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February 5, 2008
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.
SHORTHANDED SHARP SHOOTER
BARELY HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEASON, Patrick Sharp of the Chicago Blackhawks had already surpassed his career high in goals and points, but was blissfully unaware he was chasing the rarified heights of Mario Lemieux in the NHL record book. With seven shorthanded goals in 44 games, Sharp was on pace to score 13 on the penalty-kill this season, which would tie the record Lemieux established in 1988-89. The difference between the two – other than the obvious – is that teams were averaging 7.5 goals per game then, compared to just 5.5 per game this season. Sharp’s prowess was a big part of the reason why the Hawks led the league with 12 shorthanded goals and why Sharp will undoubtedly receive some significant support for the Selke Trophy this season. With 22 goals,…
TRUE BLUE, FULL OF FIGHT
BOBBY SANGUINETTI REALLY enjoys unleashing his booming right-handed shot from the point. So what’s the big deal? If you had told doctors when he was born that Sanguinetti would be playing hockey today, let alone shooting right-handed, they likely would have scoffed. But they didn’t know how determined the boy was. When Sanguinetti was born, the whole right side of his upper body was paralyzed, the result of a pinched nerve while still inside the womb. “It wasn’t life threatening, but I’ve had to go through physical therapy for years and it’s still not full motion,” he said. “I still can’t turn my right arm over. “My mom said it took six months for me to get any movement at all.” But he battled and it came to fruition in June, 2006, when his boyhood team, the…
SHOOTOUTSTANDING
MORE THAN A FEW NHLERS WILL TELL YOU how deeply they despise the idea of settling tie games with a shootout. However, the current members of the Edmonton Oilers aren’t at all likely to be part of that group of complainers. As of mid-January, Edmonton sat seven points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. But if it wasn’t for the fact the Oilers have gone 11-2 in the shootout this season, they’d be trailing the Los Angeles Kings by three points and sit dead last in the league. “When you’re not letting any goals in and you have shooters who are as confident as ours, it’s a good combination,” Oilers coach Craig MacTavish told the Edmonton Journal in December. Added Edmonton left winger Geoff Sanderson: “It seems to me there’s…
KARMA POLICE
Shame on the Canucks’ TV announcers, namely John Garrett. Back in November, the NHL announced the four-game suspension handed out to Mattias Ohlund for his Paul Bunyan-like axing of the Wild’s Mikko Koivu. At the time, Mr. Garrett had the gall to say he thought the suspension was too stiff and that the Wild was embellishing Koivu’s injury. Mikko Koivu missed 24 games! That’s no embellishment, that’s a fact. Now I see that Ohlund has missed a number of games with back spasms. Do I feel vindicated? No. Do I believe in karma? Very much so. See you in the playoffs.…
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