NHL Week at a Glance:
The personal touch
Posted: Thursday May 20, 1999 04:14 PM
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Kostya Kennedy's
Playoff Previews |
| As the Conference finals heat up, take a look at what SI's Kostya Kennedy had to say about the matchups. Find out why he likes the Sabres in the Eastern Conference and the Stars in the Western Conference. You can also send your thoughts on the playoffs to Kostya's NHL Mailbag. | |
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By Jamie MacDonald, CNN/SI
As NHL fans turn their eyes to the conference finals, we turn our Glance to a
few individuals who will be personally responsible for securing a date with the
Stanley Cup.
With that in mind, we are again providing a service for those busy
NHL stars who aren't able, or are just a little too embarrassed to give the
Glance Personals a try. For the uninitiated, the Glance Personals are not for
SMs seeking attractive and literate SWs, but for NHL stars seeking a drink,
maybe more, from a silver
chalice.
Mr. Mo. -- A captain in Dallas with GQ good looks, but willing to take
a few scratches to sweep you off your feet. Mailbox
#9.
Hullie -- Outspoken, but a little more tame since coming to Big D --
you're the only reason I moved here. Don't make me beg. New mailbox, #22.
May the Fors be with you -- Nouveau riche (eight figures) with a mean
streak, anger management should help acquaint us. Mailbox
#21.
Little Lanche -- Been scarred in the recent past, and have admitted to
a Napoleon complex, but I heal fast and play big. Mailbox
#14.
Big Swede -- The weight of the world is on my shoulders lately, help me
get at least a city off my back. Mailbox
#13.
Cujo -- Dog's name, but better than Cat quick. As the name suggests, I
have been hounding you, but would like to be a little closer. Mailbox
#31.
Dominator -- Name should say it all, but I'm also quite acrobatic (slinky
for a spine). Our meeting last season never Capitalized.* Mailbox
#39.
Peca -- As a Boston publication put it, measure me any way you like,
I'm big and you can't shake me. Mailbox
#27.
*Should read "never
materialized."
| Storylines We're Following
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Wandering Pens
Lawyers, pucks and money are the central themes in Pittsburgh, but not
necessarily in that order -- and pucks may not be a part of it at all if the
bankrupt franchise is not purchased by a local owner. One lawyer said a
scorecard was needed to keep up with the ping-ponging plans for the team, but at
last check it was: Mario Lemieux 's plan is set for a vote within the
next few weeks and a second bid (a joint bid from the owners of the Igloo and
Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh) will be reviewed later this month. A third player
appears to be Paul Allen , co-founder of Microsoft and one of the few
guys who can reach Bill Gates on the billionaire totem pole. Hopefully
one of the options keeping the team in Pittsburgh is financially viable and the
Pens stay in Steeltown as tenants of what will be the NHL's oldest building next
season.
Sutter's honeymoon in Calgary
The Flames picked up the option for a third and final year on Brian Sutter
's contract, but will he accept the terms? The answer will follow in the
coming weeks, but Sutter told the Calgary Herald that he considered the
Flames' announcement a "formality" and countered with "we're
working on some other things, so we'll see." The paper pointed out that
Sutter, a veteran coach with a lifetime 329-278-93 record, was the NHL's
lowest-paid head coach. Sutter earns the almost entry-level NHL coaching salary
of $425,000 Canadian. "Let's just say that some other stuff has to get
done," Sutter
said.
A Leetch in New York
Brian Leetch may be close to re-signing with the Rangers, which many
expected, which leaves Theo Fleury ( Mark Recchi re-signed with
Philadelphia) as the only blockbuster attraction at the free agent gate this
summer.
Dismantling of the Wings
It won't quite have the impact as the dismantling of the NBA's Bulls, but two of
the Wings' biggest names may not be back. Scotty Bowman , who has been
taking teams to the Stanley Cup finals since 1968 and someone for whom Hall of
Fame should waive a waiting period, is considering retirement. Nicklas
Lidstrom , the Norris Trophy-caliber defenseman who might command more than
$5 million, may also take flight -- back to his homeland. Lidstrom has talked
about raising his children in Sweden no matter what he's worth on the NHL's open
market.
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| NHL's Three Stars
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| Each week throughout the playoffs, we'll take a look back at a few of
the individuals who made a significant impact on team success.
1. Peter Forsberg , Colorado -- Valeri Kamensky 's return may
have helped, but against the Red Wings Forsberg showed that he's capable of
taking over games in both ends of the
ice.
2. Michael Peca , Buffalo -- The Sabres are 8-0 in the playoffs when he
scores a point and 0-2 when he doesn't. He may also be more important to his
team in the postseason than Dominik Hasek
.
3. Sergei Berezin , Toronto -- Three goals in his last three games. His
quick-strike capabilities are going to be needed against Hasek in the conference
finals.
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| Bandwagon
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| Patrick Roy
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Regaining St. Patrick form |
| Jamie Lagenbrunner | |
Will be a key vs. Colorado |
| Adam Deadmarsh
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Much more dangerous on third line |
| Red Wings
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So much for Dynasty on Ice |
| Wayne Primeau
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Outscoring his brother |
| Lonny Bohonos
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Five games, three goals, plus-4 |
| Colorado rookies
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Hejduk and Drury should share Calder |
| Harry Sinden
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Wrong way to voice our thoughts |
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| Not your average prediction
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Two of our bandwagoneers, Jamie Lagenbrunner and Adam Deadmarsh, will decide the
Stars-Avalanche series. If Langenbrunner outscores Deadmarsh, the Stars will
win. If Deadmarsh outscores Lagenbrunner, the Avalanche will win.
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