I was kind of expecting it,” he said. Right winger Kyle Wanvig, the second round draft choice who was among the final cuts at training camp, was promoted in Brandner’s stead, and has his best chance to establish himself as a power forward in the NHL. “This is my third time getting called…

Blazers’ board, coach to run GM-less team

The Kamloops Blazers are convinced they can go forward this season without a GM in place. The Blazers parted company with GM Mike Moore Jan. 12. The team’s board of directors doesn’t intend to fill the GM’s position in the immediate future. Instead, the board will handle the business operations while coach Dean Clark will serve as interim director of operations in addition to his regular job. Case Van Diemen, the team’s president-governor, specified that Moore wasn’t fired. Van Diemen said Moore and the Blazers agreed to a “mutual separation” and a negotiated settlement. The Blazers brass said concerns over morale in the front office contributed to the departure of Moore, who had been the GM since June, 1998. Under Moore, Kamloops had compiled a 217-137-42-10 record (11-22 in the playoffs). The Blazers were…