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January 23, 2007
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.
Blindside justice
Alex Ovechkin gets egregiously crosschecked by the Rangers’ Colton Orr, who gets suspended for five games. Colin Campbell states Orr’s actions were “reckless and dangerous… The action is unacceptable.” Apparently Ovechkin’s frightening blindside check of Daniel Briere, out of the play and about to enter his bench, was less reckless and dangerous, and more acceptable. Briere was lucky not to be seriously injured, but Ovechkin gets no down time from the league. Obviously as far as Campbell is concerned, Orr missing five games is acceptable to the league. He’s basically a nobody. Ovechkin, however, is ‘gold’ for the NHL. He therefore warrants a slap on the wrist. Pathetic. ALLAN SUCHINSKY, SILVER SPRING, MD. Bergie’s team Far be it from me to anger a Slovakian giant, but Patrice Bergeron is the franchise in Boston…not…
TALE OF THE TAPE RECORDER
Cheers had Sam and Diane. Friends had Ross and Rachel. The Office has Jim and Pam. Our office has ‘Broph’ and ‘The Little Ball of Hate’. Senior writers Mike Brophy and Ken Campbell get on like an old married couple: great friends to the core when they aren’t disagreeing on the color of the sky. Heck, they very nearly engaged in a fist fight several years ago when Campbell (four inches and 30 pounds smaller than his sweetheart) threw rocks at Broph following a heated (and well-hydrated) debate. That passion often lights up our editorial meetings, but it’s something our readers don’t get to witness. We figured it was time to give you a glimpse. We sat Campbell and Brophy down, threw on the tape recorder and let them go at it on several…
Regular season needs a boost
Putting meaning back in the regular season will put fans back in arenas sooner. The NHL’s problem right now is the playoffs: As in, the regular season isn’t them. If Ol’ Stan had kept that 10 guineas in his pocket in 1892, if the NHL hadn’t commandeered his Cup by 1927, and for keeps in 1947, the regular season might not be so devalued, almost to the point of being an exhibition slate. Without rewriting more history, though, or detracting from the playoffs, the NHL needs to put the luster back on the regular season, the games for which players are actually paid their salaries, the games that pay the potato freight for the cream pie post-season. The 82-game schedule is the preliminary round, the way to eliminate 14-of-30, the entry route to the…
Goaltending in place for Redmen run
With two former QMJHL stars between the pipes, it is no wonder the McGill Redmen are the top-ranked OUA team in the nation. Mathieu Poitras, the league’s reigning MVP, has fulfilled a heavier workload than anticipated. His backup, Jean-Michel Filiatrault, was expected to split duties, but missed the first 13 games of the year with a lower-body injury. He returned in mid-November and will provide Poitras with some nights off down the stretch. “Goaltending is important,” said McGill coach Martin Raymond. “It’s a tough job. Certainly we are looking forward to having our goaltending in top form.” Poitras has a 2.32 goals-against average in 11 games. Last season he set CIS records for GAA, shutouts and save percentage.…
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