February 28, 2010, feature on 2010 Team USA Men's Olympic Hockey Team for HockeyPrimeTime.com

Unconcerned with critics, U.S. must only answer to Canada

Features

Written by Denis Gorman

Saturday, February 27, 2010 14:55

Brian Burke was irate. The general manager of Team USA and Toronto Maple Leafs was participating in a conference call about the Vancouver Olympic Games in January. Throughout the half-hour discussion, Burke had been matter-of-fact about the likelihood of the 2010 United States men’s Olympic hockey team medaling. Then came the question, followed by the reaction. A reporter mentioned a Canadian newspaper's claim that Zach Parise was the only American who could play on Team Canada. When asked to respond about Team USA’s perceived lack of skill level, the Devils’ left wing uncomfortably answered, “I’d like to think we have some pretty decent players.” Burke had enough and barked, “Be sure to send me that article so I can put it up in the dressing room.” It is unknown if the journalist sent the GM the clipping. Here's what is known: On the eve of the gold-medal game, the Team USA is three periods from winning its country's first Olympic gold medal since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" team. In having gone 5-0 to reach Sunday afternoon’s showdown with Canada, the pre-tournament odds-on favorite, the United States has outscored opponents 22-6 and has not trailed at any point in the tournament. Canada has first-hand knowledge of just how good Team USA is. In what was dubbed Super Sunday, Team USA beat Canada 5-3 on Feb. 21. Brian Rafalski (Detroit Red Wings) scored twice, while Chris Drury (New York Rangers), Jamie Langenbrunner (New Jersey Devils) and Ryan Kesler (Vancouver Canucks) added a goal each. Goaltender Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres) was spectacular, making 42 saves. While the historical significance of last Sunday’s win has been hysterically overblown, it re-emphasized the belief Burke and the players had going into these Games. During the call, Burke admitted that “We are underdogs…there ain’t a penny going to bet on us (in Las Vegas),” before adding matter-of-factly, “we are going there to win.” Those six words may not share the same space with Joe Namath or Mark Messier in the pantheon of brash "we're going to win" boasts. Still, it offered a glimpse into the mind-set of his team. During the same conference call, Miller said “(We’re) not preparing for Sochi (Russia, for the 2014 Games). We’re going to win.” The team that was under the radar before The Games is now 60 minutes from winning a gold medal. For a team that was not perceived to be in the same class as Canada, Russia or Sweden before The Games, how has Team USA gotten to the pinnacle of international hockey? It's pretty simple, really. Instead of putting together an all-star team, the Team USA brain trust eschewed veteran players with international experience for a young, fast, physical group. “We have turned the page, generationally,” Burke said. “We think this team has balance, versatility and youth.” The 2010 version of Team USA has only five players born in the 1970s – goaltender Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins), Rafalski, and forwards Drury, Langenbrunner and Ryan Malone (Tampa Bay Lightning). Rafalski, a defenseman, leads all Olympic players in points with eight. His four goals are tied for second overall and his four assists are tied for third overall. Ryan Suter (Nashville Predators) is plus-8, trailing only Canada’s Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks). Kesler and Joe Pavelski (San Jose Sharks) are the top two faceoff men, having won 76 and 69 percent of the draws they have taken, respectively. Miller has been the best goaltender in the tournament, boasting an outrageous .9537 save percentage. Prior to the tournament Ron Wilson, the head coach of Team USA and the Toronto Maple Leafs, added that he was “very excited about this team. ... I think we’re going to be a very quick team ... (that) can muck it out and grind it out with the best of them.” Take pinballing right wing Ryan Callahan, whose attributes are not flashy but exemplify what Burke and Wilson cherish. The New York Rangers’ alternate captain is a do-everything player for a team that has spent much of the 2009-10 NHL campaign trying to ascertain its identity. Callahan is second in the league in hits with 222 in 59 games, an average of 3.76 hits per game. The 24-year-old native of Rochester, New York, ranks second on the Rangers in goals with 15 and is tied for sixth with 17 assists. His 32 points are fourth on the team and his 40 penalty minutes rank ninth. Unlike on Broadway, where he averages 19:47 of ice time as a top-six forward and power-play winger, Callahan has played a complementary role in Vancouver and has but one assist in less than 10 minutes of ice time per game. Defensively, however, he has been a forechecking force and partnered with Drury, his Rangers teammate, to kill penalties. Team USA is 11-for-14 on the penalty kill through five games. “It’s quite an honor to be able to represent your country,” Callahan said before the Rangers’ 3-2 win over the Devils on Oct. 5. “It’s definitely an honor to go to that camp and get a chance to maybe compete for your country.” One more win, and Callahan will know the honor of winning gold for his country.

http://www.hockeyprimetime.com/news/features/unconcerned-with-critics-us-must-only-answer-to-canada

February 28, 2010 Penn-Columbia men's college basketball game story for the Philadelphia Daily News

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POSTED: February 27, 2010

Penn can't overcome mistakes, loses to Columbia

By DENIS GORMAN
Philadelphia Daily News

For the Daily News

Phils spring training

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NEW YORK - Jack Eggleston was trapped.

There were 2.7 seconds left in the 217th meeting of Ivy League rivals Penn and Columbia. The Quakers were trailing by a point and had the ball.

Eggleston, the junior forward from Noblesville, Ind., grabbed a pass 27 feet from the basket and was immediately trapped by two Lions. Not enough time to pass or dribble, Eggleston tossed up a prayer that fell 2 feet short.

If ever a game encapsulated a season, Penn's 56-55 loss to Columbia at Levien Gym last night was it. The Quakers had every opportunity to put the game away early, as they led 30-27 at the half. But turnovers, a lack of rebounding and poor foul shooting conspired to send Penn to its 19th loss of the season.

Interim coach Jerome Allen absolved Eggleston of any blame. Instead, he pointed the finger at his entire team and himself.

"The last shot is not where we lost the game," Allen said in a tempestuous postgame scrum. "We lost the game in the first half where we had eight turnovers. We don't value possessions. We [could] get a defensive rebound but yet we don't. Maybe I need to be a better job of conveying that message. I take the blame."

Penn was swept by Columbia (10-15, 4-8) for the first time since the 1967-68 season. Penn lost, 66-62, to the Lions at the Palestra on Feb. 13. The last time there was a season series sweep was 2006-07, when the Quakers won both games en route to a 22-9 season and a loss to Texas A & M in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

But unlike 3 years ago, Penn will not be representing the Ivy League in the NCAA Tournament. An overall record of 5-19 and 4-6 in conference assures that the Quakers will again be watching the tournament next month, instead of participating.

Still, a tournament berth has not been the purpose of this season, not after starting the year with 10 consecutive losses and Allen replacing Glen Miller on Dec. 12.

Dan Monckton finished with a team-high 17 points for the Quakers. Zack Rosen had 16 points, but only six in the second half. Eggleston added 10. Columbia's Noruwa Agho led both teams with 23 points.

The Quakers will cap off their weekend in New York state with a date with Ivy League-leading Cornell (23-4, 9-1) tonight. Penn beat the Big Red - nationally ranked at the time - 79-64 at the Palestra on Feb. 12. But after last night, it seems like an eternity since that win.

"It [stinks]. It shows that we got to lock in on every possession or crazy stuff can happen," Rosen said. "It can't stay with us too long. We got to go up and play Cornell, who's going to be hungry to play us, anyway. We have to correct our mistakes and play a game [tonight]."


http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/colleges/20100227_Penn_can_t_overcome_mistakes__loses_to_Columbia.html

Brendan Morrow feature for HockeyPrimeTime.com

Morrow brings defense, leadership to Canada

features

Written by Denis Gorman

Saturday, February 20, 2010 18:40

It was night of December 29. The Dallas Stars had topped the precocious and potent Chicago Blackhawks, 5-4. The Stars’ captain had recorded an assist and took a two minute hooking minor in 18:40 of ice time. Hours later he was at home and, per usual, Brenden Morrow could not sleep. “I usually don’t sleep well after a game, anyway. There was zero sleep,” Morrow recalled. “There were mice running around (in my) head, wondering ‘what might be.’ It was a restless night.” The next morning Morrow was at Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas, the Stars’ practice facility, when his cell phone rang. On the other end was Doug Armstrong, part of Steve Yzerman’s brain trust with Team Canada. The Stars’ former GM was not calling to reminisce about their five years together in Dallas, which included a 210-109-35-23 record and four playoff appearances. Rather, Armstrong, Team Canada’s associate director, informed Morrow that he would be an Olympian for the first time. “Pretty exciting,” was Morrow’s recollection of the day and his reaction to the news. “I had my phone with me. I was training in the gym and had the strength coach (J.J. McQueen) carrying it around. I was pretty excited for the call.” The Vancouver Olympics mark the seventh international tournament for the native of Carlyle, Saskatchewan. In 34 games prior to these Olympics, Morrow has a goal and 13 points and 24 penalty minutes for Team Canada. Morrow, who was part of Canada’s 1999 silver-medal winning World Junior Championships team, said prior to the Games that playing for his country in his home country will be “pretty exciting” and that wearing the Red-and-White Maple Leaf sweater will be a “pretty amazing feeling.” If being named to Team Canada was a “pretty amazing feeling” for his 22 teammates, it had to be doubly rewarding for Morrow, who was limited to 18 games last season due to a torn ACL in right knee. He has played in 44 of the Stars’ 45 games in 2009-10. “Oddly enough, I think I’m feeling better now than I did at the beginning of the season,” Morrow said before heading off to Vancouver. “It’s a pretty major thing I came off of.” Following the surgery and understanding that Team Canada had a wealth of world-class players to select of the Olympic Team — it’s been said that the players who didn’t make the Olympic Team are so talented that they could medal — Morrow, who was invited to August’s Tryout Camp in Calgary, was not sold that he had a roster slot set in concrete. He told HPT.com “I didn’t know.” Stars head coach Mike Crawford had a feeling that Morrow would make the talent-rich squad and was pleased for his success. “Brenden [keeps] to himself about that sort of stuff. I think it was in the back of his mind, no doubt. It’s a big thrill for anyone. It’s a pretty special opportunity,” Crawford said. “I had a good idea that he was going to.” Crawford noted that GM Joe Nieuwendyk had talked with Steve Yzerman, while he spoke with Mike Babcock. I didn’t talk to Steve. Joe talked to Steve an awful lot. Joe talked to a lot of the managers. The managers were the ones that made the decisions. But I did have a good conversation with Mike Babcock on a number of our players,” said Crawford. “They were pretty thorough in their research.” What they may have learned is that Morrow's game is not about numbers. Never among the league’s premier snipers, Morrow has recorded 416 points (187 goals, 229 assists) in 635 career games. Morrow has totaled 14 goals and 27 points, and is minus-2 with 51 penalty minutes this season. He admitted that those numbers would not make anyone forget Wayne Gretzky in his prime. “Statistically I got off to a good start (but) the points haven’t been as coming as consistently (as they were) earlier in the season,” Morrow said before the Stars played the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 6. “I didn’t think my numbers were deserving of making the team, but you never know what they’re looking for. I think with the intangibles, that was something in my favor.” After a stretch with one point (a goal) in eight games during January, Morrow rebounded with seven assists in eight games leading up to the break. But Morrow is invaluable because of his leadership, toughness and intelligence. He is plus-115 in his NHL career, and ranked 15th among all players in plus-minus (plus-117) the last decade according to The Hockey News. So, yes, it’s an understatement to suggest Morrow is responsible in his own end. While every line other than the San Jose Sharks' trio of Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley have struggled to find chemistry, Morrow has been a mainstay on the fourth line. Morrow and Crawford agreed before the tournament that Morrow's job will be to provide a physical, checking presence. “I don’t think there’s any secret about that. Finishing my checks, play strong defense, chip in offensively — driving the net, getting rebounds and getting timely goals — but I think my primary role, as I envision it, is to be (on the checking lines),” Morrow said. Crawford, who won a Stanley Cup as the Avalanche's head coach in 1996, and was the head coach of the 1998 Canadian Olympic team, seconded Morrow’s analysis. “Same role as he has here: He’s going to play a hard-forechecking game,” Crawford said. "He’s a very responsible player, so he’ll be a guy who can skate, hunt down pucks and put back-side pressure. He kills penalties for us. He has the ability to play the net on the power play — he’s very good at it — whether or not he gets the opportunity to do that, there is that ability. “He’s great on the forecheck and he’s great at winning one-on-one puck battles. He wins a majority of the ones he’s involved in.” Unlike the NHL game, fighting is strictly verboten in Olympic hockey. While Morrow most likely won’t drop the gloves for his Team Canada mates, he will stick up for them, evidenced by his 994 career penalty minutes. He will also hit for them, which will play a huge factor in the 200-by-85 NHL rinks as compared to the 200-by-100 European rinks. “With the fact that the game is going to played on North American ice, that plays into his style because he is such a combative, competitive guy,” Crawford said admiringly. For those associated with the Stars, it has not been a watershed season. Dallas has 68 points and a 28-21-12 record, ninth in the Western Conference. “The season has been up-and-down. I try not to focus all on myself. I try to put the team first and worry about them,” Morrow said. Leadership. It’s what Brenden Morrow brings Team Canada. http://www.hockeyprimetime.com/news/features/morrow-brings-defense-leadership-to-canada

Patrice Bergeron feature for HockeyPrimeTime.com

Bergeron's two-way play earned Olympic spot

es

Written by Denis Gorman

Friday, February 19, 2010 17:46

The voice on the other end of the phone was fitting in a peculiar way. See, the voice had a hand in ruining the hopes and dreams of a fan base that had not experienced the game’s ultimate success since bell-bottoms were en vogue. He and his dynastic mates defeated the Colonial City’s NHL franchise in eight of nine Stanley Cup Finals games to walk away with two titles. So, yes, it was right that Kevin Lowe – he of six Cup victories as a player – called Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron on Dec. 30 with the greatest honor of his hockey career: Bergeron, who had not been invited to the Calgary Tryout Camp in Aug. 2009, had earned a spot on the Canadian Men’s Olympic Hockey Team. He has a team-leading 31 points in 41 games for the Bruins this year, and is tied for second with Blake Wheeler in goals with 11. His 20 assists are second-most on the team behind stud defenseman and Slovakian Olympian Zdeno Chara. Bergeron is justifiably proud of what he has accomplished by being named to Team Canada, having told HockeyPrimeTime.com that “It’s a huge honor. There’s so many good players who are Canadian, (so I’m) very honored.” It is a feeling shared by an organization that hasn’t had much to feel good about this year. “He’s come a long way from when he was hurt. He’s shown dedication and commitment in coming back. He’s the type of guy that deserves everything he receives. He works hard for it. So there’s pride and there’s happiness,” Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli said during a recent morning skate. “Very professional, he comes every single day and works the same way. He’s getting success because he deserves it,” praised veteran Bruins’ defenseman Derek Morris. For a team that had Stanley Cup aspirations following an Eastern Conference best 116-point season (53-19-10), the Bruins have decidedly struggled in 2009-10. They are seventh in the East with 65 points (27-22-11). The league’s second-highest scoring team last year with 270 goals (19 behind league-leading Detroit), the Bruins are rank dead last this season with 141 goals in 60 games – an average of 2.35 per game. Injuries and the September trade of Phil Kessel to Toronto have forced Julien and GM Peter Chiarelli to be mad scientists, mixing and matching personnel in order to find goal scoring. Chiarelli signed free agent Miro Satan at midseason in hopes of boosting the offense, but the results have yet to follow. Six Bruins have scored at least 10 goals this season. That is a precipitous drop-off from 2008-09, when 10 players finish with at least 10 goals, including six with 20 or more — led by Kessel’s 36. In a fantasy sports era, the proverbial "little things" are overlooked for sexier and flashier stats, such as goals and points. While no doubt pleased with his offensive production, Chiarelli praised Bergeron’s game as an inclusive, specifically pointing out faceoffs as being key. Bergeron is eighth in the league with a 58 percent winning percentage in the faceoff circle. “His faceoffs have been really good this year. Patrice is a two-way player, so you have to look at his game as an overall,” Chiarelli said. “What I see is that his game is a whole right now; there’s not one piece that is missing. To me that’s what’s stood out.” Still, it is not as if Bergeron is incapable of making world-class plays offensively. His set-up on Marco Sturm’s Winter Classic-winning goal was an example of that. Bergeron made a stop-and-start play along the boards before firing a perfect pass to Sturm, who tapped the puck past Philadelphia netminder Michael Leighton in the Bruins’ 2-1 overtime win. “I saw Sturmie go to the net and I saw ‘Z’ (Chara) getting open for a one-timer. So I was looking at ‘Z.’ I knew Sturmie was in the perfect spot in front , so I passed it to him,” analyzed Bergeron. The New Year’s Day win in Fenway was a boon for the league and the struggling organization, which has been short-handed most of the season. The Bruins had five players on the injured list in January, and defenseman Mark Stuart hasn't played the month of February. Fellow blueliner Johnny Boychuk missed four games leading up to the Olympic break. Bergeron broke his thumb in three places against the New York Rangers on Jan. 4 when the finger was struck by a Dennis Wideman shot. He missed the next two weeks. It was not, however, the worst injury of his career. In an Oct. 2007 home game against the Flyers, Bergeron suffered a grade three concussion after absorbing a check by Randy Jones. Jones checked Bergeron into the glass from behind as the Boston center attempted to retrieve the puck from behind his own goal. Unconscious, Bergeron collapsed to the ice with a broken nose and had to be removed on a stretcher by medical personnel. He missed the Bruins’ final 72 regular-season games and the seven-game first round series against Original Six rival Montreal. The Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec, native returned from the concussion last season to post 39 points (eight goals and 31 assists) in 64 games. Chiarelli suggested that Bergeron’s lack of offense during the 2008-09 campaign was “part of getting your confidence back, mentally and physically,” while Bergeron added he was “just happy by the way I came back. I worked hard to come back.” One of the intriguing aspects of international tournaments such as the Olympics and World Championships is that the teams are typically made up of top-tier talent. With Team Canada made up of 23 NHL stars, it is obvious that some players will be put into roles that may heretofore be unfamiliar. Pressed prior to the Olympics by HPT.com about his role on Team Canada – a question that lingers through two games of group play – Bergeron admitted that it was to be determined. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes; take any role on this team,” he said. Bergeron began Tuesday's opener against Norway on a scoring line with Rick Nash and Sidney Crosby. He picked up his first point of the tournament by assisting on Mike Richards' goal in the second period, which extended the Canadian lead to 3-0. On Thursday against Switzerland, Bergeron was in more of a utility role, though he did win three defensive-zone faceoffs as Canada held on for a 3-2 win in the shootout. If Canada finds itself in another low-scoring battle, expect them to turn to Bergeron again. “The biggest thing with him, when we’re cycling or on the forecheck, he’s always the first guy back, always defensive minded," Morris said. "He’s probably one of the best two-way forwards in the game." Bergeron’s on- and off-ice accountability is the reason he's wearing his country's sweater in Vancouver. http://www.hockeyprimetime.com/news/features/bergerons-two-way-play-earned-olypmic-spot

HockeyPrimeTime.com feature on NHL players participating in the Olympic Games

What difference does a uniform make?

es

Written by Denis Gorman

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 05:27

Some react with jokes or incredulity, but the reality of NHL teammates becoming Olympic opponents – or NHL opponents becoming teammates – presents a unique scenario in sports. It was a little after 11 in the morning of February 5. The press conference room at Newark’s Prudential Center was packed. Ilya Kovalchuk, one of the NHL’s premier talents, was meeting a media horde and testifying to the thrill of joining the New Jersey Devils, one of the NHL's premier teams. A world-class athlete had become a member of one of professional sports’ blueprint franchises. A marriage made in heaven – or, at the very least, on Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello’s phone. During his first press conference as a Devil, Kovalchuk was told that Martin Brodeur, a rival turned teammate – and soon to be opponent – had said with a smile that he was going to “look” at his new left wing for the upcoming Olympic Games. Kovalchuk, a 26-year-old unrestricted free agent to be, did not miss a beat. “That’s OK," he said. "We got a lot of guys who can score goals. He should scout all of them. I won’t help him with that.” The reporters laughed. While being light-hearted, Brodeur and Kovalchuk touched on a topic that may make organizations uncomfortable. How will The Games affect the NHL? Or, perhaps more accurately, will what transpires in British Columbia carry over into NHL dressing rooms following the Olympics? Brodeur and Kovalchuk are two of the 140* NHL players commissioned to play for 12 countries in Vancouver’s Olympic Games. Brodeur is expected to be Team Canada’s starting goaltender on Thursday and perhaps beyond, while Kovalchuk skated Tuesday on Russia’s top line. The Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks have sent eight players to Vancouver. Only one of the 30 teams, the New York Islanders, sent one. With the possible exception of American football, no team sport has as many high-speed collisions in an average game as hockey. Outside of baseball, cricket and lacrosse, no other sport uses sticks as a key piece of equipment. Finally, no other sport's fan base elevates the concept of rivalry, between individual players and organizations, to hatred. So will it be difficult for the remaining 139 NHL players to look at their respective teammates in the final six weeks of the regular season or during a critical playoff juncture during the playoffs and not remember, perhaps, a slash or a cross-check from a teammate during The Games? It depends upon who is asked. “No, it’s not difficult. It’s the job we have. Playing for your country is an honor. You have to represent (your country) in the right way,” Boston Bruins and Slovakian defenseman Zdeno Chara said. “If someone wants to look at it that way, that’s his problem. It’s just the job we have to do.” “It’s a little weird at first. Still it’s a business. Still of course, there’s a respect, you know. When I play against Getzy (Ryan Getzlaf) I want to make sure I can give him a hard time after the game. You better win,” Anaheim Ducks forward Teemu Selanne told HockeyPrimeTime.com on the verge of his fifth Olympic appearance for Team Finland. “You don’t think about that stuff too much anymore. When you play, you’re so into it, you don’t think about it too much. It’s quite fun too. It’s very special.” In the Jan. 10 edition of the San Jose Mercury News, columnist Mark Purdy quoted Red Wings coach Mike Babcock as saying, “I don't think there's anything awkward about it,” and “You guys are thinking way too much,” before his team beat the Sharks 4-1 at HP Pavilion. The NHL Western Conference-leading Sharks sent a quartet to Team Canada, which is coached by Babcock. If anyone can conquer the awkwardness of the situation, it's Babcock, whose locker room is a model United Nations. Future Hall of Fame defenseman Nick Lidstrom, the captain of the Red Wings and Team Sweden, agreed with his coach that there should be no uneasiness in the dressing rooms during and after the Olympics. “I’ve been part of that in the past, where you have a lot of players from a lot of different countries. It’s exciting. It’s fun when you have different players getting ready for different teams and different countries. I think it’s great that we have a chance for so many players from different countries to be a part of this,” Lidstrom told HPT. There are players who, while proud to wear their country’s sweater, recognize that they are accountable to the NHL organizations that pay their salary. Following his New York Rangers’ 3-1 win over the Devils on Feb. 6, Slovakian Olympian Marian Gaborik told reporters, “Everybody is focused on the season here. The Olympics hasn’t started yet. When the day comes we will focus on that, but the main focus is the season right now.” *Anaheim (Luca Sbisa), Montreal (Yanick Weber), the New York Rangers (Andres Ambuhl), Ottawa (Kaspers Daugavins) and Tampa (Martins Karsums) also had minor league talent selected to represent their countries in Vancouver. http://www.hockeyprimetime.com/news/features/what-difference-does-a-uniform-make

February 11, 2010, Philadelphia Flyers-New Jersey Devils game story for Metro Newspaper

US – Thursday, February 11

Published 05:08, February the 11th, 2010

No revenge for Devils in rematch

Flyers 3, Devils 2 (OT)

The theme that emanated from quiet corners of the dressing room was an uncomfortable truth.


The Devils are tight. They are not taking advantage of opportunities. The power play is abysmal.


“We found a way to lose,” said a clearly disappointed Jacques Lemaire following an emotionless 3-2 overtime loss at The Prudential Center Wednesday night. Philadelphia forward Simon Gagne scored the game-winner on a high wraparound that Martin Brodeur could not snag.


Despite the loss, their 11th in their last 15, Pittsburgh’s 3-1 win over the Islanders means the Devils still lead the Atlantic Division. The Devils have 75 points while Pittsburgh has 74.


The Devils have two games remaining before the Olympic break. The Atlantic Division leaders host Nashville Friday night, and travel to out-of-playoff-contention-but-playing-better-in-recent-weeks Carolina on Saturday.


Considering that Brodeur may be the starting netminder for Team Canada in the upcoming Olympic Games, that he has played in 55 games this season and is projected to play 78 games this season—tying a career high set in 2006-07—could backup Yann Danis play this weekend?


“I rested last week. That really didn’t do too good for me. I just want to get in the groove and play as much as I can,” Brodeur said after allowing three goals on 15 shots. His counterpart, Michael Leighton turned away 21-of-23 shots.


Travis Zajac opened the scoring at :45 with a wrist shot from the left face-off circle that trickled under Leighton’s pads. Eight minutes and 14 seconds later, Rob Niedermayer doubled the lead to 2-0 when he threw a shot on goal from alongside the goal line popped over Leighton’s stick. Aaron Asham halved the Devs’ lead 32 seconds later with a wrist shot that went under Brodeur’s arm.


Scott Hartnell had an opportunity to tie the game with 5:15 remaining in the first period. However, Brodeur dove and gloved the puck on the goal line. A lengthy review showed that the puck came to rest on the goal line.


Jeff Carter tied the game at two with a wrister from the left faceoff dot with 6:13 left in the second. When his name was announced over the PA, boos cascaded from an announced 5,580 who braved the elements because Carter knocked out Anssi Salmela Monday night with a shoulder check to the head.


The match was deadlocked for 27:46 spanning the rest of regulation and the first 3:27 of OT until Gagne’s game-winner.


But that is not to say that the Devils did not have a chance to win the game. The Devils had a 25 second 5-on-3 power play late in the third. As has been the case for a group that came into the night 2-for-20 with the man advantage in the last five games, it was nothing doing. The Devils were 0-for-3 on the PP.


Could the Devils need the presence of injured defenseman Paul Martin (broken right forearm) and space-filling forward David Clarkson (leg injury) on the power play? Is it that simple?


“I don’t know. We’ll see when (they are) going to get back. I think we have good enough players to play on the power play,” offered Ilya Kovalchuk.


Last night’s match was the back half of a home-and-home between the Atlantic Division rivals. The Flyers won Monday night’s nationally televised game, 3-2. Jersey has four of five meetings with the Flyers in 2009-10. The rivals have one more game remaining this season, a March 28 game at the Wachovia Center.




NOTES:


The loss was not the only reason that last night’s game was tough for the Devils. In less than 90 minutes, the Devils lost two key components to injury.


Zach Parise was scratched due to an “upper body” injury last night. A Devils spokesman did not respond to an email asking if Parise’s injury could cause the left wing to miss the Olympics. Devils and Team USA Captain Jamie Langenbrunner did not think that Parise’s injury would cause him to miss the Games.



Later, Bryce Salvador left the game in the first period after being hit in the face by a puck. A Devils spokesperson announced midway through the Salvador suffered a euphemistic “upper body injury” but did not say whether the defenseman would return to the game.


Lemaire said that he thought the defenseman would “be fine.” Players told reporters that they were informed about Parise before the game.


The other Devil scratches were Paul Martin, Andrew Peters and Anssi Salmela. Philadelphia scratched Ray Emery, newly acquired left wing Ville Leino and Riley Cote.


*


It was an interesting admission from a coach who often keeps his cards close to the vest.


Jacques Lemaire was standing outside the Devils dressing room, two hours prior to last night’s game against the Flyers, discussing how his team is still adjusting since the acquisition of superstar LW Ilya Kovalchuk.


“The six top players have to gel,” Lemaire said, noting that his charges are still learning about where Kovalchuk likes to get the puck and vice versa. “Every top team that has that kind of top player, same thing.”


The Devils have played three games in the six days since the trade. Jersey had only scored seven goals—an average of 2.3 goals per game. Kovalchuk took 18 shots on goal but had not scored in the same time frame. In fact, the UFA-to-be only has two assists since becoming a Devil.


Still, Lemaire professed not to be concerned about Kovalchuk


“He’s coming in, getting a lot of shots. It’s a matter of time. He’s the least of my problems,” Lemaire said. “What I’m (seeing from) Kovy is that he’s working hard. He’s trying hard. I think the other players have to adjust to (him) more than him adjusting to him.”


Perhaps, in order to get healthy offensively, the Predators and Hurricanes are what the Devils need. Nashville is ranked 19th in the NHL with a 2.78 goals against, while Carolina’s 3.14 is tied for 27th.


*

The lasting image of Monday night’s 3-2 loss in Philadelphia was Salmela laying prone on the ice after absorbing a Carter shoulder to his head, a split second after releasing the shot that beat Leighton for the Devils’ second goal.


The Finnish defenseman had to be taken off the Wachovia Center ice on a stretcher. Salmela’s agent, Jay Grossman (who also happens to represent Kovalchuk) tweeted that night that his client suffered a concussion, a broken nose and lost several teeth from the hit.


Before last night’s game, Lemaire was asked if he was upset that a penalty was not called on Carter.


“Jamie (Langenbrunner) came to see me and he said it was no elbow, which I thought at first. When I looked at it, it was not. So..,” Lemaire said before pantomiming a shoulder check. “Now it’s up to the one that makes the rules.”


Salmela was at the Prudential Center last night, but was not in the lineup.


“He’s getting better,” Lemaire noted.


*

Despite the weather, Jay Pandolfo, Mark Fraser, Kovalchuk and Lemaire said that they had no issue getting to The Rock for the game.



*


For fans who had tickets to last night’s game but could not make it due to the inclement weather, a 50 percent discount will be offered for the following three games: March 15 game against Boston, the March 23 game against Columbus and the March 30 game against Boston.


You can follow us on Twitter @DenisGorman

Denis Gorman

http://www.metro.us/us/article/2010/02/11/11/0832-82/index.xml

February 5, 2010, Ilya Kovalchuk follow up story for Hockey Primetime.com

Devils react to Kovalchuk's arrival

Written by Denis Gorman

Friday, February 05, 2010 18:26

Martin Brodeur was encircled by a media throng at his locker following the Devils’ early skate Friday morning. That is nothing new for Brodeur. Spend 16 NHL seasons authoring arguably the greatest career a goaltender has ever had and people want to talk to you. In this case, though, the discussion was not about stopping one of the NHL’s premier goal-scorers. Rather, it was about the Devils’ acquisition of one. “We all came in with big smiles to the rink,” Brodeur said of his and his teammates’ reaction to Thursday night’s blockbuster trade for Ilya Kovalchuck from Atlanta. The Devils received Kovalchuk, defenseman Anssi Salmela and Atlanta’s second round pick this year. The Thrashers received the Devils’ first and second round picks this year, defenseman Johnny Oduya, forward Nic Bergfors and prospect Patrice Cormier. “It’s new life. It’s oxygen that gets pumped into the organization.” In a conference call Thursday night, GM Lou Lamoriello compared this trade to the one he made in 2000 which brought Alex Mogilny to the Devils. Like Kovalchuk, Mogilny is a Russian sniper. With Mogilny the Devils won the Cup in 2001 and lost the Cup to Colorado in seven games in 2001. The Devils get one of the premier goal-scorers in the NHL in Kovalchuk. The native of Tver, Russia, recorded 31 goals and 27 assists in 49 games this season with Atlanta. Kovalchuk is the Thrashers' all-time leader in goals (328) and points (615). Perhaps as important as his goal-scoring, the struggling Devils get a boost. Dating back to New Year’s Eve the Devils – first in the Atlantic Division and second in the Conference – are only 9-10-1 in their last 20 games. Kovalchuk, expected to play tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs, is awarded the opportunity to contend for the Cup – something he did not have in eight seasons in Atlanta. The Thrashers only made the playoffs once during his tenure and they lasted all of four games against the Rangers in 2007. “You play to win. He’s no different. You see him react when they won the World Championships, how excited he gets when he scores, the celebrations. That means that he cares,” said Brodeur. Right now, Kovalchuk and the Thrashers organization may not care for each other. The exasperated Thrashers took a shot at Kovalchuk in a press release Thursday afternoon. In the statement GM Don Waddell said, “Ultimately, we offered Kovy more than $101 million over 12 years, which would have been the highest contract signed by an impending unrestricted free agent in the history of the league. If accepted, this contract would have been the second-highest offer ever to any NHL player. We also met his desire to be the highest paid player based on average annual salary with a separate offer of 7 years at $10M per year ($70M). This offer is $0.5M higher per year than any other player. "If we went beyond these offers, we would not be able to retain the young players on our roster when it came time to sign them, or invest in other top-tier players needed to assemble a truly competitive team. Therefore, we are aggressively exploring all of our options as we move forward." The left wing, who instantly becomes the Devils' leading goal scorer and point producer, said he “had no problem with that.” But like a scorned lover, Kovalchuk responded to Waddell with jibes of his own. “I’m very excited. It’s the first time in my career that I get to play for a first class organization,” Kovalchuk said. “There’s a good system here. Adjustments, coaches – they know what they are doing.” Kovalchuk's new teammates don’t care about the "he said, he said." They don’t even care that Kovalchuk may only be a rent-a-player. “It definitely makes our team a lot more dangerous with him in the lineup. It’s definitely exciting,” center Travis Zajac said. The Devils’ No. 1 center could see time on the power play with Kovalchuk. A first unit of Kovalchuk, Zajac and Zach Parise should boost the NHL’s 11th-ranked PP. “It’s real exciting. I don’t know if I’ll get the chance to play with him or not. He’s a shooter and he scores goals, so just give him the puck.” There may be more good news in the near future. The Devils should get defenseman Paul Martin and forwards Patrik Elias and David Clarkson off the injured list following the Olympics. Those additions should deepen what is now one of the odds-on favorites to win the Cup. “Very excited. Get a top three goal-scorer, got to be excited,” Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek said outside The Prudential Center Friday morning. “We try to win a Cup every year. We think this will help the team. That’s why we do things.” http://www.hockeyprimetime.com/news/headlines/devils-react-to-kovalchuks-arrival

February 5, 2010, Washington Capitals-New York Rangers game story for Metro NYC Newspaper

US – Friday, February

Published 04:11, February the 5th, 2010

UnCapped

Five Rangers goals not enough to keep Washington from its 12th straight win

John Tortorella sat at the dais, angry and exasperated.


For almost three hours, he had the best seat in the house and watched his team play his brand of hockey. The Rangers scored goals, they forechecked, they moved the puck. The power play was lethal. They looked like a legitimate contender.


Except for one infinitesimal detail.


The Rangers lost.


“Plug one hole and a couple others spring up. Mainly our discipline,” Tortorella spat after the Rangers’ 6-5 loss to NHL-leading Washington at the Garden Thursday night.


The Rangers came into last night’s match with the NHL’s fourth-ranked penalty kill and had been a perfect 16-for-16 during their three game road trip to Phoenix, Denver and Los Angeles. They finished the game fifth in the league on the PK. Allowing three goals on nine power plays will do that.


“We just got to stay out of the box. You give those guys that many chances on the power play, it’s going to come back to bite you,” Ryan Callahan said. “They’re just a good power play. They could have one power play and they can score on it. When you take that many, they’re going to get one or two.”


Added Tortorella, “You can’t sit in the box that much and we did tonight.”


The penalties—which Tortorella described as “some of the calls by the refs were phantom calls and some were undisciplined penalties by us”—overshadowed the Rangers best power play performance of the season. The Rangers torched the Caps for four goals on six power plays.


“Four power play goals and you still lose a hockey game. That’s the way it’s been going here,” Tortorella said.


Prior to last night, the Capitals came into the match having won 11 straight by an aggregate 52-22. Alternately, the Rangers were 3-8 in their last 11 games and had been outscored 33-24. A primary reason for Washington’s success during the stretch has been the production of the top line of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Knuble. The trio combined for 46 points in the win streak. Last night the threesome totaled 10 points. Ovechkin finished with two goals and an assist. His 38 goals and 80 points lead the NHL. Knuble had a goal and an assist. Backstrom had a five point night with a goal and four assists.


“I thought Alex was going to get one or two great chances to score in the third period because he was having one of those games. But it was Backstrom who was having one of those games as well that did the damage,” said Caps coach Bruce Boudreau.


Boyd Gordon and Tom Poti also recorded goals for Washington. The Rangers got two markers from Vinny Prospal, and one each from Callahan, Olli Jokinen and Brandon Dubinsky.


The Rangers next game is Saturday night at the Garden against cross-river rival New Jersey. With 24 games left on the schedule, the Rangers are one of eight teams battling for the final three playoff slots in the Eastern Conference. At 25-26-7, the Rangers are 10th in the East with 57 points, but are only two points out of the seventh and eighth spots.


So for all of the Rangers’ struggles this season, they are still very much alive for a playoff berth.


“It’s not dispiriting. It’s tough when you put up that many goals and we don’t come away with a win. But at the end of the day, (you) take away we played great five-on-five. Our power play played great,” said Callahan.




NOTES:


Newly acquired Olli Jokinen and Brandon Prust made their Rangers’ MSG debuts last night. Jokinen scored a goal and added an assist, but took three minor penalties in 16:39. Prust threw a hit in 5:10.


Tortorella would not talk about Jokinen. However the free-agent center to be spoke about his new coach and what he expects.


“You have to play hard. Whoever plays hard, plays. He is a very positive guy. Obviously, I don’t know him that much but he won the Cup. A very respectful guy and a good coach,” analyzed Jokinen


*


Last night’s match marked the fourth time the Rangers scored five goals in a game. The season high was eight goals in their January 19 home win over Tampa Bay.


*

Aaron Voros and Donald Brashear were scratched by the Rangers. Washington scratched Karl Alzner, Quintin Laing and suspended Mike Green.


*

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Wednesday night that defenseman Mike Komisarek will have to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. The shoulder was initially injured in a 2008 fight with Boston forward Milan Lucic. Komisarek was then a Montreal Canadien. The injury cost Komisarek 16 games.


Signed to a four year, $22.5 million free agent deal over the summer in an attempt to provide a physical presence on the Toronto blueline, Komisarek only played in 34 games this season, totaling four assists and 40 penalty minutes.


The loss of Komisarek is another blow to Team USA. Komisarek is the second American defenseman this week to pull out of the Olympics due to injury. The Devils’ Paul Martin announced Monday that his slow-healing broken arm will keep him from playing for Team USA in Vancouver. Anaheim defenseman Ryan Whitney and Carolina defenseman Tim Gleason have been tabbed to replace Komisarek and Martin.


*

Hicks Sports Group announced yesterday that it had “retained Galatioto Sports Partners” in an attempt to find potential investors or potential buyers for the Dallas Stars. Along with the Stars, Hicks Sports Group had owned Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers before they were sold to Chuck Greenberg late last month. It has been reported that Tom Hicks, who headed HSG, defaulted on a loan totaling $525 million.


You can follow us on Twitter @DenisGorman

Denis Gorman

http://www.metro.us/us/article/2010/02/05/10/1131-82/index.xml