April 29, 2008, City of Seattle vs. the NBA and PBC Federal hearing story for the Oklahoman

NBA must surrender documents in Sonics' relocation

By Denis Gorman
Special Correspondent

NEW YORK—A federal judge ruled Monday that the NBA must release internal documents about the Seattle SuperSonics' relocation to Oklahoma City

During the 90-minute hearing in Federal Court, Judge Loretta A. Preska also said that should it become relevant, the City of Seattle could depose NBA Commissioner David Stern.

Seattle is suing the Sonics over the Sonics' lease at KeyArena. Seattle wants to hold the Sonics to the remaining two years of its lease, while the NBA owners have already approved the team's relocation request by a vote of 28-2. The Sonics have offered to negotiate out of those two years.

Should the Sonics lose their federal case, scheduled to begin June 16, the team would be forced to play until the lease runs out.

If the Sonics do not move prior to the beginning of the 2008-09 NBA regular season, the team will have to file another proposal with the league to move the franchise.

Early in the hearing, Preska sent the lawyers representing the Seattle and the NBA to the jury room to come to a resolution regarding which documents were fair game. She admonished the parties, saying, "(These discussions) should have already happened.”

After 10 minutes, the groups reappeared and said they had reached an accord. The NBA would allow Seattle to review internal documents regarding formal discussions the league and the Sonics owners held about the relocation process.

Seattle then asked the court to force the league to release notes from the NBA's April 18 Board of Governors meeting and the league's relocation committee's non-privileged documents. Seattle argued that its economists considered it necessary to review the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement, along with individual team profit and loss statements, won-loss records and the capacity of the other 29 NBA arenas.

Preska denied those motions, noting "sensitivity and intrusiveness” issues. She also questioned how the reports on the remaining franchises were relevant to this case.

"I would characterize it as a success,” said Paul Lawrence, chief council for Seattle. "Our basic goal was to get the documents pertaining to the move and we got them. We're also going to get a deposition, so we're happy about that.”

Rick Buchanan, one of the lawyers representing the NBA, said that the league, "had no comment on pending litigation.”

Neither Stern or president of league and basketball operations Joel Litvin were in the courtroom.

http://newsok.com/nba-must-surrender-documents-in-sonics-relocation/article/3236237/?tm=1209438261

April 17, 2008; New York Rangers-New Jersey Devils Eastern Conference quarterfinals game four game story for the Toronto Sun.

Devils get Staaled in their tracks

Rookie helps Rangers take commanding lead

By DENIS GORMAN, SPECIAL TO SUN MEDIA

NEW YORK -- In their history, the New York Rangers have often traded young for old, tomorrow for today. Mostly, it has been a formula for failure.

Should the 2008 Rangers experience the ultimate success, it will be due to the organization's philosophical shift. This version is an amalgamation of youth and veterans, a group whose future is as bright as its present.

Last night, the two groups combined to push the organization one step away from advancing to the second round, after New York's 5-3 win at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers have a 3-1 lead going back to the Prudential Center and have an opportunity to close out the series tomorrow night.

Marc Staal's first NHL playoff goal at 16:47 of the third period was the game-winner. Staal, who had John Madden's pass deflect off his skate and past Henrik Lundqvist on Sunday, received a pass from Martin Straka and beat Devils goalie Martin Brodeur to the far post at 16:27 of the third.

"It's incredible," said Staal, the 16th pick in the 2005 NHL entry draft. "To get one in the playoffs, at the time I got it, it's great.

"I was coming into the zone and Marty (Straka) slid it over. I was thinking shoot right away. I hesitated and shot it to the far post. It's very cool to score a goal in the playoffs."

Throughout the series, Rangers coach Tom Renney has praised the poise of his young players. Last night was no different. Defenceman Daniel Girardi recorded an assist and a game high eight hits. Centre Brandon Dubinsky had an assist and was plus-one, and spent much of the evening cycling the puck behind Brodeur. Along with getting the game-winner, Staal was plus-two. Right wing Ryan Callahan was a forechecking force.

The Rangers received two goals--the game's first and last--from Scott Gomez, along with tallies from Straka and Chris Drury.

Patrick Elias potted two goals in the second for New Jersey -- including a power play tally -- and Mike Mottau scored 4:37 into the third for the Devils.

"We hung in there," Drury said. "It is tough getting a lead and losing it, especially in the third. We thought we were going to shut them down in the third and win 3-2. We didn't panic. We hung in there and stayed with the system."

Neither Renney nor Devils coach Brent Sutter was pleased with the interesting interpretation of the rules by officials Kevin Pollock and Dennis LaRue. Renney would not criticize them, but the look on his face belied his unhappiness.

Sutter offered his opinion on Pollock's and LaRue's work, especially a second-period diving call on Brodeur. New York right wing Fredrik Sjostrom skated through Brodeur's crease. The Devils' netminder went down. Sjostrom was given two minutes for goaltender interference while Brodeur was called for diving.

http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/Hockey/2008/04/17/5309731-sun.html

April 14, 2008, New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils Eastern Conference Quarterfinals game three game story for the Toronto Sun

Madden pots overtime winner

By DENIS GORMAN, SPECIAL TO SUN MEDIA

NEW YORK -- For two games, the Devils had to answer questions about fluky goals beating them. For one night, an odd goal won a must-have game for New Jersey.

John Madden's 19th career playoff goal 6:01 into overtime gave the Devils a 4-3 win last night at Madison Square Garden. They now trail the series 2-1, with Game 4 on Wednesday night in New York.

Following an offensive zone faceoff, Madden picked up the puck behind the net and threw it into the crease, where it deflected off Rangers rookie defenceman Marc Staal's skate and under Henrik Lundqvist.

"Kind of a lucky bounce, a lucky break," Madden said of his overtime goal. "We got a favourable bounce and we're back in the series."

After outplaying Martin Brodeur in the first two games, Lundqvist was decidedly mediocre, stopping 29 of 33 shots.

"They got two really good breaks tonight on their third and fourth goal, that's for sure," Lundqvist said. "Tonight was their night and we just have to forget about it and get ready for the next one."

Since joining the NHL in 1926, the Rangers have held a 2-0 playoff advantage 18 times, winning 17 of those series. Their only loss was at the hands of the 1968 Blackhawks in six games. That edition of the 'Hawks boasted a lineup that included Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita.

There is not a scorer of that calibre on the Devils. Zach Parise led New Jersey with 32 regular-season goals. Prior to last night, Parise and linemates Patrick Elias and Brian Gionta had been non-factors, combining for only four assists and a minus-2 rating.

Coach Brent Sutter broke up that line last night. Elias and Parise skated with Jamie Langenbrunner while Gionta was paired with Dainius Zubrus and Travis Zajac.

Elias and Parise scored their first goals of the series -- power-play markers 1:48 apart in the second to give the Devils a 3-2 lead -- and added an assist.

"We weren't involved in the first couple of games. We needed to step up and our power play got two goals," Elias said.

Rangers rookie Brandon Dubinsky scored his first two NHL playoff goals. His first tied the game 1-1 in the first. His second was a power play marker 55 seconds into the third to tie the game 3-3.

http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/Hockey/2008/04/14/5278611-sun.html

April 12, 2008, New York Rangers-New Jersey Devils NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals game two game story for Toronto Sun

Devils are cut off

Goalie battle is being won by Lundqvist

By DENIS GORMAN, SPECIAL TO SUN MEDIA

NEWARK, N.J. -- Confusion and anger hung in the air last night. Gazes were averted in the quiet dressing room.

And the strongest words belonged to John Madden.

"We'll find out," the New Jersey winger said when asked if the Devils have the leadership and experience to rally from a two-game deficit following their 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers at the Prudential Center.

The Rangers now own a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarter-final with Games 3 and 4 at Madison Square Garden, beginning tomorrow. All-time, the Devils are 1-4 in the playoffs after falling behind 2-0.

"We can't score goals. That's it," said Madden, who did solve Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist with 83 seconds remaining in the third period to make it close. "We score goals, we turn this thing around."

Madden denied that Lundqvist was in his head, but couldn't explain the netmindnder's mastery of his Devils. Through two games, Lundqvist has outplayed Hall-of-Famer-in-waiting Martin Brodeur, allowing just a pair of goals on 54 shots.

Lundqvist was particularly sharp in the first period, stopping Patrick Elias, Jamie Langenbrunner and Paul Martin in succession on one sequence, then stoning Elias and Langenbrunner again with 16 seconds remaining and the Devils on a power play.

"They help, obviously," Rangers coach Tom Renney said of the key saves. "It's certainly inspiring."

With the match goalless 4:49 into the third, Jaromir Jagr scored his first of the playoffs, coming around the Devils net, whirling and firing a wrist shot that beat Brodeur high.

"There are no weird goals. It's goals and no goals. That's hockey," Jagr said. "It was a relief, that's for sure. Third period, have a lead, it's big. Especially against New Jersey. They play very good defence. There's not many chances. You have to cycle the puck and shoot on net."

Just 23 seconds later, Sean Avery hammered a shot from the high slot that Brodeur never saw. Both goals came off faceoffs and with Rangers in front of Brodeur.

Through two games, the Rangers have out-Deviled New Jersey. Historically, it's the Devils who take away the middle of the ice, forcing teams to shoot from the perimeter.

But in this series, it is the Devils who cannot get to prime scoring areas. And they are halfway from experiencing a franchise first: Being swept in a playoff series.

"It takes four games to win a series," Devils' coach Brent Sutter said, "and they've only won two."

If Wednesday was a skirmish, a feeling out process between the two rivals, game two was the escalation of hostilities. The Rangers and Devils exchanged dirty looks, cross words, shoves and wrestling bouts seemingly after every whistle.

The most egregious instance involved noted pugilists Scott Gomez and Jamie Langenbrunner. Following a whistle, Langenbrunner skated past his Gomez, who threw an elbow into the Devils' captain's ribs. That act prompted Langenbrunner to get his stick up while a Gomez (stinks) chants cascaded from the Devils' fans. Gomez and Langenbrunner were each given a two minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Since signing with the Rangers in the off-season, Gomez has been jeered by Devils' fans every time he has touched the puck this season at the Prudential Center. In seven years with the Devils, Gomez is sixth on the franchise's all time scoring list with 450 points (116 goals, 334 assists) and won two Cups. If he is bothered by the Devils' fans abhorrence to him, it doesn't show.

"It's different. I didn't play at the Prudential. The Continental is my home," Gomez said.

Notes: Baseball Hall-of-Famer Yogi Berra was at the game. Berra, who lives in New Jersey, wore a Devils cap and sat in a luxury box. The former Yankees catcher received a loud cheer when he was shown on the Jumbotron.

The game was delayed for 15 minutes due to a broken hinge connected to one of the penalty boxes.

http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/Hockey/2008/04/12/5265741-sun.html

April 10, 2008, New York Rangers-New Jersey Devils Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game One story for the Toronto Sun

Lundqvist steals Game 1

Rangers ride goaltender to take series lead

By DENIS GORMAN, SPECIAL TO THE SUN

NEWARK, N.J. -- Hours before Game 1, standing in the bowels of the Prudential Center, New York Rangers coach Tom Renney was asked if Henrik Lundqvist could steal the series.

Renney did not hesitate in his response.

"We believe in our guy. He has given us every reason to believe in him," Renney said.

And nothing has changed, not after New York won 4-1 last night. The Rangers lead the best-of-seven series 1-0 with Game 2 tomorrow night in New Jersey.

Lundqvist stopped 26 shots to earn his seventh career playoff win and his first against the Devils. Two years ago, the Devils swept the Rangers out of the playoffs in the first round. Lundqvist, who suffered from migraines and a groin injury during that series, allowed 13 goals in three games.

"It's a big difference. We have a healthy team, we're a different team. Two years ago, I had an injury and headaches and all that stuff," Lundqvist said. "Now I'm really hungry to play. I want to win. It's really exciting to be out there and play."

Ryan Callahan scored the game-winner 7:23 into the third period, backhanding a rebound off a Scott Gomez shot past a slow-to-react Martin Brodeur. Brodeur turned away 24 shots for the Devils.

"You give up a shorthanded goal at that point -- 11:30 to go in the game -- you can't do that that this time of year," Devils coach Brent Sutter said. "Again, you're in a 1-1 game going into the last half of the third period. You can't allow the second goal to happen."

LITTLE THINGS

In talking about what it takes to experience success in the playoffs, Renney cautioned that his team needed to do the little things in order to win, especially against an opponent that is its mirror image.

"The season can be over pretty quickly if you don't pay attention," Renney said in a pre-game press conference.

And the Rangers promptly went out and attempted to prove their coach's theory right.

Lundqvist turned aside all eight Devils shots in the first period, including consecutive golden chances by Brian Gionta.

Lundqvist also was lucky; Sergei Brylin had the Rangers goaltender beat on a breakaway, but Brylin's wrist shot hit the crossbar.

During the regular season, Lundqvist was stellar against the Devils. He compiled a 7-0-1 record with a 1.09 GAA and two shutouts.

"We had a good year against them, but we had a couple breaks," Lundqvist said. "They're a good team. We have to realize that we got a couple breaks that got us the win. Hopefully we can keep going."

The Rangers scored the first goal of the series 1:45 into the second period on a Brendan Shanahan snapshot. New Jersey tied the game on Paul Martin's power-play goal with 5:46 remaining in the second. It was Martin's second NHL playoff goal.

Sean Avery (short-handed) and Nigel Dawes (empty net) scored late goals to salt the game away.

Avery refused to speak to the media before or after the game.

http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/Hockey/2008/04/10/5243481-sun.html

April 9, 2008, New York Rangers-New Jersey Devils advance for Toronto Sun

Devils-Rangers gearing up for tight battle

By DENIS GORMAN, Special to Sun Media

There is the enmity born of two franchises sharing the same metropolitan area, separated only by a small body of water.

Four playoff series in 16 years ratcheted the contempt. Professional and personal rivalries abound between the public faces of the organizations. Finally, there is hatred, spawned off of the ultimate betrayal.

If Shakespeare were alive, he would write the wonderfully wicked tale, delighting in the delicious subplots.

Simply, it is New York Rangers-New Jersey Devils. And it begins, anew, tonight.

In what may be the most unpredictable NHL playoff in the league's history, the Rangers-Devils series should the tighest.

Yes, the Rangers won seven of the eight regular-season games. But four of the contests went to overtime and three of those were decided in a shootout.

"I'm anxious to get the series started, like the players," Devils head coach Brent Sutter said. "It's a great time of year. This series, the playoffs, is a whole new ball of wax. It will be a tight series."

As per its history, New Jersey was among the league's best defensive teams, finishing fourth overall and first in the East. The Devils yielded 197 goals during the regular season. Somewhat surprisingly, the Rangers were the second-best defensive team in the conference, finishing with 199 goals allowed.

It is a case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts, considering that New York does not boast a shutdown defenceman.

"Speciality teams are going to be huge. To all of a sudden think that the New York Rangers are going to be somebody they're not ... (they will play to their identity)" Sutter said.

In what was an underwhelming season for him, Jaromir Jagr led the Rangers with 71 points and tied Chris Drury for the team-lead in goals with 25. Jagr scored two goals and tallied an assist against New Jersey in the regular season. However, in the season's final 10 games, a rejuvenated Jagr recorded 12 points (seven goals, five assists) and a plus-3 rating.

Previous Devils coaches directed John Madden and Jay Pandolfo to shadow Jagr, the duo's tight checking frustrating the Rangers' Czech superstar. Since becoming coach, Sutter has restructured the Devils' defensive responsibilities. Instead of Madden and Pandolfo, Dainius Zubrus and David Clarkson have been matched up with Jagr's line.

"We'll be okay. Our line has played against his line in the last four games," Clarkson said after yesterday's practice at The Prudential Center. "He's a big guy, protects the puck down low. You've got to hit him."

Perhaps the biggest factor in determining who wins the series will be secondary scoring.

Zach Parise led the Devils in goals (32) and points (65). After Parise, though, there was a precipitous drop off in scoring. If the Devils are to advance, Travis Zajac will be among the forwards who will have to score. The second year centre finished the regular season with 14 goals and 34 points. However, in the second half, he tallied three goals and eight points.

"Everyone is going to have to elevate their game." Zajac said. "We can't ride one line the whole way. Everyone is going to have to chip in with a goal."

http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/Hockey/2008/04/09/5239081.html