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Sunday, March 29, 2009
HOCKEY DAY IN PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
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WEDNESDAY
PENGUINS
vs. DEVILS
7:30 P.M.
FSN PITTSBURGH
SATURDAY
PENGUINS
at HURRICANES
7 P.M.
FSN PITTSBURGH
SUNDAY
PENGUINS
vs. PANTHERS
50 P.M.
FSN PITTSBURGH
GAME OF
THE WEEK >>>
THURSDAY · 9:30 P.M.
SHARKS AT OILERS
This possible first-round playoff preview
in the West could silence San Jose critics
— or keep them talking.
“FACEOFF”
COLUMNIST JOE STARKEY &
BEAT WRITER ROB ROSSI ARE IN
THE CIRCLE & READY TO DEBATE ...
“FAN VOICE”
SOUNDING OFF
ON THE NHL Other than Evgeni Malkin or Sidney Crosby, who is the Penguins MVP? >>
markDELANEY ROSSI RANTS STARKEY SAYS
Pittsburgh “The Flower” has power, but “Sarge” is in charge. This is kind of a silly question. Glad I thought of it. My first
>>
INCLUDING Malkin or Crosby, no player is more valuable to thought is Ryan Whitney, since he fetched Chris Kunitz, who
the Penguins than defenseman Sergei Gonchar. has been very good. My second thought is Dan
GOT HOCKEY THOUGHTS? This was clear through four games to start the Bylsma. But he isn’t a player. My third thought
E-MAIL HOCKEYDAY@TRIBWEB.COM season when, without Gonchar, the power play is Rob Scuderi, who carried a plus-17 rating
went 4-for-24 without its quarterback. The into the weekend. But I’ll go with Marc-Andre
“Hart Trophy talk should include more play- power play is only now starting to recover. Fleury, even if he did endure a long, ineffective
ers than just the Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin and Also, the defense corps, at best only OK in stretch. Fact is, Fleury was a key behind the
Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin. What about Gonchar’s absence, suddenly looks sound team’s hot start and has been mostly terrific in
Pavel Datsyuk in Detroit? I know he plays with again. The Penguins are 13-3-3 since Gonchar its recent playoff push under Bylsma.
talented players, but Henrik Zetterberg and returned Feb. 14 after missing 56 games
Marian Hossa have missed games, and both are because of a left-shoulder injury.
not exactly having career years. The Red Wings
continue to win. Also, what about goalie Tim
Thomas of the Bruins? He has been one of the
best goalies in the league this season. I would
also throw into the discussion wingers Zach
Parise of the Devils and Jarome Iginla of the
CHANGE
Flames. In my opinion, the race should look like
this: Malkin, Datsyuk, Ovechkin and Thomas.”
WILL DO YOU GOOD
“VERSUS NHL’S COACHING CAROUSEL WORKING OUT FOR SOME TEAMS
theWORLD”
A LOOK AT THE NHL FROM BY JOE STARKEY replacement, Cory Clouston, started Therrien, who had two years and
A VERSUS HOCKEY ANALYST TRIBUNE-REVIEW out 15-7-3. more than $2 million left on his con-
I The Carolina Hurricanes, who tract, recently returned from a 10-
were plodding along at 12-11-2 under day vacation in Cuba. He said he
Recent evidence suggests the NHL gets Peter Laviolette. His replacement, sold his house in
a bad rap for firing coaches faster than Paul Maurice, was 29-17-5 going into Montreal and will
other professional the weekend. remain in
THIS WEEK:
sports leagues. Two other Pittsburgh for the
The NBA, for clubs that made foreseeable future
KEITH example, has topped in-season but declined com-
JONES the NHL’s seven in- changes — ment for this story.
season coaching Tampa Bay and It’s often hard to
BLACKHAWKS
changes with nine of the New York decipher why a
ON FLORIDA’S PANTHERS its own, and no fewer Rangers — also coaching change
“I am very interested to see if the than 11 NFL teams — could argue suddenly sparks a
Panthers will make the playoffs. They more than a third of things have got- team. In the
decided to keep defenseman Jay the league — have ten better, even Penguins’ case, players say there
Bouwmeester at the trade deadline, even changed coaches if the numbers was a palpable lack of enthusiasm
though he is going to leave as an unrestrict- since the beginning of aren’t glaring. toward the end of the Therrien era.
ed free agent on July 1. In my opinion, that the 2008 season And while the Defenseman Brooks Orpik linked
was a mistake, and it will really have been a (though a few of those Montreal that state of mind to the team’s style
mistake if they miss the playoffs. They were planned retire- Canadiens were of play, which has become much
could possibly win a couple of games in the ments).
Joel Quenneville
just 3-3-2 in more aggressive under Bylsma.
playoffs, but that’s it. Up front, they have Major League their first eight “We weren’t dictating the play at
some problems. They could steal some
Denis Savard
Baseball teams have games under all (earlier this season),” Orpik said.
games with defense and goaltending. They switched managers Bob Gainey, “I remember a game in Montreal,
have the best defense in the East, but with six times since the they remained we were down, 2-0, toward the end
the exception of that, there is not a lot to
Dan Bylsma
Michel Therrien
PENGUINS
beginning of last season. in playoff position. of the third period and we still had
love about Florida as a Cup contender. Forget the numbers, though, and Penguins general manager the high trap going. They were sit-
That’s why I think Bouwmeester was consider this: Change is working in Ray Shero believes one reason ting there behind the net. We were
expendable. Trading him could have made the NHL, at least in the short-term. teams change coaches in- sitting there in our trap. Time
them more of Cup contender down the Of the seven teams that made a season is because of was ticking off the
road.” coaching switch after the start of the the salary cap, insti- clock, and it was
season, four have benefitted greatly. tuted in 2005. kind of like, ‘What
VERSUS VISION They are: “Pre-salary cap, are we doing?’
I The Penguins, who were out of there were more “I think every-
A look ahead to the Versus
playoff position when they fired trades, more ways one is enjoying
Game of the Week:
Michel Therrien on Feb. 15, then to improve your themselves a lot
DEVILS AT RANGERS went on a 13-2-3 tear under interim club,” Shero said. more now, just
7 p.m. Monday coach Dan Bylsma. “With the cap, the attitude every
“What winger Sean Avery doest best for I The Chicago Blackhawks, who there’s more parity, day coming to the
the Rangers is draw penalties, not take canned Denis and expectations go rink. It’s different,
penalties. That’s a fine line, and so far he’s Savard after a 1-2- with that. With that’s for sure.”
walked it well since returning to New York. 1 start. Joel those expectations, Therrien might
When it comes to bringing former players Quenneville pro- there can be a senti- counter that it
back, New Jersey is always at the top of its ceeded to coax his ment that some- must have helped
game. The Devils made some smart moves talented young thing needs to be to have a healthy
last summer to bring back players that were team to a 38-20-10 changed.” Sergei Gonchar,
in the Devils’ fold — Brian Rolston and record and fourth It wasn’t easy for plus two new
Bobby Holik — and they added Brendan place in the Shero to fire wingers for
Shanahan at midseason. New Jersey GM Western Therrien. Sidney Crosby.
Lou Lamoriello knows good players, but Conference. “I still think Whatever the
more important, he knows good Devils.” I The Ottawa Mike is a good coach,” Shero said. case, something’s working for the
Senators, who were 17-24-7 when “Hopefully, he’ll get a chance to Penguins — and for most of the other
they fired Craig Hartsburg. His coach again.” teams that changed coaches this season.
“THE FUTURE”
PENGUINS MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT JONATHAN BOMBULIE · FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW
A pair of unsigned draft picks joined the OHL’s Belleville Bulls and scoring champ Rapids Griffins on Wednesday, breaking “STOCK UP”
Baby Pens for their first taste of pro hock- Casey Pierro-Zabotel of the WHL’s the team mark of 31 shared by Toby
ey this week. Nathan Moon, a stocky, Vancouver Giants are on teams seeded Petersen and Michel Ouellet. joeVITALE
right-handed scoring center picked in the first in their conferences. Offensive Minard’s record might not last long,
fourth round in 2008, and Robert defenseman Alex Grant of Shawinigan and however. The red-hot Janne Pesonen has NORTHEASTERN (NCAA) · C
Bortuzzo, a lanky, right-handed defense- 6-foot-5 center Keven Veilleux of 13 goals in his past 15 games, giving him 6-FOOT-1 · 196 POUNDS
man picked in the third round in 2007, will Rimouski play for QMJHL contenders. 29 for the season.
practice with the team for a few weeks but Any of the four could actually play and A seventh-round pick in the 2005
aren’t expected to play in a game. make an impact for the Baby Pens like NEW CAPTAIN NHL Draft, Vitale has sparked one
“It’s an invaluable experience to go Luca Caputi and Dustin Jeffrey did last Because captain Dave Gove’s season of the most dramatic turnarounds
through,” Baby Pens coach Todd Reirden season. might be over due to a disc problem, the in college hockey. Vitale captained
said. “Whether it’s next year’s rookie “Pittsburgh’s staff really stays on top Baby Pens gave the C to speedy winger Northeastern, a team that won just
camp or next year’s training camp, this of all their draft picks from the scouting Connor James on Wednesday. James, a three games his freshman year, to
prepares them a little bit more for what’s side of things,” Reirden said. 26-year-old University of Denver grad, is its first NCAA tournament appear-
expected of them.” in his third season in the Penguins organ- ance since 1994 this season. Vitale
BROKEN RECORD ization. is a modest scorer — 94 points in
KIDS ON THE VERGE Chris Minard has been slumping since “Well-deserved honor,” Reirden said. 141 career games — but is known
The organization’s top prospects could returning from the NHL on Feb. 27, man- “He’s the engine that drives our bus in as a feisty competitor who won
Hockey East defensive forward of
join the Baby Pens for a late-season look, aging just four goals in his past 14 games, terms of work ethic and passion for the the year honors. He could join the
AFC MEDIA
but they’re currently busy with the play- but one of those set a team record. game and desire to get better.” Baby Pens for a late-season cup of
offs in their junior leagues. Minard scored his 32nd goal of the season James said he will gladly return the C if coffee this year. JB
Power forward Eric Tangradi of the in a 5-3 Baby Pens win over the Grand Gove recovers from his injury.