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 SAVE THE WHALE! SAVE THE WHALE! SAVE THE WHALE! SAVE THE WHALE!
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 GUIDE TO HOCKEY GUIDE TO HOCKEY GUIDE TO HOCKEY GUIDE TO HOCKEY  
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Five Star            - ELECTRONIC EDITION -            * * * * * 
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Issue 47                   May 21, 1996      It's like free, man
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Conference Finals Underway
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by John Kreiser

     It's mid-May., when everyone in South Florida's heart turns
to... hockey.  That's right.  Hockey. 
     While their neighbors are getting ready for summer, the
Florida Panthers are taking on the Pittsburgh Penguins in the
Eastern Conference final.  The surprising Panthers became only
the third team since 1970 to get as far as the Final Four in
their first crack at the playoffs by upending Boston and then
stunning top-seeded Philadelphia in six games. 
     The Penguins took a more conventional route, rallying to
beat Washington in six games and disposing of the Rangers in
five.  
     The winner of the Pens-Panthers series will play for the
Stanley Cup against the survivor of the Western semifinal between
the two division champions, Detroit and Colorado.  The Red Wings
got the scare of their lives before beating St. Louis 1-0 in
double overtime to win Game 7 of the Western semifinals. 
Colorado survived a pair of overtime losses to top Chicago in six
games.  

PITTSBURGH looked like the Beast of the East while taking
only five games to beat New York.  The Penguins' dynamic duo of
Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr combined for 15 goals in their
second-round series, matching the Rangers' team output.  Lemieux
also showed doubters that he knows what to do in his own end of
the ice, playing perhaps the best defensive series of his career. 
But the biggest factor in Pittsburgh's win was goalie Ken
Wregget, who stepped out of the shadows of Tom Barrasso and into
the spotlight by shutting down New York's big guns.  One player
who will be missed is center Ron Francis, who's out with a 
broken foot. 
     The Penguins probably figured they'd have to beat
Philadelphia to get to the Finals; instead, FLORIDA did it for
them.  Unlike Pittsburgh, the Panthers have no offensive stars
and little flash -- but a lot of heart.  More important, they've
been able to play "Leave It To Beezer" thanks to the play of
goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck, who is playing the way he did 
10 years ago, when he won the Vezina Trophy and led the
underpowered Rangers to the semifinals.  Now the bad news: Mario
Lemieux has 27 career goals against Vanbiesbrouck, more than he's
scored against any other goaltender. 
     But that didn't help in the series opener, as the Panthers
shut down Pittsburgh's big guns on the way to an easy 5-1 win.
The Penguins can't afford to mail in another one -- not against
the Panthers' flypaper-like defensive system.  Pittsburgh got 
back on track in Game 2, but it should still be a long series. 

SEASON SERIES: Pittsburgh 3-1-0; all were one-goal games. 
PLAYOFF HISTORY: Have never met. 
X FACTOR: Both teams have been riding hot goaltenders.  But if 
Vanbiesbrouck falters, the Panthers are toast; if Wregget or Barrasso
stumble a bit, the Penguins have the scoring to bail them out. 
PREDICTION:  Pittsburgh in seven, even with the Game 1 loss and
without Francis.  The Penguins have too much scoring and are
playing the way they did when they won the Cup in 1991 and 1992. 
     
DETROIT and COLORADO figures to go to the team that controls
the middle.  The Red Wings' 1-2 punch of Steve Yzerman and Sergei
Fedorov at center is more than a match for most teams -- but not
for the Avalanche's top tandem of Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg. 
Sakic has been the offensive star of the playoffs, while Yzerman
scored the goal that sent the Wings into the next round and has
been Detroit's top gun through the first two rounds.  However, he
left Game 1 on Sunday with what was described as a groin injury. 
If he's idled or at less than full strength, the Wings have a
problem.  
     Colorado goaltender Patrick Roy has two Stanley Cup rings
from his days with Montreal and got sharper as the series against
Chicago went on.  He also has an amazing 28-7 record in overtime,
including the Game 1 win at Detroit.  Detroit has split time
between veteran Mike Vernon and youngster Chris Osgood, but
Osgood got the call in Game 7 against the Blues and Game 1
against the Avalanche, so he figures to get the majority of the
work.  
     Osgood and Vernon get more help from their teammates than
any team in the league in limiting scoring chances.  The Wings
will have to work extra-hard against Colorado, which relies on
speed and puck movement to generate its scoring chances. 
Offensively, the Wings will try to exploit Colorado's defense,
especially down low, where the Avalanche is most vulnerable. 

SEASON SERIES: Detroit 3-1-0.  The Red Wings won the last three  
meetings after losing the season's first game in Denver. 
PLAYOFF HISTORY: Have never met.
X FACTOR: Which team can control the other's star centers.  
Sakic, in particular, has been brilliant through the first two
rounds (13 goals).  If the Wings can't shut him down, they're in
trouble. 
PREDICTION: Detroit in seven, despite the Game 1 loss. The St.
Louis scare should prevent any overconfidence by Detroit after a
62-win season.  If Yzerman is out for any length of time, though,
all bets are off. 


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We Saved the Whale!  Sort Of...Maybe...Perhaps...We Think...
--------------------------------------------------------------
by Steve Gallichio

     Tom Clancy couldn't have written a better script.  It
had action, intrigue, secret agents, mystery men, hidden
agendas, unspeakable motives, and every other ingredient
for a ratings-busting network movie of the week.
     And in the middle, it even had a hockey team.
     By now, the outline to the story of the Save the Whale
campaign is well known, and no doubt the stuff of soon-to-be
legends, as the charter members of the "96 Club" gather the
memories to dispense to grandchildren at the Stanley Cup
parade down Asylum Street decades from now.
     But just so the facts don't get in the way of a good
story, a rough chronology of events is in perfect order.
     The primer: Peter Karmanos, Thomas Thewes, and Jim
Rutherford purchased the Hartford Whalers in 1994 from 
the Connecticut Development Authority, a quasi-public arm
of the state government, who had previously purchased the
team from area businessman and village idiot Richard Gordon.
     The state gave the KTR group an enormously attractive
sale package in order to entice them into a feeble market,
including underwriting half of up to $30 million in losses,
and a sale price at five percent less than market value.
In exchange, the state required, and received, a four-year
commitment from the Whalers to stay in the state, after
which time the owners could pay a $5-million relocation fee,
the balance of their deferred sale payments (another $10.5
million), and be along their merry way.
     In late October, with the Whalers atop the division
with an early 4-1-1 mark, the team returned home to play
the $t Louis Blues as Chris Pronger and Brendan Shanahan
had their first opportunity to face their former teams.
     Although few realized it at the time, the scant ten
thousand attendance figure that night was the first roll
of the wheels that led to the current tenuous resolution.
     Following that game, as Whalers' Consultant for
Business Affairs, Lou Beer, disclosed at the conclusion of
the ticket drive, the Whalers went to the state of 
Connecticut and Governor John Rowland and, laying out losses
of $11 million last season and a projection of another $20
million lost this season, asked to be let out of the 
remainder of their four-year contract with the state.  The
state and the team then came to a private agreement which
would not see the eyes of the public until late March: if
the region could demonstrate by a mandate of ticket sales
that viable support existed for the franchise, the state
would look to rework the Civic Center lease to provide to
the team skybox, parking, and concession revenues that were
being directed away from the Whalers in the current
agreement.
     But none of this was publicly known as the Save the
Whale campaign kicked off.
     March 27:  Marketing Associates International, a Kansas
marketing firm, is drafted to lead the campaign to sell
11,000 tickets.  Mitch Wheeler, president of MAI, makes
several token appearances in the Hartford area and then
disappears down a large a prairie dog hole, never to be seen
again.
     March 29:  May 1st set as termination date of campaign.
Disbelief reigns.
     April 2:  The Save the Whale campaign officially kicks
off.  In order to entice more fans to purchase tickets, the
Whalers raise ticket prices by an average of 20%, raise the
deposit required to hold seats by 750%, and eliminate
partial ticket plans.  Russ Gregory, the team's senior VP
in charge of marketing and public relations, shows his 
support for the campaign by putting his house up for sale.
Million-dollar washout Gerald Diduck does likewise.
Governor Rowland appoints Lt. Governor Jodi Rell to act as
the point person for the campaign, evoking Jimmy Carter's
famous line while touring Three Mile Island.  "If it wasn't
safe," Carter said, "I would have sent Mondale."  Fritz Rell
announces she will buddy up with someone to split a pair
of season tickets.
     April 13:  The Whalers end a sixth consecutive losing
season (and fourth consecutive non-playoff year) with a
victory over the Boston Bruins, for the first time in
roughly 1,428 games the Whalers have played against Boston.
The team draw a tick under 12,000 average for the season
despite the losing record and underarchiving team on the
ice.
     April 16:  ESPN's Keith Olbermann, citing a well-
trusted source, reports that the Whalers have settled a
deal to move to Nashville to be announced as early as the
end of the week.  Despite denials by all parties, Olbermann
calls the ticket campaign a ruse and stands by his story.
Olbermann still hints that the deal isn't as dead as people
think.  Commissioner Gary Bettman, Rowland, Rell, and
Rutherford all calmly deny the report.  Karmanos swears
(literally) in a rage that the report is untrue, that
Nashville is a "cruddy market", and that he has talked to no
one about moving his team.
     April 17:  Karmanos tells the New York Times that he
has talked to the owners of the Palace at Auburn Hills about
moving his team there, and that Nashville is one of the list
of sites he is considering moving his team.  The team holds
a press conference to announce total sales of 2,131 tickets
through two weeks of the campaign.
     April 19:  Former Whalers' owner Howard Baldwin shows
his support for the ticket campaign by purchasing four 
season tickets for 1996-97.  He also purchases an AHL team
to play in the Civic Center.  Just in case.
     April 24:  With one week to go, the Whalers announce
current sales of 4,222 tickets.  The first hints of an
extension are leaked by Karmanos should the drive fall short
of 11,000.  Also, the first hints of a role reversal show
through the cracks:  until this point, it was generally
assumed that the Whalers were the ones playing tough, In
a weird twist, the Whalers leak their interest in an
extension, while the state holds firm to the 11,000 figure.
It's the first glimpse at the deal the state and the team
outlined with each other that tentatively promised a new
lease if 11,000 tickets were sold.  Comments indicate that
the team wants the new lease more than the last 3,000
tickets.
     April 22:  A press conference is held in Fairfield
County with several regional executives as well as the
mayors of Bridgeport and Norwalk.  The intent is to mobilize
the troops in the Southern portion of the state (with just a
week to go in the campaign) to recapture a region long since
lost by the team.  With most people in that portion of the
state aligning themselves with New York City rather than
Hartford, the Whalers draw 1/3 the TV ratings in the New
Haven market as in Hartford, and pull 81% of their season
tickets from Hartford County.  Major downstate corporations
like BIC, Xerox, GTE, Subway, and Starter refuse to get
involved.  The parties at the press conference vow to
reverse the trend and bring Fairfield and New Haven back
into the fold.
     April 25:  An unidentified group of New Haven area
businessmen announce plans to bring an AHL team to New
Haven in defiance of the Whalers' campaign.
     April 30:  On the eve of the deadline, the Whalers
announce a May 3rd press conference to announce the fate
of the Whale.  Rutherford, in a radio interview, casually
mentions that he plans to start investigating other cities
for the Whalers to move to.  The state, reeling from the
largest "I'd like to date other people" conversation ever
held, holds its collective breath as Rutherford calls 
Bettman to ask permission to visit other cities.
     May 1:  Bettman says no.  The state breaths again.
A report leaks that 7,300 tickets have been sold.
     May 3:  Claiming that a decision was made only ten
minutes before the scheduled press conference, Governor
Rowland announces an extension until May 14th for the
ticket drive to continue.  7,601 tickets have been sold,
including 3,399 new sales, leaving the team with another
3,399 tickets to go to reach 11,000 in just 11 more days.
The total does not include the 100 tickets promised by
the Mashantucket Pequot Indian tribe, who despite making
hundreds of millions of dollars per year tax free in the
largest casino in the western hemisphere, couldn't afford
the stamps to mail in their deposits.  Casino revenues do
not plummet as a result of this news.  Reports surface that
Rowland is willing to let the team go for a modest buyout
price rather than subsidize two more years of losses and
then lose the team during an election year in 1998.  The two
sides retreat for two weeks of lease negotiations in light
of the current status of the ticket drive.
     May 8:  AHL President Dave Andrews announces that 
Hartford is an ideal market that the league would love to
move into should the Whalers leave.  Not to be outdone, IHL
President Dave Andrews also announces that Hartford is an
ideal market that the league would love to move into should
the Whalers leave.  The two Dave Andrews retreat into a room
to argue amongst himself and share a bowl of Double Chex.
     May 9:  Days after Whalers' radio broadcaster Marty
Howe announces his departure from the organization, Whalers'
TV broadcaster Daryl Reaugh does likewise.  Simultaneously,
several large pieces of office furniture also announce their
departure.  Radio voice Chuck Kaiton announces that the Gem
Jewelry ads are just too lucrative to pass up, and decides
to stay.
     May 9:  Rowland, showing the first hint of a spine,
announces that the new deadline is "somewhat artificial."
Rutherford could only muster an "Mmm...interesting." in
response.  Speculation is that the large block of powerful
area corporations and politicians who lent hands to the 
drive convinced Rowland that it would be in his best 
interests not to meekly wave the red cape as the Whalers
charge out of town.
     May 10:  Rowland vows to "play hardball" with the 
Whalers.
     May 14:  The most explosive day of the campaign.  Lease
negotiations break down, with the state unwilling to commit
significantly more revenues to the Whalers in light of the
shortfall from the goal of 11,000 tickets, and the team
unwilling to commit to a one-year extension to the current
lease (through 1999, one year past election year) without 
having yearly out clauses.  Each side makes an ass out of
itself with the ensuing comments.  Rell claims the Whalers
have "thumbed their noses" at the state, and acted
reprehensibly.  She announces that she can no longer
encourage people to buy tickets.  Rowland, without speaking
to Karmanos in person, feels "suckered" and describes the
affair as a "slap in the face" to the state.  It is revealed
that Rowland's price tag for an early exit to the lease is
$35 million dollars, which the Whalers are unwilling to
pay.  Karmanos' unwillingness to pay this amount (just $20
million in excess of the $15.5 million he would have to pay
to leave after 1998 anyway) seems to indicate that the
supposed $20-million offer from Nashville probably didn't
ever exist.  After the state decides to hold the Whalers to
the terms of the remaining two years of the lease, Karmanos
announces that the team will "go it alone," and that "the
team will be gone in two years." Karmanos later amends that
by saying that he meant to add "if nothing changes" at the
end, and that his fingers were crossed behind his back when
he said it.
     May 15:  The official word is given at an afternoon
press conference:  the Whalers would stay for two more years
in keeping with their current lease, and would leave the 
door open to further negotiations in that time, but might
have to look for ways to cut payroll in the meantime.  Final
ticket sales for the drive of 8,563 are announced.
     So there we have it.  Two months of heat, but very 
little light.  In the end, both sides looked up and said
"Hey, this really is a valid contract after all!", and
continued to snarl at each other over the negotiationing
table about what is the real issue in this whole campaign,
a new lease for the Whalers in the Civic Center.
     The ticket base has expanded by over 3,500 tickets with
over four months to go until the season starts, so it isn't
completely status quo.  But the campaign was both won and
lost on many fronts:  The corporations and individuals of
the state showed enough interest in the Whalers in an
incredibly short period of time that the government wouldn't
let them go free of charge, but not enough interest that the
government was willing to open the vaults for the team in
revenue concessions.
     To cap it all off, the bluster shown by each side after
the stalled negotiations put a significant damper on what
should have been a proud moment for the people of the state,
having mobilized an impressive Save the Whale campaign in
such a short period of time.
     Perhaps the most prophetic quote to arise out of this
whole situation has inevitably long since fallen by the 
wayside and been lost on the principals involved.  In the
beginning of March, as another dismal season was winding to
another disappointing close, Rutherford leaked the first
hints of the ticket campaign yet to come.
     "I think there's going to be a seasons tickets
campaign. That's fine," Rutherford said.  "But if, in fact,
we think in the next little while we can sell 10,000 seasons
tickets by twisting arms, the people who are twisting arms
should be ashamed.  Because this is what we should have done
two years ago."
     You're right, guys.  You should be ashamed.

    _____________________________________________________
                          CREDITS
   
    Michael Dell........................Editor-in-Chief
    Zippy the Wonder Chimp.................Computer Boy
    Jim Iovino.............................Ace Reporter
    Matthew Secosky............................Whatever 
    Dan Hurwitz.............Force for Cultural Hegemony
    John Kreiser.....................Featured Columnist
    David A. Feete......................Featured Writer
    Burns and Hensley...............Featured Columnists
    JJ Silverstein.................Hockey Pool Help Guy
    Sandi Trudo...................Anaheim Correspondent
    Matt Brown.....................Boston Correspondent
    Valerie Hammerl...............Buffalo Correspondent
    Ryan Ferris...................Calgary Correspondent
    Dan Glovier...................Chicago Correspondent
    Matt Gitchell................Colorado Correspondent
    Jim Panenka....................Dallas Correspondent
    Brian Wishnow.................Detroit Correspondent
    Simon D. Lewis...............Edmonton Correspondent
    Eric A. Seiden................Florida Correspondent
    Steve Gallichio..............Hartford Correspondent
    Matt Moore................Los Angeles Correspondent
    Dan Piedra...................Montreal Correspondent
    David Strauss...............Islanders Correspondent
    Alex Frias....................Rangers Correspondent
    The Nosebleeders..............Ottawa Correspondents
    Andrew Monfried..........Philadelphia Correspondent
    Joe Ashkar..................St. Louis Correspondent
    Mark Spiegel.................San Jose Correspondent
    Troy Ely....................Tampa Bay Correspondent
    Brad Ross.....................Toronto Correspondent
    Carol Schram................Vancouver Correspondent
    Jason Sheehan..............Washington Correspondent
    Eric Legault.................Winnipeg Correspondent
   ---------------------------------------------------- 
   LCS guide to hockey issue 47 May 1996.
   Email address: sportif@oak.westol.com  Good ol' postal 
   address: 632 Hempfield Street, Greensburg, PA 15601. 
   Web Site: http://www.canadas.net/sports/sportif
   ------------------------------------------------------


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Out-Sand-ing
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by Dan Hurwitz

     When the nominations for the Norris Trophy were announced
this year, and Brian Leetch, Chris Chelios and Ray Bourque were
tapped, nobody complained.  All were worthy of the honor, as were
Vladimir Konstantinov, Paul Coffey, and a host of others.  But
there's a new sheriff in town and he's going to turn a few heads
come next year's voting. 
     Sandis Ozolinsh is a name that, while difficult to
pronounce, is no longer unknown.  After a bright but inconsistent
start to his career with the San Jose Sharks, Ozolinsh was moved
to the Colorado Avalanche for sniper Owen Nolan in the early
stages of this season.  And he has paid dividends.
     Since his arrival in the NHL in 1992-93, it's been known
that Ozolinsh had the kind of offensive instincts a Paul Coffey
is made of.  But his slick style and Soviet training raised
questions about how effective he'd be in the defensive zone.  Any
such questions have been answered as Ozolinsh has developed into
a solid two-way player.  
     Not only does he know how to play his position, but Ozolinsh
knows how to play it like the best of them.  The Coffey
comparisons were earned by his series-winning overtime goal
against the Blackhawks in the Western Conference semis.  His
coordination, offensive instincts and control enabled him to put
his own rebound past the helpless Ed Belfour.  But how's this for
a comparison:  the guy hits like Scott Stevens. 
     Don't believe that?  Check out the hit he laid out on
Detroit's Darren McCarty in Game One of the Western Conference
Finals.  This was no Darius Kasparaitis knee-check or
Konstantinov stick check.  Ozolinsh lined up the hulking Red Wing
and submarined him with the rolling hip check that Stevens is so
famous for. 
     In Colorado, Ozolinsh has found a perfect fit.  Playing in
front of money goalie Patrick Roy, the 23-year-old Latvian and
his teammates have the confidence to take risks.  The result, on
a team with the speed and skill of Peter Forsberg and Joe Sakic,
can cause a lethal attack.  Just the same, the depth of the blue
line with big Uwe Krupp, solid Criag Wolanin, and steady Sylvain
Lefebvre allows room for the youngster to develop without forcing
him to spend too much time on the bench. 
     Ozolinsh's lateral movement, laser-accurate shot and slick
passing make him a dangerous quarterback on a deadly power play. 
It's no surprise then that Ozolinsh has been instrumental in
carrying the 'Lanche to an 1-0 lead in the Conference Finals. 
His three goals and ten assists in 13 games make him the NHL's
defensive scoring leader in the playoffs, and his plus seven
rating shows just how effective he's been at both ends of the
ice.  
     That Ozolinsh has not received more recognition may be a
result of several key factors.  For starters, his career began
with the San Jose Sharks, who chose him 30th overall in the 1991
entry draft.  Playing for an expansion team, it was difficult for
Sandis to shine while his team struggled for wins.  Even two
playoff years of Cinderella first-round upsets didn't change the
idea that the Sharks were viewed by fans as being primarily cute
and teal.  In Colorado, on the league's second best team in the
regular season, Ozolinsh has more of a chance to be noticed
because more people watch his team and take them seriously. 
     Then there's that whole ethnic thing.  Just as Mario
Lemieux's rise to media hype was stunted by his difficulties with
English, Ozolinsh was a product of the Soviet hockey system who
came over at a time when there was still a lot of trepidation
about the European invasion of the NHL.  To further complicate
matters, he is a Latvian, not a Russian, so he lacks even the
"familiar" sounding names his former Soviet comrades "Sergei"
Fedorov and "Igor" Larionov brought with them. 
     But the secret is no longer priviledged information.  The
NHL has seen this kid play.  The fans have seen him play and, as
the teams continue to drop as the playoffs advance, the people
watching hockey are, more and more often, watching Sandis
Ozolinsh.  As watched as Kasparaitis, Scott Niedermayer and Chris
Pronger have been since their arrivals, it appears the first of
the new defensive greats is Sandis Ozolinsh.  And as these names
begin to take the place of the Coffeys, Leetches, Bourques and
Chelioses, expect Colorado's number eight to be leading the
charge, nameless no more. 

-----------------------------------------------------
Vanbiesbrouck's Been Here Before
-----------------------------------------------------
by Jim Iovino

     John Vanbiesbrouck is a lot like the other superstars around
the NHL.  He's been a successful veteran for many seasons.  He's
extremely talented.  He has a likable personality.  
     But the one thing that separates him from the very best in
the league is his lack of a piece of jewelry. 
     A Stanley Cup ring. 
     Over 12 years in the NHL, a handful of trophies, awards and
accolades, but Vanbiesbrouck has been snakebitten when it comes
to the Stanley Cup.  But that streak is on the line this year, as
Vanbiesbrouck has led the surprising Florida Panthers within one
series of a date with the Stanley Cup. 
     The closest the 32-year-old goaltender has come to winning
it all in the past was in the 1986 playoffs as a member of the
New York Rangers.  During the regular season that year,
Vanbiesbrouck played outstanding hockey for the Rangers and won
his first, and only, Vezina Trophy.  He continued his strong play
into the playoffs. 
     Similarities between the 1986 and 1996 playoffs abound for
"the Beezer."  Just like this year, the 1986 Rangers were
underdogs throughout the playoffs but turned some heads by
winning games they weren't supposed to.  In the first round, the
Blueshirts, who finished fourth in the Patrick Division, matched
up against the heavily-favored Philadelphia Flyers, who finished
first in the Patrick by scoring the fourth-most goals in the
league and leading all teams in team defense. 
     The upstart Rangers took the series away from the Flyers,
three games to two.  In perhaps his most memorable game of the
first round, Vanbiesbrouck turned aside 42 Flyers' shots in a 2-1
loss in Game Two. 
     Next up for New York was another favored team, the
Washington Capitals.  But the Rangers continued to use their
aggressive forechecking system and relied on Vanbiesbrouck to
make the big saves when counted upon.  The Beezer didn't
disappoint, and the Rangers won the series, 4-2. 
     In the conference finals, the Rangers met the Montreal
Canadiens, who were lead by rookie goaltender Patrick Roy.  New
York was no match for the Canadiens, but Vanbiesbrouck still did
his part to keep the Rangers in contention.  With their back up
against the wall and a sweep staring them right in their face,
Vanbiesbrouck made sure the Rangers would have at least one more
game in the 1986 playoffs.  In Game Four, Vanbiesbrouck shut out
the Canadiens 2-0 to send the series back to Montreal. 
     The Habs won the next game, 3-1, and eventually won the
Stanley Cup, but Vanbiesbrouck used the spotlight to make himself
known to the hockey world and establish himself as a capable
starting goaltender. 
     Vanbiesbrouck was the one and only goaltender for the
Rangers after the 1986 playoffs.  That is until Mike Richter came
along.  Richter took playing time away from the Beezer as soon
as he joined the team, but he could never knock him out of action
for a significant amount of time.  The two were so equal in net
that they were soon called "VanRichterbrouck" because no one, not
even their teammates, could tell a difference between them when
they played. 
     But expansion in the NHL came, and the Rangers weren't able
to keep both netminders.  Instead of losing one of them outright
in the expansion draft, they traded the older Vanbiesbrouck to
the Vancouver Canucks for future considerations, which later
turned out to be Doug Lidster.  However, the Canucks protected
Kirk McLean in the draft and lost Vanbiesbrouck to the Panthers. 
While Vanbiesbrouck was the nucleus of a building franchise in
Florida, Richter went on to win a Stanley Cup.  
     Richter and the Rangers' year was 1994.  But 1996 is the
year of the rat, and it could very well be the year for
Vanbiesbrouck and the Panthers, as well. 

--------------------------------------------------
Lowry Leading the Way for Upstart Panthers
--------------------------------------------------
by Michael Dell

     One of the great things about the Stanley Cup Playoffs is
that unlikely heroes have a tendency to step up and take center
stage under the pressure of hockey's ultimate spotlight.  It is
often the performances of these overachieving role players that
spells the difference between a championship and a season of
disappointment. 
     This year's quest for the Cup has been no different. 
However, while most years only see one or two surprise players
that step up their game, this playoff year is bearing witness to
an entire team fulfilling unexpected promise.  The Florida
Panthers, in only their third season in franchise history, have
reached the Eastern Conference Finals.  The Panther roster is
chalk full of players who are performing to the best of their
abilities, and some might say even playing above their heads. 
Yet one player has gone completely beyond all expectations.  His
name is Dave Lowry. 
     Entering the postseason, everyone knew that the Panthers
were capable of playing air-tight defensive hockey.  It was also
widely know that John Vanbiesbrouck would be a rock between the
pipes.  The one area of concern for the Panthers was on offense. 
Exactly who was going to score the big goals that are needed for
a team to advance in the playoffs?  The field of choices was
rather slim.  During the regular season veteran winger Scott
Mellanby led the club with 32 goals.  Late-season acquisition Ray
Sheppard did check in with 37 goals, but the majority of those
were scored while with the Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks. 
The only other 20-goal scorers on the roster were Rob Niedermayer
(26), Johan Garpenlov (23), and Jody Hull (20).  However, Florida
did have 12 players who recorded 10 or more goals during the
regular season, second to only Detroit who had 14 reach the 10-
goal mark.  Obviously Florida was going to have to continue to
rely on balanced scoring throughout the lineup in order to
succeed in the playoffs.  Unfortunately, scoring by committee
seldom holds up for a serious Cup run.   
     In order for Florida to advance deep into the playoffs,
someone would have to step up and carry more than their share of
the load.  Enter Dave Lowry.  The 31-year-old left winger
finished the regular season with 10 goals and 24 points in 63
games.  Modest numbers to say the least.  However, in Florida's
first 13 playoff games Lowry has exploded for nine goals and 12
points.  His lofty postseason goal total puts him in some elite
company.  Only Colorado's Joe Sakic (13) and Pittsburgh's twin
tandem of Mario Lemieux (11) and Jaromir Jagr (11) have scored
more goals than Florida's newest unheralded scoring sensation. 
     While Lowry has never been known as a goal scorer during his
11-year NHL career, the 6'1", 200-pound native of Sudbury,
Ontario has some experience with lighting the lamp... albeit
distant experience.  During his final year of juniors with the
London Knights of the OHL, Lowry scored 60 goals and 120 points
in 61 games to earn first team All-Star honors.  The following
season Lowry made the move to the NHL, but his scoring touch
would be left behind in juniors.  
     A sixth-round selection of the Vancouver Canucks at the 1983
Entry Draft, Lowry made his NHL debut in 1985-86.  He appeared in
73 games that season for the Canucks, compiling 10 goals and 18
points along with 143 minutes in penalties.  The following season
once again saw him record 18 points, this time on eight goals and
10 assists, in 70 games.  Lowry would spend the 1987-88 season
between Vancouver and Fredericton of the AHL before being traded
to the St. Louis Blues in September of 1989.   
     It was in St. Louis that Lowry finally started to gain some
recognition.  After splitting his first year with the Blues
between the big club and Peoria of the IHL, Lowry began to make
his mark during the 1988-89 season.  Not only was he able to stay
with the Blues for the entire year, appearing in 78 games, but
Lowry established a career-high in goals with 19.  He followed
that up in 1989-90 with another 19-goal season and also chipped
in 21 assists for a career-high 40 points.  It was also during
this time that Lowry began to develop a reputation as a solid
defensive forward.  A winger who takes care of business in his
own end, plays the body, and can still chip in 15-20 goals is a
welcome commodity in the NHL. 
     Just when it seemed that Lowry was ready to become a solid
fixture in the St. Louis lineup for years to come, things started
to go downhill.  1991-92 saw Lowry score only seven goals and 20
points in 75 games.  His production fell again the following year
when a knee injury limited him to just five goals and 13 points
in 58 games.  With his numbers falling and his health a question
mark, the Blues left Lowry unprotected for the 1993 Expansion
Draft.  At the time it may have seemed like a low point in his
career, but the best was yet to come. 
     The Florida Panthers selected Lowry with their 18th pick,
35th overall, of the Draft.  Lowry made an immediate impact on
his new club by duplicating the effort that made him a solid role
player in St. Louis.  The result was a 15-goal, 37-point season
that cemented his place on one of hockey's hardest working teams. 
Lowry followed up his impressive inaugural season with the
Panthers with an equally strong effort during the lockout-
shortened 1994-95 season, scoring 10 goals and 20 points in 45
games.  
     Despite his solid two-way play with the Panthers in each of
the past three seasons, no one could have anticipated Lowry would
be enjoying so much success in this year's playoffs.  Playing for
the most part on a line with Stu Barnes and Ray Sheppard, Lowry
has been the main weapon in Florida's postseason arsenal.  He
opened up with three goals in Florida's five-game trouncing of
the Boston Bruins.  Lowry increased his level of play even more
against the top-seeded Philadelphia Flyers in the second round. 
He scored four times during the six-game upset of Eric Lindros
and company, including the OT winner in Game 4 that turned the
series in Florida's favor.  Then in the opening game of the
Conference Finals against Pittsburgh, Lowry struck again with two
more goals raising his playoff total to nine, just one less than
he had during the entire regular season. 
     Some players just naturally seem to elevate their game when
the playoffs begin.  Claude Lemieux is one name that immediately
springs to mind.  Yet Lowry has never shown this tendency in the
past.  Entering this playoff year, Lowry has managed just five
goals and 16 points in 55 career postseason games.  So he isn't
exactly known for playoff heroics.  So why now?  Maybe there's
some magic in that thick red beard of his?  Or maybe confidence
breeds success?  Once those first couple go in and a player
starts to believe in himself, and more importantly begins to feel
that his teammates believe in him, he can reach some new-found
heights. 
     For whatever reason, the Stanley Cup Playoffs have a knack
of bringing the best out in some players.  Dave Lowry has added
his name to the list of past playoff wonders.  And if he and his
Florida Panther teammates can continue to surprise, Lowry may
have a shot at having his name added to hockey's ultimate prize,
the Stanley Cup.                                                  

-----------------------------------------------
Avalanche More Than Just Offense
-----------------------------------------------
by Matt Gitchell

     After waiting what seemed to be an interminable amount of
time for the Red Wings-Blues series to produce an opponent for
the Western Conference Finals, the Colorado Avalanche was
chomping at the bit.  The team got its chance to release that
tension as the third round started at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena,
stealing home ice from the Wings with a 3-2 victory. 
     The game was a typical Avalanche playoff hockey; that is, a
tight-checking, defensive-minded, one-goal game decided, of
course, in overtime.  Tight-checking?  Defensive-minded? 
Colorado?   
     The team's offensive guns have never been questioned, with
players such as Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, and Valeri Kamensky,
with help from the point in the form of Sandis Ozolinsh.  The
weak link in this Colorado squad, to most observers, has always
been the defense.  Often times during the season, if the Avs
couldn't assemble a solid offensive showing, the defense was
unable to take up the slack.  However, Colorado fans hope, those
days may be over.   
     The Avalanche have gone through a remarkable transformation,
from a team accused of soft defense and a softer-checking game to
a gritty, hard-working team that might not be as punishing as
some Eastern clubs, but is definitely becoming a physical
presence and a defensive force.  The team, and most noticeably
its forwards, has tightened its game for a more playoff-viable
style of hockey.  The quick back-and-forth, run-and-gun play of
the Avalanche has been replaced by a more mature,
control-oriented game that is both more balanced and more
effective.  
     The Avs' core of frontmen has toned down its game, getting
caught out of position less, and helping to force the turnover
more.  The change of attitude is evident throughout the team, but
most noticeably in its highest-profile player: Peter Forsberg.
The big Swede, famous for his amazing stick-handling and
playmaking abilities, has transformed himself into a human
battering ram during the past series.  Game One of the Western
Finals saw Forsberg hurtling himself at all kinds of Red Wings,
an off-camera "boom" of the boards usually meaning that Forsberg
was taking somebody out of the play.  His speed allowed him to
get back and help break up whatever momentum had built in the
offensive zone as well.  Forsberg's play so frustrated Keith
Primeau that the big Wings forward actually broke his stick on
the back of Forsberg's legs, drawing a slashing minor in Game
One's overtime period.   
     Forsberg's play is beginning to resemble that of his Conn
Smythe Award-winning linemate, Claude Lemieux, who himself has
once again proven to be an effective thorn in the side of
Avalanche opponents.  Former Canadiens captain Mike Keane, who
came to Colorado with Patrick Roy, has brought his hard-working
style to the defensive zone, and has contributed offensively as
well, scoring the OT game-winner in Game One of the Detroit
series.  Fourteen-year vet Dave Hannan, brought to the Avs for a
sixth-round draft pick from the the Buffalo Sabres, has also
proved a formidable man to have on the PK.   
     And one can't mention the Avalanche's defensive forwards
without including Stephane Yelle.  The rookie center has become a
vital part of the Avs' penalty-kill, and is often the man
Colorado goes to when there's a faceoff in the defensive zone. 
Marc Crawford has put Yelle on defensive-zone faces in OT, and
has not been disappointed.  Yelle plays tenaciously, doing his
share of forechecking, and he's good in the corners.  He
positions himself well, and cuts off angles and passing lanes
better than a lot of defensemen in the game. 
     All in all, the Avalanche have assembled an impressive core
of players who are just coming into their game, just as it's
starting to matter.  The revitalized defensive play of this
squad, coupled with the recently devitalized play of the Red
Wings, is making a lot of people think twice about writing the
Avalanche off as yet another victim of Scotty Bowman's juggernaut
and have many thinking that this team could very well skate away
with Lord Stanley's Cup. 

------------------------------------------------
The Original Hey, Hey, Hey... NEWS!
------------------------------------------------
by Zippy the Wonder Chimp

*  The Ottawa Senators were the big winners of the NHL Draft Lottery.  
As a result, the Senators will possess the first overall draft pick for 
the 1996 NHL Entry Draft to be held June 22 in St. Louis.    

The following is the order of selection for the first round of the 
1996 NHL Entry Draft:

 1. Ottawa
 2. San Jose
 3. New York Islanders
 4. Washington (from Los Angeles)
 5. Dallas
 6. Edmonton
 7. Buffalo
 8. Boston (from Hartford)
 9. Anaheim
10. New Jersey
11. Winnipeg
12. Vancouver
13. Calgary
14. St. Louis
15. Philadelphia (from Toronto) or Phoenix
16. Tampa Bay
17. Washington
18. Montreal
19. Edmonton (from Boston)
20. Florida
21. Chicago
22. New York Rangers
23. Pittsburgh
24. Philadelphia or Phoenix
25. Colorado
26. Detroit

Note: Phoenix will pick 15th or 24th, at Philadelphia's option.

*  The following is the final evaluation of top prospects as ranked
by the National Hockey League's Central Scouting Service for the
1996 entry draft, to be held in St. Louis on June 22nd: 


FORWARDS

Rank Name             Pos.  Ht.   Wt.   Birth    Team 
 1.  Chris Phillips     D   6-2   200   3/9/78   Prince Albert 
 2.  Alexander Volchkov C   6-1   194   9/25/77  Barrie 
 3.  Jean-Pierre Dumont LW  6-0   180   5/1/78   Val d'Or
 4.  Josh Holden        C   6-0   167   1/18/78  Regina 
 5.  Boyd Devereaux     C   6-1   175   4/16/78  Kitchener 
 6.  Matt Higgins       C   6-2   175   9/29/77  Moose Jaw 
 7.  Erik Rasmussen     C   6-2   191   3/28/77  U of Minnesota
 8.  Richard Jackman    D   6-2   166   6/28/78  Sault Ste. Marie
 9.  Mario Larocque     D   6-2   165   4/24/78  Hull
10.  Remi Royer         D   6-2   190   2/12/78  St. Hyacinthe 
11.  Josh Green         LW  6-3   197   11/16/77 Medicine Hat
12.  Jesse Wallin       D   6-2   190   3/10/78  Red Deer
13.  Mathieu Descoteaux D   6-3   190   9/23/77  Shawinigan
14.  Jan Bulis          C   6-0   194   3/18/78  Barrie
15.  Tom Poti           D   6-3   178   3/22/77  Cushing HS
16.  Dan Focht          D   6-5   226   12/31/77 Tri-City
17.  Chris Hajt         D   6-4   206   6/5/78   Guelph 
18.  Marty Reasoner     C   6-1   185   2/26/77  Boston College
19.  Jonathan Aitken    D   6-4   185   5/24/78  Medicine Hat
20.  Lance Ward         D   6-3   195   6/2/78   Red Deer
21.  Henry Kuster       RW  6-0   195   11/11/77 Medine Hat 
22.  Dainius Zubrus     RW  6-2   200   1/16/78  Pembroke Tier II
23.  Daniel Breire      C   5-9   160   10/6/77  Drummondville 
24.  Chris Allen        D   6-2   193   5/8/78   Kingston
25.  Cory Sarich        D   6-3   175   8/16/78  Saskatoon 
26.  Eric Belanger      C   5-11  159   12/16/77 Beauport 
27.  Jeff Brown         D   6-2   217   4/24/78  Sarnia
28.  Jaroslav Svejkovsky RW 5-11  185   10/1/76  Tri-City
29.  Francois Methot    C   6-0   171   4/26/78  St. Hyacinthe 
30.  Wesley Mason       LW  6-2   160   12/12/77 Sarnia 
31.  Dan LaCoutre       LW  6-2   201   4/18/77  Junior Whalers 
32.  Boris Protsenko    C   6-0   180   8/21/78  Calgary
33.  Matt Cullen        C   6-1   195   11/2/76  St. Cloud University
34.  Trevor Wasyluk     LW  6-2   187   5/4/78   Medine Hat
35.  Pierre Dagenais    LW  6-3   184   3/4/78   Moncton
36.  Josh DeWolf        D   6-1   192   7/25/77  Twin Cities Tier II
37.  Colin White        D   6-3   185   12/12/77 Hull
38.  Geoff Peters       C   6-0   174   4/30/78  Niagara Falls
39.  Alexandre Jacques  C   5-11  165   9/27/77  Shawinigan
40.  Daniel Archambault D   6-1   202   3/28/78  Val d'Or
41.  Boyd Kane          LW  6-1   207   4/18/78  Regina
42.  Gordie Dwyer       LW  6-2   190   1/25/78  Beauport 
43.  Craig MacDonald    C   6-2   180   4/7/77   Harvard 
44.  Curtis Tipler      RW  6-5   190   8/9/78   Regina
45.  Dmitri Yakushin    D   6-0   198   1/21/78  Pembroke Tier II
46.  Peter Ratchuk      D   6-1   175   9/10/77  Shattuck HS
47.  Mark Parrish       RW  6-0   180   2/2/77   St. Cloud University
48.  Jason Doyle        RW  6-1   200   5/15/78  Sault Ste. Marie
49.  Kurt Walsh         RW  6-2   205   12/26/77 Owen Sound 
50.  Mike Lankshear     D   6-2   185   9/8/78   Guelph 
51.  Brett Clark        D   6-0   175   12/23/76 Maine
52.  Jonathan Zukiwsky  C   6-3   185   10/7/77  Red Deer
53.  Darren Van Oene    LW  6-3   207   1/18/78  Brandon
54.  Xavier Delisle     C   5-11  177   5/24/77  Granby 
55.  Luke Curtin        LW  6-2   190   9/23/77  Kelowna
56.  Etienne Drapeau    C   6-1   181   1/10/78  Beauport 
57.  Jeff Paul          D   6-3   196   3/1/78   Niagara Falls
58.  Peter Hogan        D   6-2   167   1/10/78  Oshawa
59.  Joey Tetarenko     D   6-2   205   3/3/78   Portland
60.  Greg Phillips     C/RW 6-1   190   3/27/78  Saskatoon
61.  Christian Lefebrve D   6-5   212   3/3/78   Granby
62.  Steve Begin        C   5-11  180   6/14/78  Val d'Or 
63.  Sean Ritchlin      RW  6-0   202   6/14/77  Michigan
64.  Brendan Buckley    D   6-2   190   2/26/77  Boston College
65.  Ben Storey         D   6-2   180   6/22/77  Harvard
66.  Wyatt Smith        C   5-11  190   2/13/77  Minnesota 
67.  Matt Bradley       RW  6-2   172   6/13/78  Kingston
68.  David Berier       C   6-3   180   1/29/78  St. Hyacinthe 
69.  Jonathan Sim       C   5-9   175   9/29/77  Sarnia 
70.  Arron Asham        C   5-10  170   4/13/78  Red Deer 
71.  Andrew Berenzweig  D   6-0   195   8/8/77   Michigan 
72.  Trevor Letowski    C   5-9   170   4/5/77   Sarnia 
73.  Ryan Christie      LW  6-2   175   7/3/78   Owen Sound
74.  Daniel Corso       C   5-9   155   4/3/78   Victoriaville
75.  Jesse Black        D   6-4   197   6/2/78   Niagara Falls 
76.  David Thibeault    Lw  6-1   190   5/12/78  Drummondville 
77.  Steve Wasylko      C   6-1   173   6/11/78  Detroit
78.  Alexandre Couture  D   6-3   185   12/18/77 Victoriaville

GOALTENDERS
  
Rank Name                   Ht.   Wt.   Birth    Team
 1.  Craig Hillier          6-0   165   2/28/78  Ottawa
 2.  Francis Larivee        6-3   198   11/8/77  Laval
 3.  Mathieu Garon          6-1   175   1/9/78   Victoriaville
 4.  Terry Friesen          5-11  185   10/29/77 Swift Current
 5.  Randy Petruk           5-9   178   4/23/78  Kamloops
 6.  John Hultberg          5-11  211   4/25/77  Kingston
 7.  Mike Whitney           6-0   182   3/15/78  Red Deer 
 8.  Kory Cooper            5-10  167   2/21/77  Belleville
 9.  Aren Miller            6-2   208   1/13/78  Spokane
10.  Eoin McInerney         5-10  179   5/27/77  London
11.  Tyrone Garner          6-1   164   7/27/78  Oshawa 
12.  Michael Podolka        5-11  176   11/11/77 Sault Ste. Marie
13.  Allan Hitchen          6-0   194   3/6/78   Peterborough
14.  Scott Stiring          6-1   185   8/2/77   Omaha Tier II
15.  Dennis Bassett         6-0   152   8/10/78  Saskatoon
16.  Bujar Amidovski        5-10  155   2/19/77  Kingston
17.  Scott Buhler           5-11  169   1/14/78  Medicine Hat
18.  Dave Weninger          6-1   160   2/8/76   Michigan Tech
19.  Brent Belecki          5-8   160   12/22/77 Portland
20.  Stephen Valiquette     6-4   205   8/20/77  Sudbury
21.  Ryan Penny             5-10  163   8/16/77  Niagara Falls
22.  Matthew Carmichael     5-9   170   7/26/77  Hull
23.  Michel Larocque        5-11  198   10/3/76  Boston U. 
24.  Joseph Prestifilippo   5-10  170   3/23/77  Hotchkiss HS
25.  Robert Esche           6-0   188   1/22/78  Detroit
26.  Elliot Faust           5-10  164   6/10/78  North Bay

EUROPEANS

Rank Name             Pos.  Ht.   Wt.   Birth    Team 
 1.  Andrei Zyuzin      D   6-1   187   1/21/78  Salavat Yulaev
 2.  Marcus Nilsson     W   6-1   183   3/1/78   Djurgarden
 3.  Andrei Petrunin    W   5-9   169   2/2/78   CSKA
 4.  Toni Lydman        D   6-1   183   9/25/77  Reipas
 5.  Par-Anton Lundstrom D  6-2   185   9/29/77  MoDo
 6.  Pavel Skrbek       D   6-3   191   8/8/78   Kladno
 7.  Dimitri Vlasenkov  W   5-11  183   1/1/78   Yaroslavl
 8.  Marco Sturm        C   5-11  178   9/8/78   Landshut
 9.  Marek Posmyk       D   6-5   209   9/15/78  Jihlava
10.  Petr Sachl         C   6-1   194   12/2/77  Budejovice 
11.  Antti-Jussi Niemi  D   6-1   183   9/22/77  Jokeit
12.  Vladimir Antipov   W   5-11  180   1/17/78  Yaroslavl 2
13.  Dimitri Subbotin   W   6-1   183   10/20/77 CSKA
14.  Kim Staal         C/W  6-0   185   3/10/78  Malmo 
15.  Pasi Petrilainen   D   5-10  183   5/5/78   Tappara
16.  Josef Boumedienne  D   6-0   185   1/12/78  Huddinge
17.  Zdeno Chara        D   6-8   231   3/18/77  Trencin
18.  Sergei Zimakov     D   6-1   194   1/15/78  Krylja Sovetov
19.  Josef Straka       C   5-11  183   2/11/78  Litvinov
20.  Yuri Babenko       C   6-0   185   1/2/78   Krylja Sovetov
21.  Ari Vallin         D   6-0   185   3/21/78  Tappara
22.  Timo Ahmaoja       D   6-1   180   8/8/78   Jypht
23.  Andrej Podkonicky C/W  6-0   174   5/9/78   Zvolen
24.  Marian Cisar       W   6-0   176   2/25/78  Bratislava
25.  Mikael Simmons    C/W  6-2   187   1/15/78  Mora Div. I/Allsvenskan
26.  Michal Rozival     D   6-1   189   9/3/78   Jihlava


*  Three players have been named finalists for the Bill Masterton 
Memorial Trophy.  The award is given to the player who displays 
perserverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the game of hockey.

This year's finalists consists of St. Louis Blues goaltender Grant 
Fuhr, Calgary Flames left wing Gary Roberts and Chicago Blackhawks 
defenseman Steve Smith.  

The winner will be announced on June 19 at the NHL Awards Ceremony in 
Toronto.  In addition to the trophy, a $2,500 contribution to the 
William Masterton Scholarship Fund will be made in the name of the 
winner.

*  Transactions:

Los Angeles Kings - Signed defenseman Steve McKenna

Washington Capitals - Acquired left wing Michal Picard from the Ottawa 
Senators for future considerations


*  The San Jose Sharks will have a new minor league affiliate starting 
next season.  The Sharks did not renew the contract with their former 
affiliate, the Kansas City Blades of the IHL, for next season.  Instead, 
the Sharks selected the Kentucky Thoroughblades of the AHL to act as 
their primary minor league affiliate.

      
  
=================================================================
PLAYOFF TEAM REPORTS
=================================================================
EASTERN CONFERENCE
-----------------------------------------------------------------
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Head Coach:  Terry Murray

Roster:  C - Eric Lindros, Rod Brind'Amour, Dale Hawerchuk, Joel
Otto.  LW - John LeClair, Trent Klatt, Rob Dimaio, Shawn Antoski,
Dan Quinn.  RW - Mikael Renberg, Pat Falloon, Shjon Podein, Bob
Corkum, John Druce.  D - Eric Desjardins, Kevin Haller, Petr
Svoboda, Chris Therien, Karl Dykhuis, Kerry Huffman, Dan Kordic,
Aris Brimanis.  G - Ron Hextall, Garth Snow.

Game Results:
1st Round - Philadelphia vs Tampa Bay
Philadelphia won series 4-2

4/16 Tampa Bay     W 7-3
4/18 Tampa Bay     L 2-1 OT
4/21 at Tampa Bay  L 5-4 OT
4/23 at Tampa Bay  W 4-1
4/25 Tampa Bay     W 4-1
4/27 at Tampa Bay  W 6-1

2nd Round - Philadelphia vs Florida
Florida won series 4-2

5/02 Florida     L 2-0
5/04 Florida     W 3-2
5/07 at Florida  W 3-1
5/09 at Florida  L 4-3 OT
5/12 Florida     L 2-1 2OT
5/14 at Florida  L 4-1

TEAM NEWS by Andrew Monfried

     Philadelphia thought they got everything on their Stanley
Cup checklist. Powerful franchise player... check. Dependable
veteran goalie... check. Good face-off man... check. Fifty-goal
scorer... check. Scoring depth... check. Solid defensemen ...
check. Committed ownership... check. 
     All the ingredients seemed to be there for a prolonged grail
run. Yet, the Flyers find themselves back on the golf course or
on the family farm in Manitoba or wherever after a loss to
another defensive-oriented team in the playoffs. 
     People scoffed at the Florida Panthers before the series
thinking it would be an easy road to the conference finals
against Pittsburgh. But the first five games of the series showed
how the Flyers powerful offense can be squelched by a smart
defensive system. In the end, Philadelphia never found the key to
the Florida defense much less the weaknesses in John
Vanbiesbrouck's game. They were hounded by mistakes which the
Panthers made them pay for on nearly every opportunity. The
defense often had to resort to taking penalties to slow down
Florida's wingers. Game 6 simply provided a summary of how the
Flyers came up short in the series. 
     The game started just the same as the other five with both
teams slopping through the neutral zone on the slush-like Miami
Arena ice. Yet the Flyers started to get more shots on goal in
this game. The problem being that they were not coming from in
close, and the shots that were taken were blocked by sprawling
defenseman. Vanbiesbrouck was tested but never from closer than
15 feet. Eric Desjardins got off a rare shot on a 3-on-3 from the
right face-off dot, but it was sticked aside. 
     To compensate, the Panthers were taking penalties because of
their physical play. The Flyers got one when Brian Skrudland took
down John LeClair. It seemed that the Flyers might have the
momentum then, but the Panther pressure forced them into a
mistake. As they worked the puck on the red line, Petr Svoboda
tried to make a cross-ice pass to Karl Dykhuis. He whiffed. Bill
Lindsay was kind enough to pick his pocket, storm down the ice,
and flick one into the twine. 1-0 Panteras. Florida was 4-1 in
this series when scoring first. The Flyers tried to pull out all
the stops by getting a 6th man in the waning seconds of the
period, but it failed to generate any chances. Both teams had 13
shots after the first, but the Panthers had the goal and the
Flyers were forced to come from behind once again. 
     Coming out of the locker room for the second, the Flyers had
one purpose. SCORE!! PUT THE PUCK IN THE NET!! Didn't happen. The
Flyers managed just nine shots on net, only one of which was in
serious danger of scoring. A tip off a faceoff forced
Vanbiesbrouck to make a big save, but that was as close as they
were getting. Petr Svoboda showed some initiative by going end to
end with the puck only to be taken down by Rhett Warrener. The
power play was, of course, killed. At one point, Vanbiesbrouck
lost his stick after poke-checking the puck, but the Flyers could
not get a shot while he was prone. Meanwhile, Ron Hextall was
trying to keep up his end of the goaltending duel by stifling a
chance by Rob Niedermayer. Still, at the end of the second, there
was a big old bagel on the Flyers side of scoreboard. 
     The Flyers needed to take some chances to jump start their
offense. It worked as they peppered Florida with 13 shots, but
only one went in. The team looked tired and started to take bad
penalties. Kjell Samuelsson took down Bill Lindsay which led to a
Florida power-play goal by Rob Niedermayer. Right from the
faceoff, Niedermayer burst past Rob Brind'Amour at the circle and
beat Hexy one-on-one. 2-0 Panteras. The Flyers looked like a
beaten team. While they tried to generate offensive chances,
the shots never made it to the net. When they did, Vanbiesbrouck
stopped them. He kicked out a LeClair shot off a pin-point pass
from Lindros, then a couple of minutes later, he stopped
Hawerchuk and Lindros in succession. 
     The Panthers went up 3-0 when Dave Lowry, who should give
kickbacks to the Flyers when he renegotiates his contract, was
left wide open in front. He took a pass from Stu Barnes and
buried it in the net, as well as the Flyers hopes for a Stanley
Cup. The goal resulted from the Flyers defense recoiling from
Lowry and letting Hextall fend for himself. That was kind of a
theme to the series. To Hextall's credit, he kept the Flyers in
the series despite the anemic offensive support that he got. Just
to illustrate the Flyers futile offense,  Hextall came into the
game with just a 6-5 record despite having a goals against of
2.05. 
     The Flyers finally got on the board in the final moments of
the third, but it was too late. John LeClair went into the barely
entered territory of the slot and ripped one into the net. The
goal came out of as much frustration as it did hard work. LeClair
earlier had a goal disallowed because of a pile up in the goal
crease. He was able to get Beezer moving one way and he put it
the other. The cannon of LeClair which helped to finish the
Lightning was conspicuously absent versus the Panthers. 
     While there were allusions to a lack of work ethic and grit,
and whether they were hungry enough, the obvious reason why the
Flyers lost was the lack of offense. Eleven goals in six games is
just not going to cut it. Not scoring for nearly 120 minutes from
the second period of Game 5 to the 3rd period of Game 6 was the
pivotal point of the series. GM Bobby Clarke thought he had
solved their scoring problem which plagued them in the Devils
series last year when he picked up Pat Falloon, John Druce, and
Dale Hawerchuk. Druce missed every game but two in the playoffs
because of a knee injury. Hawerchuk got plenty of shots, but they
never crossed the line. Falloon dissapeared versus the Panthers. 
     The defense did not have a good series either. Mental errors
by the defense led to eight goals in this series. Kerry Huffman
looked out of place at times. Kjell Samuelsson took penalty after
penalty as Florida wingers zipped by him. Going into next season
as a 38 year old does not bode well for continued employment with
the Flyers. Chris Therien forgot to defend his goalie after the
Game 3 scrum. As Hextall was on the bottom of the pile, Therien
looked on and watched. Svoboda's whiff led to the first goal
in Game 6. These mistakes were magnified by the fact that the
Panthers would pounce on every chance. Their offense was defense
as counter-attacking led to most of their goals. 
     The team was stunned by the loss as questions swirled as to
the make-up of the team which was supposed to challenge for the
title. The loss was even more demoralizing to the team and the
city. Philadelphia has not seen a championship since 1983. There
were rumors of a Flyers jersey being put on the William Penn
statue on top of city hall for the conference finals. Alas, they
will have to pack up that 30-foot jersey along with the other
normal size ones for the summer. Philadelphia, the city and the
team, will have a long four months to ponder what went wrong and
what needs to change for 1997. 




-----------------------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Head Coach:  Eddie Johnston
   
Roster:  C - Mario Lemieux, Ron Francis, Petr Nedved, Bryan
Smolinski, Dave McLlwain, Chris Wells, Richard Park.  LW - Kevin
Miller, Dave Roche, Joe Dziedzic, Brad Lauer, Alek Stojanov.  RW
- Jaromir Jagr, Tomas Sandstrom, Glen Murray, Ed Patterson.  D -
Sergei Zubov, J. J. Daigneault, Dmitri Mironov, Francois Leroux,
Chris Joseph, Neil Wilkinson, Chris Tamer, Ian Moran, Corey
Foster, Stefan Bergkvist.  G - Tom Barrasso, Ken Wregget, Patrick
Lalime, 
   
Injuries: Ron Francis, c (broken foot, indefinite); Ian Moran, d
(shoulder, indefinite); Ed Patterson, rw (shoulder surgery, out
for season).  
   
Transactions: None. 

Game Results:
1st Round - Pittsburgh vs Washington 
Pittsburgh won series 4-2

4/17 Washington     L 6-4
4/19 Washington     L 5-3
4/22 at Washington  W 4-1
4/24 at Washington  W 3-2 4OT
4/26 Washington     W 4-1
4/28 at Washington  W 3-2

2nd Round - Pittsburgh vs New York Rangers
Pittsburgh won series 4-1

5/03 New York Rangers     W 4-3
5/05 New York Rangers     L 6-3
5/07 at New York Rangers  W 3-2
5/09 at New York Rangers  W 4-1
5/11 New York Rangers     W 7-3

3rd Round - Pittsburgh vs Florida
Series tied 1-1

5/18 Florida  L 5-1
5/20 Florida  W 3-2

TEAM NEWS by Michael Dell

     Eddie Johnston has done it again.  The much-maligned coach
of the Pittsburgh Penguins has taken center stage during his
team's current quest for the Cup and everything he touches seems
to turn to gold.  After thoroughly out-coaching Colin Campbell
and the New York Rangers in round two, Johnston's latest stroke
of genius occurred in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals
against the Florida Panthers when he inserted Tom Barrasso back
into the starting lineup.  The result was a 3-2 win that evened
the series at one game apiece heading back to Florida for Game 3
on Friday, May 24. 
     The Penguins opened up the series with Florida by dropping
the first game 5-1.  Ken Wregget took the loss allowing the five
goals on just 25 shots.  While the weight of the loss could not
be completely placed on Wregget's shoulders, he definitely didn't
play his best game.  
     Florida opened up the scoring at 1:52 of the first period
when Dave Lowry got credited with his eighth goal of the
playoffs.  With Brad Lauer in the box four minutes for high-
sticking, the Panthers took advantage of the power play when
Lowry's cross-ice pass down low was accidentally kicked into the
Penguin net by Sergei Zubov.  While the goal was fluky, it was
vital to the outcome of the game.  Not only did it give the
Panthers the early lead, which is instrumental in their game
plan, but it also seemed to relax the club.  The rest of the
period was played on even terms after Pittsburgh came out
storming in the first few moments of the game. 
     Pittsburgh continued to get chances in the first, the best
of which came from Mario Lemieux.  After having a few early
opportunities denied by John Vanbiesbrouck, Lemieux broke in
alone on the Florida netminder.  In the past Mario has been known
to go upstairs over the catching glove of the Beezer.  However,
on this occasion the puck bounced on him as he approached the
net.  Vanbiesbrouck took advantage of the situation by sprawling
to his side and poke-checking the puck away from Lemieux before
he could even get a shot off.  The save was enormous.  If Lemieux
would have scored the game would have been knotted at 1-1 and the
Civic Arena crowd would have gone loopy.  Instead, Vanbiesbrouck
kept the crowd silent and sent a message to his teammates by
slamming the door on the greatest player in the game.  His club
responded a few minutes later when Tom Fitzgerald streaked down
the slot and backhanded a nice pass from Scott Mellanby behind
Wregget to make the score 2-0.  The Panthers were on the prowl. 
     The goal that broke the Penguins' back came at 7:12 of the
second period when Fitzgerald floated a shot in on Wregget from
the blue line.  Fitzgerald, who was standing straight up when he
took the shot, was merely trying to get the puck to the net. 
Wregget somehow misjudged the shot and the puck nestled itself
into the Penguin net over his left shoulder to increase the
Florida lead to 3-0.  The goal was extremely soft and very
reminiscent of one that Wregget allowed to Alexei Kovalev in Game
2 of the New York series.  
     Pittsburgh finally got on the board at 7:03 of the third
period when a shot by Dave Roche deflected off Kevin Miller in
front of Vanbiesbrouck and trickled into the Florida net.  The
Panthers responded with two more late goals from Lowry and
Mellanby to make the final score 5-1.  The goal by Lowry was
actually knocked in by Wregget after a mad scramble around the
net.  
     Despite his less than solid performance in Game 1, Wregget
is still the fan favorite.  In fact, he's probably the team's
favorite as well.  Since the two Stanley Cups, Barrasso has quit
talking with the media and has gained the reputation of being,
shall we say, hard to deal with?  Shall we say a jerk?  We shall
say a jerk.  It's hard to believe that someone who was so loved
by fans, media, and teammates alike during his first few years in
Pittsburgh could have fallen so far out of good graces, yet that
is exactly what has happened.  There have been numerous rumors as
to why Barrasso's popularity has plummeted in the 'Burgh, ranging
from the odd to the quite bizarre.  Add in that Wregget is the
polite, unassuming team player that he is, and the ingredients
for a goaltending controversy are made apparent.  
     So when Eddie Johnston decided to start Barrasso in Game 2
it certainly raised a few eyebrows.  His decision was greeted
with a chorus of boos from the home crowd when Barrasso's name
was announced in the starting lineup prior to the game.  Barrasso
had not played since the first period of Game 4 against
Washington in the opening round.  He was forced to leave with
back spasms and Wregget took over the starting job and ran with
it.  He had a record of 7-2 with a 2.30 goals-against average and
a .930 save percentage while leading the Penguins to the come-
from-behind series win over the Capitals and the five-game
smacking of the Rangers, compared to Barrasso's 1-2 mark, 3.32
goals-against, and .904 save percentage.  
     So the obvious question is why would EJ want to disrupt a
good thing and take Wregget out of the number one spot?  If he
left Wregget in and the Penguins lost, no one would criticize
him.  After all, Wregget is the reason why they are even in the
Conference Finals, so going with the guy that got him there would
only be natural.  However, if he started Barrasso and lost, EJ
would be second-guessed from now until eternity by just about
every living resident of Western Pennsylvania.   
     The change in goal was bold to say the least.  Yet EJ made
it with the courage and decisiveness needed in a championship-
calibre coach.  He was rewarded for his conviction when Barrasso
played a remarkable game while backstopping the Penguins to the
3-2 win in Game 2.  He turned away 30 shots on the night,
including numerous quality scoring chances.  Besides his ability
to stop the puck, the real reason Barrasso shined in Game 2 was
his ability to move the puck.  Ron Hextall may get more attention
for his stick-handling, but Barrasso is without peer when it
comes to moving the puck.  In fact, that is precisely why EJ made
the change in net.  He felt that Barrasso would be able to
neutralize Florida's dump-and-chase game plan by coming out and
playing the puck.  Barrasso performed this task flawlessly in
Game 2.  With Barrasso back there to simply steer their dump-ins
out of the zone before they could apply any pressure, the
Panthers were hesitant to just shoot the puck in and began to try
and gain the line themselves.  The result was a much more wide-
open contest.  
     The amount of open ice in the series to this point has
really been surprising.  Even in Game 1, the Penguins enjoyed
plenty of skating room.  The difference in that game was the play
of Vanbiesbrouck.  Thanks in large part to Barrasso there was
even more room in Game 2.  However, once again Vanbiesbrouck was
there to slam the door.  The first period was basically end-to-
end action with both clubs getting their fair share of high-
quality scoring chances.  Despite the number of chances, Barrasso
and Vanbiesbrouck were perfect and the game was scoreless after
the first twenty minutes. 
     Sergei Zubov broke the 0-0 deadlock at 7:21 of the second
period when he took advantage of an errant clearing attempt by
Gord Murphy and whistled a wrist shot over Vanbiesbrouck's
blocker on the power play.  It looked as if the Panthers had
things under control when Jaromir Jagr had a pass intercepted by
the Panthers to the left of the net, but Tomas Sandstrom
pressured Murphy into rushing his clearing attempt and the puck
merely wandered out to the blue line.  That's where Zubov picked
it up and walked into the slot before beating the Beezer for the
1-0 lead.  
     The Penguins increased their lead at 13:57 of the second
when Jagr one-timed a shot behind Vanbiesbrouck to make the score
2-0.  The goal, which also came on the power play, was the result
of a beautiful backhand pass by Lemieux.  Mario pounced on a
loose puck in the left wing corner of the Panther zone and
without even looking up fired a backhand pass to Jagr who was
coasting in on the opposite side of the slot.  Jagr was wide open
and immediately swept the puck into the cage before Vanbiesbrouck
could recover.  Pittsburgh carried the 2-0 lead into the locker
room.  
     Florida didn't get this far by quitting and erased any
thoughts that the game might be over by scoring early in the
third.  With his club on the power play, rookie defenseman Ed
Jovanovski gathered the puck at the point and surveyed the scene. 
He spotted Ray Sheppard standing all by his lonesome to the right
of Barrasso.  Jovanovski wound up for a slap shot, which made
Barrasso take a stride forward, before firing a bullet pass to
Sheppard at the side of the goal.  Sheppard, who has some of the
best hands in hockey around the net, calmly redirected the puck
into the open cage to make the score 2-1 at 29 seconds of the
third period.  The Panthers weren't going to roll over and die on
their own. 
     With Florida gaining some momentum and the Penguins needing
a big goal, Mario Lemieux once again rose to the occasion.  Petr
Nedved carried the puck into the Florida zone on the right wing
side and began to cut to the middle of the ice.  Nedved then took
a big hit to make the play, dropping the puck off to a trailing
Chris Tamer before getting flattened.  Tamer, not exactly known
for his offensive flair, made a nice play to continue down the
slot and fire a quick wrister towards the net.  The puck hit a
Panther defenseman in front, who was trying to tie up a charging
Kevin Miller, and landed just in front of the crease to the left
of Vanbiesbrouck.  Before the Beezer could locate the loose puck,
Lemieux came barreling down the slot untouched and rifled a shot
high into the net for the eventual game-winner.  Bill Lindsay did
his best to try and even the score for the Panthers as he added
their second goal a few minutes later, but he was denied on a
breakaway by Barrasso in the waning moments of the game.  
     Game 2 began with the Civic Arena crowd booing the mere
mention of Tom Barrasso's name and ended with them cheering
wildly for the goaltender who was once a folk hero around the
steel city.  While many people have lost confidence in
Pittsburgh's two-time Stanley Cup winning netminder, Eddie
Johnston never did.  Barrasso should receive an enormous amount
of credit for his exceptional performance in the 3-2 victory.  EJ
should receive even more for the courageous decision to start
him.  The entire hockey world is aware of the stars the Penguins
put on the ice, it's about time they notice the star behind the
bench.  

*    When Lemieux and Jagr were both held off the scoreboard in
Game 1, it marked only the third time all season that both
players failed to register at least one point.  The other three
teams to do the trick were the Montreal Canadiens, the Detroit
Red Wings, and the Toronto Maple Leafs.  The losses to Montreal
and Detroit were both shutouts.  
     To take things one step further, the Game 1 blanking of
Lemieux and Jagr was the first time the duo has been held
pointless at home since 1993.  Of course, that fact is a little
misleading since Lemieux didn't play last season, but it still
probably deserves a wow.  
     Lemieux and Jagr each had some personal streaks snapped in
the 5-1 loss as well.  Mario saw his 7-game goal-scoring streak
come to an end.  Meanwhile, Jaromir went pointless for the first
time in this year's playoffs.  He was the only remaining player
to have scored in each of his team's games.    

*    A lot has been made of the fact that Mario Lemieux has
scored more career goals (27) against John Vanbiesbrouck than any
other goaltender.  However, in the early going of the series it
is Vanbiesbrouck who has had Lemieux's number.  Mario did manage
the game-winner in Game 2, but the Beezer has robbed him of sure
goals on numerous occasions.  The thing about Mario is that he
tends to simply wear goaltenders down over the course of a
series.  It's one thing to keep him in check for one or two or
maybe even three games, but keeping Lemieux contained for an
entire seven-game series has been a virtual impossibility to this
point in his career. 

*    Jaromir Jagr drew the ire of the Panthers before the series
started by saying that he would rather face the Panthers instead
of the Flyers, since the Flyers usually punish him physically. 
The Panthers tried to jump all over this remark and said that
they would do their best to hammer Jagr just like the Flyers
would.  
     The whole thing was really blown out of proportion.  After
every playoff series in every sport some bonehead from the media
always asks the same stupid question of the players, "Who would
you prefer to play?"  Then, 99.9% of the time the player will
respond, "It doesn't really matter."  And a grand time is had by
all!  The one time someone has the guts to answer the question
with the truth and the media blows it into a big deal and tries
to use it to fire up the other team.  It just goes to show you
that all media people are weasels!  You just can't trust them! 
They should all be rounded up and beaten about the head and
shoulders until they... um, never mind. 
     In case you're wondering, so far in the first two games the
Panthers haven't even come remotely close to knocking Jagr around
like the Flyers and other former Patrick Division rivals do. 
Compared to the Washington series, the first two games with
Florida have been quite peaceful.  
   
*    Petr Nedved had a strong second game after being rather
quiet in the opener.  Nedved registered two assists while once
again winning the vast majority of his faceoffs.  Even before the
injury to Ron Francis, Nedved had become the Pens top man on
draws.  The absence of Francis just magnifies Nedved's importance
on faceoffs.  While he's only scored one goal since the dramatic
OT winner in Game 4 against Washington in the opening round,
Nedved's abilities in the face-off circles makes him an
incredibly valuable part of the team even when he isn't finding
the net.  
     Despite the slight goal-scoring drought of late, Nedved is
still among the league leaders in playoff scoring.  His seven
goals and 16 points puts him in sixth place.  Mario Lemieux is in
first with 22 points, followed by Joe Sakic (20), Jaromir Jagr
(19), Valeri Kamensky (18), and Steve Yzerman (18). 
       
*    Rookie defenseman Stefan Bergkvist saw his first ever
playoff action in Game 2.  Bergkvist, who appeared in two regular
season games with the Pens before being sidelined by an emergency
appendectomy, took Chris Joseph's spot in the lineup.  While he
didn't see a lot of ice time, Bergkvist was solid when called
upon, although he did take a holding penalty in the third period. 
Nevertheless, we here at LCS have been impressed with
the young Swede's play and he should be a fixture on the blue
line in the years to come. 
 
*    Ron Francis continues to heal his broken left foot.  The
"medical miracle" that would have been needed for a speedy return
doesn't appear to be happening.  Francis is still expected to
miss the rest of the playoffs, no matter how far the Penguins
advance.  He remains on crutches, although he is sporting a
colorful cast thanks to the artistic talents of his daughter
Kaitlyn's pre-school class.      

*    There seems to be a nasty case of the stomach flu making its
way through the Pittsburgh locker room.  The list of those who
have been affected by the virus includes Lemieux, Jagr,
Sandstrom, Nedved, Neil Wilkinson, and even Eddie Johnston. 
Lemieux felt so tired and dizzy because of the flu that he stayed
in the locker room for the first ten minutes of the second period
in Game 2 while being hooked up to an IV.  Lemieux later said
that the IV helped him tremendously and allowed him to play the
rest of the way without much dizziness.  A good thing too, since
he was directly responsible for Pittsburgh's second and third
goals.  The Panthers are also having to battle the flu bug. 
Rookie Radek Dvorak sat out Game 2 because of the illness.  
     Sadly, there is also one more casualty.  Penguin TV and
radio color man, Paul Steigerwald, has also fallen victim to the
sickness.  Ah, yes, good ol' Steigy... fans in the Pittsburgh
area are quite familiar with his colorful history.  Not only did
he read the lips of then Ranger coach Roger Neilson when he told
Adam Graves to, according to Steigy, "Take out Lemieux" during
the 1991-92 playoffs, but he has also had a TV fall on his head
during a telecast.  Yes, the exploits of Paul Steigerwald are
rather legendary around these circles.  Not a lot of people know
this, but I actually wrote Steigy a letter when LCS
first started and asked him if he would like to write for us... 
I'm still waiting for a response.  It has been two years, but I
still have hope.  I mean, c'mon, Steigy is busy living the jet-
set lifestyle of a hockey broadcaster.  The fast cars, the
beautiful women, the international espionage... he's probably
been meaning to write back but is just too busy saving the world
from evil-doers in order to respond.  In fact when it comes to
heroic figures, the pecking order around the offices of LCS
is Shaft, John Cullen, Alexander Selivanov, Al Morganti,
and then Steigy... although Gary Coleman would probably have to
fit in there somewhere.  So I will continue to run to the mailbox
everyday in hopes of receiving a reply.  Until that magical day
comes, I would just like to wish Steigy all the best in his
battle with the stomach flu and I hope he gets better soon.   

           
                                  
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FLORIDA PANTHERS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Head Coach:  Doug MacLean
   
Roster: C - Stu Barnes, Brian Skrudland, Rob Niedermayer, Martin
Straka, Steve Washburn. LW - Johan Garpenlov, Dave Lowry, Bill
Lindsay, Mike Hough, Radek Dvorak, Gilbert Dionne, Mike
Casselman.  RW - Scott Mellanby, Ray Sheppard, Jody Hull, Tom
Fitzgerald, David Nemirovsky.  D - Magnus Svensson, Robert
Svehla, Gord Murphy, Ed Jovanovski, Geoff Smith, Jason Woolley,
Randy Moller, Paul Laus, Terry Carkner, Rhett Warrener.  G - John
Vanbiesbrouck, Mark Fitzpatrick. 

Injuries: Jody Hull, rw (back spasms, day-to-day); Radek Dvorak,
lw (flu, day-to-day).

Transactions: None.
 
Game Results: 
1st Round - Florida vs Boston 
Florida won series 4-1

4/17 Boston     W 6-3
4/22 Boston     W 6-2
4/24 at Boston  W 4-2
4/25 at Boston  L 6-2
4/27 Boston     W 4-3

2nd Round - Florida vs Philadelphia
Florida won series 4-2

5/02  at Philadelphia  W 2-0
5/04  at Philadelphia  L 3-2
5/07  Philadelphia     L 3-1
5/09  Philadelphia     W 4-3 OT
5/12  at Philadelphia  W 2-1 2OT
5/14  Philadelphia     W 4-1

3rd Round - Florida vs Pittsburgh
Series tied 1-1

5/18 at Pittsburgh  W 5-1
5/20 at Pittsburgh  L 3-2  

TEAM NEWS by Eric A. Seiden

<b>GAME SIX: PANTHERS 4 -- FLYERS 1</b> <em>(Panthers win series)</em>

     THE PANTHERS GO TO CONFERENCE FINALS! The local fans just
can't say it enough. PANTHERS GO TO CONFERENCE FINALS! Yes,
Lindros and company were beaten by the grinders known as the
Cats. The only thing between the Panthers and playing for Lord
Stanley's Cup are the Penguins. Four more wins and the Panthers
get to play for the Cup. A famous Broadway play sings, "To dream.
The impossible dream. To fight. The impossible fight." Rewind. 
     "It's another Stanley Cup Playoff Night in South Florida,
and here come your Panthers!" said the announcer. And boy did
they ever come to play. Sure, the first part of the second period
nearly bored everyone to death and sucked the life out of the
building until almost the end. But, oh, what an end! 
     Rat count? Infinity! Officiating? Nonexistent. Hockey?
Plenty of it. Crowd? Subdued until the last period. The Flyers?
They didn't bother to show up. Lindros and his Legion of Doom
decided to give up. They played like it. 
     The ever increasing rat checking at the door has been
thwarted again. On the way in purses, hats, and everything else
were thoroughly checked. But the rats rained down again. "Weather
prediction? Raining Rats." said one sign.  
     The Panthers proved their fans can behave, the Panthers can
play clean hockey, and they can still beat a high-sticking,
bone-crunching, rule-bending hockey club. Is the Stanley Cup out
of reach? Nobody is saying 'no' anymore. 'Difficult' maybe. But
the impossible dream is possible.  
     Even the insulting delay tactic where Hextall was pulled for
Snow for one play causing over a two-minute delay didn't help.
The Panthers wanted it. Even after the Flyers managed to dig out
of a 3-0 rut by pushing one into the back of the net, Panther
fans stood by their man and chanted "Beezer" in tribute to the
guy who has kept this team alive for the playoffs, and through
large parts of the season. 
     The Panthers won this series and proved they're for real to
the last remaining doubters: the Flyers. The Panthers open up at
Pittsburgh, and it won't be an easy game for either team. Rewind. 
     The day before the last game, Lindros said, "We're coming
back home [for game seven]. We're going to win." Yeah, he's
coming back home. But he's going to be playing golf. Four goals
for the Panthers, though one was an empty netter. 
     The crowd stayed until the game was over. And stayed. And
stayed. And stayed. The Panthers didn't want to leave the ice and
the fans didn't want to leave the aisles where they were dancing
and hugging. Some moments are to be savored. This was such a
moment. Many people claim that South Florida fans don't know
hockey. That claim would be disputed locally. But whatever you
believe, you can't doubt that the fans love their team and
appreciate what a team they have. Heart and Soul. 

<b>POST-SERIES COMMENTARY:</b>

     "I've gotten a lot of credit for our success, but it's
apparent how hard this whole team has played," Vanbiesbrouck
said. "Now we're going to the Stanley Cup semifinals and
everybody has faith in us. It's extraordinary." As any local fan
will tell you in person, or by the signs carried to the games.
"WE BELIEVE!" Do we ever.  
     Where boos might have followed in most hockey cities, rowdy
South Florida fans -- who opponents say have made the Miami Arena
into the new Chicago Stadium -- stood by their man. 
     All season long, Vanbiesbrouck has said how humbling the
game can be. He had some advice for Lindros, who had predicted a
Flyers victory in Game six. "There are no guarantees in hockey
and there is no guarantee in life. You have to learn that early,"
Vanbiesbrouck said. 
     The team was up for sale most of the season. Their star
goaltender thought he would be traded last year. A new coach and
a slew of new players pointed to a finish at the bottom of the
Atlantic Division, and in fact the whole Eastern Conference. This
sentiment was echoed by almost every published media report.
The only ones who believed in the Florida Panthers were
themselves and their fans. All the doubters are now quiet. The
Panthers are for real. The Cat has claws and teeth, and more
importantly the famous Heart and Soul that holds the team and its
fans together. And the rats. 
     "It puts a smile on our face every time we see a rat thrown
out there," Vanbiesbrouck said, "even though it's becoming
something of a problem." If it puts a smile on their faces every
time they see one, they got over 1,000 smiles during the
Philadelphia game and almost 10,000 in the playoff series
to date. It's a fact you can count in the buckets the Orkin Rat
Patrol carries off the ice after each Panther goal. The fans love
their team. And they love us back. 


<b>CONFERENCE FINALS BEGIN: PANTHERS 5 -- PENGUINS 1</b>

     No, it's not a typo. The Cats roared into the Steel City and
the Bud Ice Penguins caused fear in no one, or at least not the
Panthers. Ken Wregget was not at fault for any of the goals
(except one). The Penguins defence crumpled around them, and the
Panthers are nothing if not opportunists. Tom Fitzgerald, Stu
Barnes, Dave Lowry, and Scott Mellanby all scored goals.
Rhett Warrenner had an incredible game defensively. 
    The Panthers were calm, cool, and collected. Kerry Fraser, a
much-hated referee, called a very even, level game throwing
players in the box on merit and not personal preference.
Penalties were sparse and evenly distributed.  
     The first Panther goal wasn't even a real goal. During a
cross-ice pass in front of the Penguins goal, Zubov tried to
deflect the pass out of harm's way and kicked it right into his
own net. NHL rules do not allow him to be credited with the goal
or an assist, though he certainly deserves full credit for it
since the Panthers had no part of it. 
     Fights? Not one. This isn't the Flyers. It was a hockey game
and not a boxing match. The fans in Pittsburgh? They acted like
hockey fans. It's so much better not playing the Flyers. I think
fans on both sides would agree.  
     The only cheap shot of the game was by Lemieux against the
back of Fitzgerald's leg causing him to limp off the ice. No
official saw it. To be fair, the camera angle didn't show if it
was intentional or not, so the benefit of the doubt is granted.
And compared to the Flyers, only one possible cheapshot is an
impressive feat. 
     Three more wins and the Panthers get to play either Colorado
or Detroit for Lord Stanley's Cup. All South Florida hockey fans
are praying for Colorado because the Panthers have Roy's number. 
     "I don't think people take them as seriously as probably
they should," Penguins forward Petr Nedved said after Florida's
victory. "They have a good team. They have a good system." 
     "Any time you get to the conference final, you're a good
team," said Mario Lemieux, who was held without a goal for the
first time in eight games. "Just because they don't have a big
star doesn't mean they don't have a good team. It's not going to
be an easy series; it's going to be a long series." 
     The Miami Herald was bold enough to pick the Panthers in
six, a prediction I'd personally be afraid to make. Analytically
speaking I have to say the Panthers will die in 5 or 6 by the
numbers. But deep, deep in my heart I BELIEVE because I am a
Panther fan. I know what the value of wanting it means. It's
something you can't measure. Esprit de corps. There's no way to
count it, but anyone who thinks it's meaningless, should go call
the Flyers and ask them about it. 

<b>PANTHER RATINGS CONTINUE TO SOAR:</b>

     Fox's highest ever hockey rating drew a larger local
audience than the Chicago Bulls (NBA) game when they were head to
head. As the game went into double overtime, the audience
swelled. After the game finally ended, and the Fox movie of the
week (Mrs. Doubtfire) began, ratings dropped over 30%. And
more surprisingly, during the overlapping part, the Panthers beat
the number one local mainstay of television: 60 Minutes. The game
was rated at almost DOUBLE the next nearest Panthers game
televised. 

<b>GREG COTE SPEAKS:</b>

    "There are a few constants left in our ever changing South
Florida. It will be hot today and probably humid too. Someone
will claim a chupacabra sighting. And the Beezer will guard his
hockey net like a pit bull guarding a pork chop. Vanbiesbrouck
was spectacular Tuesday [5/14] at Miami Arena, which is to say he
was pretty much average." 

<b>COTE SPEAKS AGAIN:</b>

     "More than the Flyers disrespect Team Cat. Did you catch
Pittsburgh's Jaromir Jagr saying he'd rather faced Florida next?
Get a clue Jagr. And a vowel too... All in all, I've just about
had my Fill o'Delphia." said Cote of the Miami Herald. Looks like
Jagr is getting his wish. "The small black thing on the ice is
the puck. Unless it has a tail. Then it's a rat." Cote offers his
guaranteed pickup line for any lady Panther fan: "You have
beautiful eyes, like a rat."  

<b>TEAM SALE NOTES:</b>

     Huizenga is now planning to sell the team to the public
after talks broke up with Mr. Spano. Supposedly pressure from his
friends and associates to keep the team locally owned changed his
mind. 

<b>TERRY MURRAY SPEWS:</b>

     After the loss to the Panthers, Flyers Coach Terry Murray
spewed forth "I still believe we are a better hockey club."
Right. That's why he's off to play golf.  

<b>DAVID J NEAL SPEAKS:</b> <em>(excerpts)</em> 

     The Catmen find themselves the anti-heroes in an issue of
World's Finest starring Super Mario and Hair-Boy the Man-Child
Wonder. 'The Penguins are strong, but not invincible' reads the
headline. 

<b>EDWIN POPE SPEAKS:</b> <em>(excerpts)</em>

     May I see your toy rat, sir? What! You don't have one? Fine.
Just as long as you're out of town by sun down. And take your
rat-less spouse with you. I've got Panther Virus bad. Barely can
type for these claws growing out of my wrists. I'm telling this
little doohickey beside the computer 'You are a not a mouse. You
are a R-A-T. And don't forget it.' The Panthers are the good
guys with so many other sports are chockablock with genuine rats.
And my wife sits there with eyes glazing and fists pumping.
"BEEZER! BEEZER!" 

<b>ED POPE JOKES:</b>

<b>Q:</b> What's the difference between a vacuum cleaner and Eric
Lindros on a motorcycle? 

<b>A:</b> The vacuum cleaner has a dirt bag on the inside. 

<b>PANTHERS GOOD GUY AWARD: </b>

     Given by the local media to the player most cooperative with
the media over the course of the season was presented to Scott
Mellanby.  
================================================================

  
=================================================================
PLAYOFF TEAM REPORTS
=================================================================
WESTERN CONFERENCE
-----------------------------------------------------------------
DETROIT RED WINGS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Head Coach:  Scotty Bowman
   
Roster:  C - Sergei Fedorov, Steve Yzerman, Keith Primeau, Igor
Larionov, Greg Johnson, Kris Draper, Wes Walz.  LW - Vyacheslav
Kozlov, Martin Lapointe, Bob Errey, Stu Grimson, Tim Taylor.  RW
- Dino Ciccarelli, Doug Brown, Mathieu Dandenault, Darren
McCarty, Kirk Maltby.  D - Paul Coffey, Nicklas Lidstrom, Bob
Rouse, Vladimir Konstantinov, Mike Ramsey, Slava Fetisov, Marc
Bergevin, Jamie Pushor, Anders Eriksson.  G - Mike Vernon, Chris
Osgood, Kevin Hodson.

Injuries: Steve Yzerman, c (groin, day-to-day); Bob Rouse, d
(broken orbital bone, indefinite); Kris Draper, c (shoulder,
day-to-day).

Transactions: None.

Game Results:
1st Round - Detroit vs Winnipeg 
Detroit won series 4-2

4/17  Winnipeg      W 4-1
4/19  Winnipeg      W 4-0
4/21  at Winnipeg   L 4-1
4/23  at Winnipeg   W 6-1
4/26  Winnipeg      L 3-1
4/28  at Winnipeg   W 4-1

2nd Round - Detroit vs St. Louis
Detroit won series 4-3

5/03  St. Louis     W 3-2
5/05  St. Louis     W 8-3
5/08  at St. Louis  L 5-4 OT
5/10  at St. Louis  L 1-0
5/12  St. Louis     L 3-2
5/14  at St. Louis  W 4-2
5/16  St. Louis     W 1-0 2OT

3rd Round - Detroit vs Colorado
Colorado leads series 1-0

5/19 Colorado  L 3-2 OT

TEAM NEWS by Brian Wishnow

*    Well, the Red Wings did it.  Down three games to two, they 
overcame Mike Keenan's cast of Stanley Cup veterans to capture
the Conference Semifinal series. 

*    Game Six recap:<P.
     Detroit never allowed the St. Louis crowd to get into the
game until it was too late.  Right out of the gate, Jon Casey's
tripping penalty demoralized the Kiel Center crowd, and the Red
Wings never gave them a reason to get back into the game...
almost. 
     Detroit was up 3-0 late in the third, when the Blues scored
two quick goals within 59 seconds to draw close, 3-2.  Every
Blues shot seemed to be headed in the net, but Chris Osgood
(incidentally, starting his second road game of the playoffs)
shut the door for the remaining few minutes.  Not until Nicklas
Lidstrom scored on a one-timer off Steve Yzerman's pass with 29
seconds remaining, could the Red Wings and their fans breathe
easy. 
     Detroit drew even in the series, with Game Seven only two
nights later, back at Joe Louis Arena.  A short rest, before the
final battle to break the series deadlock: Red Wings Three, Blues
Three. 

*    Game Seven recap: 
     Game Seven's referee, Bill McCreary, provided some optimism
at the outset of the final game.  He actually called (five total)
minor penalties.  That only lasted for the first two periods. 
     As the third period began, tied 0-0, tension filled the
arena, everyone sensing that the next team to be scored upon
would soon have their season come to an end. 
     The third period ended without any score, and that tension
became a stone cold reality, just waiting to set in on one of the
teams.  That reality, the SEASON'S OVER reality, would have to
wait even longer, as the first overtime session ended without a
winner.  
     Each shot in succession became potentially lethal, while Jon
Casey and Chris Osgood were cool under the pressure.  Would their
confidence continue into the second overtime?  With the freshly
cleaned ice, and their intermission break, the two teams returned
to the ice. 
     Slightly over one minute into the second overtime period,
Steve Yzerman picked up a loose puck at his own blue line and
skated with little opposition through the neutral zone.  Sensing
the St. Louis defenders just ahead of him, Yzerman saw a slight
opening and wound up.  To his delight, he also saw the net on the
high blocker-side corner.  He unleashed a blast, more like a
laser, which blew past Casey's blocker just under the crossbar.   
     The captain made two huge jumps along the sideboards as his
momentum continued, and soon he was mobbed by his icemates, and
his teammates off the bench.  
     Game Seven, and the series, to the Red Wings.  A superb 1-0
game ended the series, and the Blues' season.  Series final: Red
Wings Four, Blues Three.  Next up: the Colorado Avalanche. 

*    Detroit unfortunately only received two days off between the
second and third rounds of the playoffs.  As a result, the Wings
did not have as much time to heal their wounded as they would
have liked.  
     Current ailments:<br>
 - Keith Primeau, sore abdominal muscles. <br>
 - Igor Larionov, tender groin. <br>
 - Tim Taylor, nagging shoulder injury. <br>
 - Kris Draper, shoulder injury.  <br>
 - Dino Ciccarelli, broken nose.  <br>
 - Bob Rouse, broken orbital bone. <br>
 - Paul Coffey, broken nose. <br>
 - Mike Ramsey and Slava Fetisov, old bodies in need of rest. <br>
 - Nicklas Lidstrom and Valdimir Konstantinov, sore everywhere. <br>
 - Steve Yzerman, groin (sustained in first game of Colorado
series; the team calls it a groin injury, but no one knows for
sure). 

     Just as they did last year during the playoffs, the Wings
are counting on the hyberbaric chamber to hasten the healing
progress of several injuries. 

*    The regular season mathcups vs. Colorado prove to be
decisively in Detroit's favor.  The regular season games: 
<pre>
   Date         Result (home team - BOLD)  Winning Goalie  Losing
Goalie
 - October 6    COLORADO 3, Detroit 2      Fiset           Vernon 
      
 - January 17   DETROIT 3, Colorado 2      Osgood          Roy 
 - March 8      Detroit 4, COLORADO 2      Vernon          Roy
 - March 22     DETROIT 7, Colorado 0      Vernon          Roy
</pre>
     Additional note: Roy played two games against Detroit with
Montreal before he was traded.  Detroit won 3-2, and 11-1 in the
debacle that resulted in Roy being traded to the Avalanche.  Will
it come back to haunt them? 

     Detroit's regular season special teams against Colorado:
 - Power Play:    6/27  22.2% <br>
 - Penalty Kill: 17/18  94.6% 

*    Game One recap:  
     Paul Coffey scored both of Detroit's goals, and one of
Colorado's.  In fact, when the game headed to overtime tied 2-2,
Chris Osgood had yet to be beaten by a Colorado shot. 
     Coffey accidentally redirected Stephane Yelle's pass
squarely into Detroit's own goal.  Colorado's second goal was
scored by Adam Deadmarsh, who crashed the net.  The puck went in
off somewhere on his body, and was not disallowed by video
replay. 
     Detroit had to play without its most outstanding player
during the playoffs for much of the second period, and the rest
of the game.  Captain Steve Yzerman suffered some sort of an
injury, and did not return after the second period.  The team
says it is a groin injury, but no one outside the team knows for
sure.  Yzerman made a trip to the hyperbaric chamber as soon as
he could remove his equipment, and proceeded to watch much of the
remainder of the game from it. 
     About halfway through the first overtime period, Colorado
grinder Mike Keane unleashed a wrist shot from above the face-off
circles that somehow found its way between Chris Osgood's body
and arm, and into the net. 
     The goal almost seemed like Jon Casey's revenge: beaten by a
long shot which would normally be stopped.  However, the abnormal
suddenly ended the game, and put Colorado up in the series:
Avalanche One, Red Wings Zero. 




-----------------------------------------------------------------
COLORADO AVALANCHE
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Head Coach:  Marc Crawford
   
Roster:  C - Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Mike Ricci, Troy Murray,
Dave Hannan.  LW - Valeri Kamensky, Chris Simon, Warren Rychel,
Rene Corbet.  RW - Claude Lemieux, Adam Deadmarsh, Scott Young,
Mike Keane, Stephane Yelle.  D - Sandis Ozolinsh, Sylvain
Lefebvre, Uwe Krupp, Craig Wolanin, Curtis Leschyshyn, Adam
Foote, Alexei Gusarov, Jon Klemm.  G - Patrick Roy, Stephane
Fiset.
   
Injuries: None.
   
Transactions: None.
   
Game Results:

1st Round - Colorado vs Vancouver
Colorado won series 4-2

4/16 Vancouver     W 5-2
4/18 Vancouver     L 5-4
4/20 at Vancouver  W 4-0
4/22 at Vancouver  L 4-3
4/25 Vancouver     W 5-4 OT
4/27 at Vancouver  W 3-2

2nd Round - Colorado vs Chicago
Colorado won series 4-2

5/02 Chicago     L 3-2 OT
5/04 Chicago     W 5-1
5/06 at Chicago  L 4-3 OT
5/08 at Chicago  W 3-2 3OT
5/11 Chicago     W 4-1
5/13 at Chicago  W 4-3 2OT

3rd Round - Colorado vs Detroit
Colorado leads series 3-2

5/19 at Detroit  W 3-2 OT

TEAM NEWS by Matt Gitchell

     The Avs again displayed their seeming affection for overtime
games on Sunday, going into their sixth overtime contest of this
playoff season.  It was also their fourth overtime win.  Mike
Keane was the man on Sunday, putting what seemed to be a routine
wrister by Chris Osgood to give the Avs the upset. 
     The Avs played a frustrating game, stepping up the physical
play and generally not giving the Red Wings a whole lot of room
to move.  Of course, the Wings were there to meet the Avs with
the proper resistance, coming up with some downright frightening
staying power in the Avalanche zone at times, but Colorado was
able to keep the quality shots to a minimum.  The game had some
sloppy goals, with Paul Coffey's first shot winding up hitting
some bodies, hitting Roy's pad, and bouncing in.  
     Coffey's second goal was against his own team.  Stephane
Yelle was moving by the net, and tried a last-minute centering
pass through the crease.  Coffey was stationed right in the
middle of the net, and he basically one-timed the puck into the
cage.  An uncomfortable thing to watch, but who are we in
Colorado to refuse a goal?  The Avs would go up 2-1 when Adam
Deadmarsh legged or kneed or shinned a high fluttery Joe Sakic
rebound into the goal as he fought off Bob Errey.  Once again,
we'll take it.  Coffey would (somewhat) redeem himself by tying
the game in the third, coming in late on a rush, taking a nice
centering pass from Igor Larionov and depositing it past Roy. 
     The Avs looked reasonably solid during the game, controlling
much of the second period, but they're going to have to do better
in the rest of the series to keep Detroit playing catch-up.  They
did a good job of beating up the Russians, but when the big
Detroit players came out, they weren't so effective, allowing
Dino Ciccarelli to park in the crease and draw attention away
from Coffey's first goal.  
     Peter Forsberg (!) has been the main bruiser so far for the
Avs, the former Calder winner using his size and speed to lay
some punishing checks on folks, most notably Igor Larionov, who
got it all game from Forsberg.  The Avs are playing solid overall
hockey, their best of the year, and it'll take a strong
consistent effort to beat the Detroit squad. 

<b>News, notes, etc.:</b>

-    The Avs continue to increase their TV audience, drawing a 20
share and just eking out a ratings victory over the Colorado
Rockies (baseball) and the Bulls-Magic NBA Game. 

-    With all this hyperbaric chamber hoopla, it was only a
matter of time before somebody asked the Avs about it.  Coach
Marc Crawford said, "I hear they're great for hangovers."  I
guess we won't be seeing one at McNichols Arena. 

-    There's a big uproar in Denver about the cost of playoff
tickets, and the fact that local ticket brokers are hiring the
homeless to stand in the McNichols ticket line.  The Avs are
considering going to a lottery system, which many other teams
already have in place. 

-    Roy's win in Game 1 against Detroit not only raises his
playoff overtime record to 29-7, but places him in third place
above Grant Fuhr for total playoff wins with 79. 




-----------------------------------------------------------------
ST. LOUIS BLUES
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Head Coach:  Mike Keenan
   
Roster:  C - Wayne Gretzky, Craig MacTavish, Adam Creighton,
Peter Zezel, Mike Hudson.  LW - Geoff Courtnall, Shayne Corson,
Basil McRae, Tony Twist, Greg Gilbert, Stephane Matteau, Yuri
Khymlev. RW - Brett Hull, Brian Noonan, Rob Pearson, Steve Leach,
Glenn Anderson. D - Al MacInnis, Igor Kravchuk, Charlie Huddy,
Jay Wells, Murray Baron, Christer Olsson, Chris Pronger.
G - Grant Fuhr, Jon Casey.
   
Injuries: Grant Fuhr, g (knee, out for season).

Transactions: None.

Game Results:
1st Round - St. Louis vs Toronto
St. Louis won series 4-2

4/16 at Toronto  W 3-1
4/18 at Toronto  L 5-4 OT
4/21 Toronto     W 3-2 OT
4/23 Toronto     W 5-1
4/25 at Toronto  L 5-4 OT
4/27 Toronto     W 2-1

2nd Round - St. Louis vs Detroit
Detroit won series 4-3

5/03 at Detroit  L 3-2
5/05 at Detroit  L 8-3
5/08 Detroit     W 5-4 OT
5/10 Detroit     W 1-0
5/12 at Detroit  W 3-2
5/14 Detroit     L 4-2
5/16 at Detroit  L 1-0 2OT

TEAM NEWS by Joe Ashkar

     The Blues missed a golden opportunity to send the Red Wings
out of the Stanley Cup playoffs and advance to the Conference
Finals for the first time in 10 years. The Blues were leading the
best-of-seven series 3-2 and heading home to Kiel Center for the
clincher. The Blues were unbeaten at home during the playoffs 
(5-0) but Detroit put on an impressive performance and survived a
Blues' late surge to win the game 4-2. 
     The series then shifted back to Detroit for the decisive
game seven and what a wonderful display of hockey it was. Both
teams battled into the wee hours of the morning putting on a
defensive clinic. For the first time in history, a Game 7 
in the Stalney Cup playoffs has gone scoreless into double
overtime. Steve Yzerman was the hero for Detroit when he scored
the clincher 75 seconds into the second extra period to put an
end to an exciting series between a well seasoned Blues veteran
team and the league-best Red Wings. 
     For detailed coverage, please read the full game summaries
below.  

<b>Game 6:</b><em>Wings beat Blues 4-2, extend series to Game 7</em>

     The St. Louis Blues blew a golden opportunity of eliminating
the Detroit Red Wings Tuesday night at Kiel Center. Instead, the
Red Wings escaped elimination by handing the Blues their first
home loss of the playoffs with a 4-2 triumph to tie the series 3-
3 and send it back to Detroit for a decisive Game 7. 
     Igor Larionov, Kris Draper, Dino Ciccarelli and Nicklas
Lidstrom scored for the Red Wings while goaltender Chris Osgood
stopped 18 of 20 shots. Steve Leach and Brett Hull scored for the
Blues and Jon Casey stopped 18 of 22 shots.  
     The Red Wings had the Blues on the back of their heels from
the first shift of the game. Referee Dan Marouelli whistled Casey
for a tripping penalty just 23 seconds into the game and the Red
Wings jumped all over the short-handed Blues. 
     The Blues killed the early Wings power play with Casey
making two stellar saves. One from close range on Keith Primeau
and another one on a long shot by Nicklas Lidstrom. 
     Marouelli gave the Red Wings their second power play of the
game at 8:11 when he slapped Tony Twist with a high-sticking
penalty after laying out a big clean hit on Martin Lapointe near
the Blues bench.  
     Casey made a brilliant save on Ciccarelli who was all alone
at the left goal post as the Blues killed the Wings second man-
advantage.  
     Six seconds after the power play had expired, the Wings took
a 1-0 lead on a deflection in front of Casey. Igor kravchuk's
clearing pass bounced off Konstantinov and to Kozlov at the blue
line. Kozlov shoveled the puck on net as it deflected off
Larionov's stick and past Casey. 
     Paul Coffey put on an acting scene with 7:48 left in the
period after taking a hard check by Brian Noonan in the right
corner. Coffey acted as if he was dying just to come back on the
next shift 33 seconds later. 
     Shortly afterwards, the Blues got their first power play of
the game but it was the Red Wings who benefited from the Blues'
man-advantage. Midway through the Blues power play, Kris Draper
intercepted Casey's clearing attempt just inside the blue line
and broke in all alone on net. On the breakaway, Draper clamly
backhanded the puck between Casey's pads to give the Red Wings a
2-0 lead at 14:05. 
     With 3:30 left in the period, McCarty headed to the net with
no Blues player near him and steamrolled Casey before kneeing him
in the head. Marouelli, who saw the whole infraction, ignored the
charge and turned his head the other way. 
     The Blues came out ready to play in the second period but
the Red Wings went into a defensive shell forming an armor in
front of Osgood. The Blues forechecked well and layed out some
big hits on the Red Wings but could not put the puck in the net.
The Blues limited the Red Wings to only three shots on goal in a
scoreless second period.  
     Wings defenseman Bob Rouse who went down to block a shot by
Blues forward Steve Leach suffered a broken bone above his right
eye and was carried off the ice to a local area hospital. 
     The Blues had the momentum in the early minutes of the third
period but referee Dan Marouelli called the Blues for three
consecutive penalties in a span of eight minutes. 
     First, he slapped Mike Hudson with a 4-minute double-minor
for high-sticking Mark Bergevin who overreacted by diving
backwards after being clipped by Hudson's stick. The judges in
the crowd gave Bergevin a score of 5, 4.5, 4.5, 4 and a 5 for the
dive. 
     The Blues appeared to have killed Hudson's penalty, but
Marouelli later added Noonan to the penalty box to extend the
Wings power play for an additional two minutes. 
     After outshooting the Blues 8-0 from the start of the
period, the Red Wings scored a monumental power-play goal to give
them a 3-0 lead. Dino Ciccarelli deflected Paul Coffey's slap
shot from the right circle at 9:15 for his 4th goal of the
playoffs.  
     The Blues suddenly woke up with five minutes left in the
game and recorded the next eight shots on goal. Steve Leach broke
Osgood's shutout when he rocketed the rebound of Al MacInnis'
shot from the slot past the Detroit goalie at 15:13. 
     Less than a minute later, Brett Hull brought the Blues
within 3-2. Hull took a nifty pass from Wayne Gretzky between the
two circles and beat Osgood with a quick wrist shot at 16:12.
     Suddenly, the Blues were back in the game and the crowd
erupted for the final four minutes. The Blues almost tied the
game at 17:55 when Yuri Khmylev tipped the puck wide of the right
goal post. The Blues sustained the pressure but Nicklas Lidstrom
eneded any hopes of a Blues comeback when he beat Casey with a
slap shot from the slot with 29 seconds remaining, giving the Red
Wings a 4-2 victory and sending the sellout crowd to the exit
gates. 


<b>Game 7:</b><em>Blues go down 1-0 in double-overtime thriller</em>

     Steve Yzerman ended the St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup hopes
when he scored at 1:15 of the second overtime to give the Detroit
Red Wings a 1-0 victory in the decisive Game 7 of the Western
Conference semifinals. 
     "It was a tremendous thrill," said Yzerman. "It's what all
players dream about." 
     The goal completed a gritty comback by the Red Wings who had
to rebound from a three-games-to-two deficit in the series.
     "That's what it's all about." Wings coach Scotty Bowman said
after his team advanced into the Conference Finals. 
     Both teams put on a formidable display of wonderful playoff
hockey. The scoreless 0-0 game after regulation and the first
overtime was a classic. It was the first time in history that a
Game 7 of a playoff series had gone scoreless into a second
overtime. 
     "It was a great defensive battle. Nobody gave an inch,
either way." Blues coach Mike Keenan said. "We weren't given much
of a chance at the outset, we took the top team in the National
Hockey League to the limit"  
     The Blues and the Red Wings were like two heavyweight
champions trading punches left and right while contending every
part of the rink. Opposing goaltenders Jon Casey and Chris Osgood
were trying to outdo themselves with bigger and better saves. 
     But after four hours of a tremendous display of exciting
hockey, it was the Detroit Red Wings who will join the final four
teams and battle the Colorado Avalanche in the Conference Finals.
The Red Wings escaped from being upset by the Blues who finished
51 points behind them in the regular season standings. 
     "You have to give a lot of credit to St. Louis," Bowman
said. "If that team had started the season as they are now, they
wouldn't have finished 51 points behind us." 
     There was a special feeling at Joe Louis Arena Thursday
night. The place was rocking with restless fans who warmed up the
house with cheers and chants before the game. Engelbert
Humperdink performed the National Anthem for the first time and
he was greeted with three octopis thrown near his feet. The
faithful could barely wait for the first drop of the puck. 
     Pumped up by the thundering loud crowd, the Red Wings came
out flying and buzzing all over the Blues. Igor Larionov had the
first good chance of the game less than two minutes into the
period. Larionov fired a wicked slap shot at Casey but the
valiant Blues goaltender turned away the shot, deflected the
rebound and covered the puck. Seconds later, Casey made a good
skate save on a shot by Yzerman from the left side of the slot. 
     The Blues killed Detroit's first power play of the game at
7:47 and started shifting the momentum in their favor. 
     With Kris Draper in the penalty box for holding, Sergei
Fedorov had a chance to put the Red Wings on the boards with a
short-handed rush at 14:17. Casey stopped Fedorov's initial shot
but the puck dropped down to his skates as Yzerman was heading
toward the crease. Hull quickly came to Casey's rescue by
handling the puck in the crease and preventing Yzerman from
tipping home the rebound. 
     The Red Wings outshot the Blues 14-4 in the first period. It
was a different story in the second period, the Blues came out
hitting the Red Wings to dictate the tempo of the game. The Blues
best chance came in at the five-minute mark on a long shot by
Peter Zezel. Zezel took a drop pass from Brett Hull inside the
blue line and fired a nasty slapper. Osgood made a good save but
was handcuffed as the puck flipped in the air and bounced behind
him. Osgood attentively turned his head back and reached with his
hand to glove the puck out of mid-air. 
     Midway through the period, Osgood made another great save to
stop Brian Noonan's shot from point-blank range. The Blues
outshot the Red Wings 11-6 in the second period. 
     Both teams were tentative throughout the third period. The
Blues and Wings retreated deep inside their blue lines and
tightened the checking in the neutral zone. They were playing
not-to-lose hockey trying not to make any mistakes that would
cost the game. 
     Kris Draper had the only good scoring chance of the period
but he shot the puck wide of the right goal post on a two-on-one
rush with Tim Taylor. 
     The Blues had the early jump in the first overtime and the
Red Wings seemed to be getting tired as the game went on. With
seven minutes left in the first extra period, Shayne Corson had a
golden chance to win the game but Osgood came out with the save
of the series. Corson stickhandled his way around Vladimir
Konstantinov and broke in alone on Osgood. Corson tried to tip
the trickling puck between Osgood's pads but the Wings goaltender
quickly closed his pads to keep the game going. 
     The stage was set for Yzerman in the second overtime. Late
on his first shift of the second extra period, Wayne Gretzky
mishandled an errant puck off his skates as Yzerman picked it up
in the neutral zone and headed to the Blues blue line. 
     "It just came off the boards," Gretzky said. "Steve got it
and made a nice play." 
     It looked like an innocent play as Yzerman skated in on
right wing and fired a laser shot from just inside the blue line
past a surprised Casey. 
     The surprised Yzerman described the winning goal: "I didn't
really have a lot of room through the neutral zone, I saw the
defenseman coming up. All I was thinking about was, let's shoot
it. I was just hoping it might go through the defenseman's legs.
Then, I saw it go in." Yzerman said. "It went by his blocker, it
was just uder the bar. I was stunned that it went in, to tell you
the truth. You don't see many go in from back there."  
     That was it, the last shot had won the game and the series
as the Detroit bench and coach Scotty Bowman jumped to the ice to
congratulate Yzerman. The crowd went up in a frenzy cheering on
their beloved Red Wings as the Blues gathered around Jon Casey to
console him for a tremendous performance in the game and in the
series.  
     "Jon was our backbone," Gretzky said. "After Fuhr went down,
everybody could have gotten real down but Jon came through for
us. We're disappointed but we surprised a lot of people." 
     Keenan praised Casey as well. "Casey really came in and did
a tremendous job for us," Keenan said. "He has to feel proud of
himself. He's the primary reason this series went to seven
games." 
     "Jon Casey played an outstanding series," Osgood said. "He's
probably been the best goalie in the whole playoffs. They shut us
down pretty well, they battled us right to the final shot."  
     The disappointed Blues fell one-goal short of upsetting the
best team in the National Hockey League. 
     "We're disappointed, but I hope guys like Steve Yzerman and
Paul Coffey go and win the Cup." Gretzky later said. 
     "We played our hearts out every night," Hull said. "It
seemed tonight that they bottled us up and we couldn't get
anything going. We were looking for a good ride home and a nice
trip to Colorado." 
     "I said before the series, even though we were 50-odd points
better than them, they had a heck of a hockey club," Coffey said.
"They had a lot of experience. I knew we'd be in for a heck of a
bout. 
================================================================
     
Next Issue: May 28, 1996...that's one week from today.


PLAYOFF LEADERS                                                 May 19, 1996
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995-96 NHL League Leaders 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

NHL POINT LEADERS
PLAYER             TEAM           GP   G   A PTS +/-  PIM PP SH GW GT   S  PCTG
JOE SAKIC          COLORADO       13  13   7  20   7    6  4  0  3  2  66  19.7
MARIO LEMIEUX      PITTSBURGH     12  10  10  20   2   25  3  1  1  0  52  19.2
JAROMIR JAGR       PITTSBURGH     12  10   8  18   8   10  4  1  1  0  53  18.9
VALERI KAMENSKY    COLORADO       13   9   9  18  10   16  3  0  2  0  38  23.7
STEVE YZERMAN      DETROIT        14   8  10  18   1-   4  4  0  1  1  46  17.4
WAYNE GRETZKY      ST LOUIS       13   2  14  16   2    0  1  0  1  0  25   8.0
SHAYNE CORSON      ST LOUIS       13   8   6  14   1-  22  6  1  1  0  37  21.6
PETR NEDVED        PITTSBURGH     12   7   7  14   4    6  3  0  2  1  35  20.0
STU BARNES         FLORIDA        12   3  10  13  10    0  0  0  1  0  30  10.0
SANDIS OZOLINSH    COLORADO       13   3  10  13   7    6  2  0  1  1  31   9.7
ERIC LINDROS       PHILADELPHIA   12   6   6  12   1-  43  3  0  2  0  46  13.0
JEREMY ROENICK     CHICAGO        10   5   7  12   6    2  1  0  1  1  21  23.8
RAY SHEPPARD       FLORIDA        11   5   7  12   5    0  2  0  0  0  24  20.8
PETER FORSBERG     COLORADO       13   5   7  12   6   10  1  0  1  0  29  17.2
SERGEI FEDOROV     DETROIT        14   1  11  12   4    6  0  0  1  0  49   2.0
SERGEI ZUBOV       PITTSBURGH     12   0  12  12   4   22  0  0  0  0  37    .0
DAVE LOWRY         FLORIDA        12   9   2  11   9   33  4  0  2  1  28  32.1
JOHN LECLAIR       PHILADELPHIA   11   6   5  11   3    6  4  0  1  0  25  24.0
BRETT HULL         ST LOUIS       13   6   5  11   2   10  2  1  1  0  52  11.5
MARK MESSIER       NY RANGERS     11   4   7  11  10-  16  2  0  1  0  41   9.8
PAUL COFFEY        DETROIT        14   4   7  11   4-  30  2  2  1  0  41   9.8
IGOR LARIONOV      DETROIT        14   4   7  11   5    6  2  0  1  0  35  11.4
NICKLAS LIDSTROM   DETROIT        14   3   8  11   6    8  1  0  0  0  37   8.1

NHL GOAL SCORING LEADERS                NHL ASSIST LEADERS
PLAYER             TEAM         GP   G  PLAYER             TEAM         GP   A
JOE SAKIC          COLORADO     13  13  WAYNE GRETZKY      ST LOUIS     13  14
JAROMIR JAGR       PITTSBURGH   12  10  SERGEI ZUBOV       PITTSBURGH   12  12
MARIO LEMIEUX      PITTSBURGH   12  10  SERGEI FEDOROV     DETROIT      14  11
DAVE LOWRY         FLORIDA      12   9  MARIO LEMIEUX      PITTSBURGH   12  10
VALERI KAMENSKY    COLORADO     13   9  STU BARNES         FLORIDA      12  10
SHAYNE CORSON      ST LOUIS     13   8  SANDIS OZOLINSH    COLORADO     13  10
STEVE YZERMAN      DETROIT      14   8  STEVE YZERMAN      DETROIT      14  10
ADAM GRAVES        NY RANGERS   10   7  UWE KRUPP          COLORADO     13   9
PETR NEDVED        PITTSBURGH   12   7  VALERI KAMENSKY    COLORADO     13   9
JOE MURPHY         CHICAGO      10   6  ALEXANDER MOGILNY  VANCOUVER     6   8
JOHN LECLAIR       PHILADELPHIA 11   6  JAROMIR JAGR       PITTSBURGH   12   8
ERIC LINDROS       PHILADELPHIA 12   6  SCOTT YOUNG        COLORADO     13   8
BRETT HULL         ST LOUIS     13   6  NICKLAS LIDSTROM   DETROIT      14   8

NHL POWER PLAY GOAL LEADERS             NHL SHORTHANDED GOAL LEADERS
PLAYER             TEAM         GP  PP  PLAYER             TEAM         GP  SH
ADAM GRAVES        NY RANGERS   10   6  PAUL COFFEY        DETROIT      14   2
SHAYNE CORSON      ST LOUIS     13   6 *MARK KOLESAR       TORONTO       3   1
JOHN LECLAIR       PHILADELPHIA 11   4  JOHN CULLEN        TAMPA BAY     5   1
DINO CICCARELLI    DETROIT      12   4  ADAM OATES         BOSTON        5   1
JAROMIR JAGR       PITTSBURGH   12   4  STEVE HEINZE       BOSTON        5   1
DAVE LOWRY         FLORIDA      12   4  VINCENT DAMPHOUSSE MONTREAL      6   1
JOE SAKIC          COLORADO     13   4  LYLE ODELEIN       MONTREAL      6   1
STEVE YZERMAN      DETROIT      14   4  ROB ZAMUNER        TAMPA BAY     6   1
RICK TOCCHET       BOSTON        5   3  DOUG BROWN         DETROIT       9   1
MARK RECCHI        MONTREAL      6   3  PETER ZEZEL        ST LOUIS     10   1
MARIO LEMIEUX      PITTSBURGH   12   3  JARI KURRI         NY RANGERS   11   1
PETR NEDVED        PITTSBURGH   12   3  JAROMIR JAGR       PITTSBURGH   12   1
ERIC LINDROS       PHILADELPHIA 12   3  MARIO LEMIEUX      PITTSBURGH   12   1
VALERI KAMENSKY    COLORADO     13   3  BILL LINDSAY       FLORIDA      12   1
                                        MURRAY BARON       ST LOUIS     13   1
                                        SHAYNE CORSON      ST LOUIS     13   1
                                        KRIS DRAPER        DETROIT      13   1
                                        BRETT HULL         ST LOUIS     13   1
                                       *STEPHANE YELLE     COLORADO     13   1

NHL POWER PLAY ASSISTS LEADERS          NHL SHORTHANDED ASSISTS LEADERS
PLAYER             TEAM         GP  PP  PLAYER             TEAM         GP  SH
SERGEI ZUBOV       PITTSBURGH   12   8  IGOR LARIONOV      DETROIT      14   2
ALEXANDER MOGILNY  VANCOUVER     6   6  RAY BOURQUE        BOSTON        5   1
MARIO LEMIEUX      PITTSBURGH   12   6  ADAM OATES         BOSTON        5   1
WAYNE GRETZKY      ST LOUIS     13   6  DON SWEENEY        BOSTON        5   1
SERGEI FEDOROV     DETROIT      14   6  MIKAEL ANDERSSON   TAMPA BAY     6   1
STEVE YZERMAN      DETROIT      14   6  SHAWN BURR         TAMPA BAY     6   1
NICKLAS LIDSTROM   DETROIT      14   6  DOUG GILMOUR       TORONTO       6   1
RAY BOURQUE        BOSTON        5   5 *SAKU KOIVU         MONTREAL      6   1
BRIAN LEETCH       NY RANGERS   11   5  RON FRANCIS        PITTSBURGH   11   1
ERIC DESJARDINS    PHILADELPHIA 12   5  TOMAS SANDSTROM    PITTSBURGH   12   1
SANDIS OZOLINSH    COLORADO     13   5  CHRIS TAMER        PITTSBURGH   12   1
PAUL COFFEY        DETROIT      14   5  WAYNE GRETZKY      ST LOUIS     13   1
                                        CRAIG MACTAVISH    ST LOUIS     13   1
                                        BRIAN NOONAN       ST LOUIS     13   1
                                        KEITH PRIMEAU      DETROIT      13   1
                                        CHRIS PRONGER      ST LOUIS     13   1
                                        SERGEI FEDOROV     DETROIT      14   1
                        
NHL POWER PLAY POINTS LEADERS           NHL SHORTHANDED POINTS LEADERS
PLAYER             TEAM         GP  PP  PLAYER             TEAM         GP  SH
STEVE YZERMAN      DETROIT      14  10  ADAM OATES         BOSTON        5   2
MARIO LEMIEUX      PITTSBURGH   12   9  PAUL COFFEY        DETROIT      14   2
SHAYNE CORSON      ST LOUIS     13   9  IGOR LARIONOV      DETROIT      14   2
SERGEI ZUBOV       PITTSBURGH   12   8  32 PLAYERS WITH ONE
WAYNE GRETZKY      ST LOUIS     13   7
JOE SAKIC          COLORADO     13   7
SANDIS OZOLINSH    COLORADO     13   7
PAUL COFFEY        DETROIT      14   7
NICKLAS LIDSTROM   DETROIT      14   7

NHL GAME WINNING GOAL LEADERS           OVERTIME GOALS
PLAYER             TEAM         GP  GW  PLAYER             TEAM         GP  OT
JOE SAKIC          COLORADO     13   3  JOE SAKIC          COLORADO     13   2
VINCENT DAMPHOUSSE MONTREAL      6   2  SERGEI KRIVOKRASOV CHICAGO       5   1
GINO ODJICK        VANCOUVER     6   2  BRIAN BELLOWS      TAMPA BAY     6   1
ADAM GRAVES        NY RANGERS   10   2  VINCENT DAMPHOUSSE MONTREAL      6   1
JOE MURPHY         CHICAGO      10   2  MIKE GARTNER       TORONTO       6   1
MIKE HOUGH         FLORIDA      12   2  MATS SUNDIN        TORONTO       6   1
DAVE LOWRY         FLORIDA      12   2  ALEXANDER SELIVANO TAMPA BAY     6   1
PETR NEDVED        PITTSBURGH   12   2  JOE MURPHY         CHICAGO      10   1
ERIC LINDROS       PHILADELPHIA 12   2  JEREMY ROENICK     CHICAGO      10   1
VALERI KAMENSKY    COLORADO     13   2  IGOR KRAVCHUK      ST LOUIS     10   1
                                        GLENN ANDERSON     ST LOUIS     11   1
                                        MIKE HOUGH         FLORIDA      12   1
                                        DAVE LOWRY         FLORIDA      12   1
                                        PETR NEDVED        PITTSBURGH   12   1
                                        MIKE KEANE         COLORADO     13   1
                                        SANDIS OZOLINSH    COLORADO     13   1
                                        STEVE YZERMAN      DETROIT      14   1

NHL SHOT LEADERS
PLAYER             TEAM         GP   S
JOE SAKIC          COLORADO     13  66
CLAUDE LEMIEUX     COLORADO     13  64
JAROMIR JAGR       PITTSBURGH   12  53
MARIO LEMIEUX      PITTSBURGH   12  52
BRETT HULL         ST LOUIS     13  52
 
NHL PLUS/MINUS LEADERS
PLAYER             TEAM         GP +/-
STU BARNES         FLORIDA      12  10
VALERI KAMENSKY    COLORADO     13  10
DAVE LOWRY         FLORIDA      12   9
J.J. DAIGNEAULT    PITTSBURGH   11   8
JAROMIR JAGR       PITTSBURGH   12   8
CLAUDE LEMIEUX     COLORADO     13   7
JOE SAKIC          COLORADO     13   7
SANDIS OZOLINSH    COLORADO     13   7

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995-96 NHL Defensemen Leaders 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

PLAYER             TEAM           GP   G   A PTS +/-  PIM PP SH GW GT   S  PCTG
SANDIS OZOLINSH    COLORADO       13   3  10  13   7    6  2  0  1  1  31   9.7
SERGEI ZUBOV       PITTSBURGH     12   0  12  12   4   22  0  0  0  0  37    .0
PAUL COFFEY        DETROIT        14   4   7  11   4-  30  2  2  1  0  41   9.8
NICKLAS LIDSTROM   DETROIT        14   3   8  11   6    8  1  0  0  0  37   8.1
UWE KRUPP          COLORADO       13   1   9  10   3   27  0  0  0  0  23   4.3
JASON WOOLLEY      FLORIDA         9   2   6   8   3   12  1  0  1  0  21   9.5
AL MACINNIS        ST LOUIS       13   3   4   7   2   20  1  0  0  0  48   6.3
VLAD. KONSTANTINOV DETROIT        14   3   4   7   4   22  0  0  0  0  32   9.4
PAUL LAUS          FLORIDA        11   2   5   7   6   42  0  0  0  0   8  25.0
RAY BOURQUE        BOSTON          5   1   6   7   4-   2  1  0  0  0  28   3.6
BRIAN LEETCH       NY RANGERS     11   1   6   7  11-   4  1  0  0  0  34   2.9
J.J. DAIGNEAULT    PITTSBURGH     11   0   7   7   8   36  0  0  0  0  17    .0
BRUCE DRIVER       NY RANGERS     11   0   7   7   1    4  0  0  0  0  23    .0
GARY SUTER         CHICAGO        10   3   3   6   1    8  2  0  1  0  27  11.1
SERGEI GONCHAR     WASHINGTON      6   2   4   6   1-   4  1  0  0  0  29   6.9
IGOR KRAVCHUK      ST LOUIS       10   1   5   6   0    4  0  0  1  1  14   7.1
ULF SAMUELSSON     NY RANGERS     11   1   5   6   1-  16  0  0  0  0   6  16.7
CHRIS PRONGER      ST LOUIS       13   1   5   6   0   16  0  0  0  0  20   5.0
ERIC DESJARDINS    PHILADELPHIA   12   0   6   6   5-   2  0  0  0  0  26    .0
PETR SVOBODA       PHILADELPHIA   12   0   6   6   6   22  0  0  0  0  17    .0

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995-96 NHL Rookie Leaders 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

NHL ROOKIE POINTS LEADERS
PLAYER             TEAM           GP   G   A PTS +/-  PIM PP SH GW GT   S  PCTG
ERIC DAZE          CHICAGO        10   3   5   8   4    0  0  0  1  0  32   9.4
NIKLAS SUNDSTROM   NY RANGERS     11   4   3   7   1    4  1  0  0  0  27  14.8
DAVE ROCHE         PITTSBURGH     11   2   5   7   3   20  0  0  0  0   9  22.2
ED JOVANOVSKI      FLORIDA        12   1   4   5   4   35  0  0  0  0  19   5.3
SAKU KOIVU         MONTREAL        6   3   1   4   2    8  0  0  0  0  13  23.1
ANDREW BRUNETTE    WASHINGTON      6   1   3   4   5-   0  0  0  0  0   7  14.3
STEPHANE YELLE     COLORADO       13   1   3   4   2    8  0  1  0  0  13   7.7
DAVID WILKIE       MONTREAL        6   1   2   3   1   12  0  0  0  0  11   9.1

NHL ROOKIE GOAL SCORING LEADERS         NHL ROOKIE ASSIST LEADERS
PLAYER             TEAM         GP   G  PLAYER             TEAM         GP   A
NIKLAS SUNDSTROM   NY RANGERS   11   4  ERIC DAZE          CHICAGO      10   5
SAKU KOIVU         MONTREAL      6   3  DAVE ROCHE         PITTSBURGH   11   5
ERIC DAZE          CHICAGO      10   3  ED JOVANOVSKI      FLORIDA      12   4
DAVE ROCHE         PITTSBURGH   11   2  ANDREW BRUNETTE    WASHINGTON    6   3
CORY STILLMAN      CALGARY       2   1  NIKLAS SUNDSTROM   NY RANGERS   11   3
JAROME IGINLA      CALGARY       2   1  STEPHANE YELLE     COLORADO     13   3
MARK KOLESAR       TORONTO       3   1  DAVID WILKIE       MONTREAL      6   2
CHAD KILGER        WINNIPEG      4   1  JOE DZIEDZIC       PITTSBURGH   10   2
TODD WARRINER      TORONTO       6   1  RHETT WARRENER     FLORIDA      12   2
DAVID WILKIE       MONTREAL      6   1  RADEK DVORAK       FLORIDA      12   2
RORY FITZPATRICK   MONTREAL      6   1  STEVE WASHBURN     FLORIDA       1   1
ANDREW BRUNETTE    WASHINGTON    6   1  CORY STILLMAN      CALGARY       2   1
ED JOVANOVSKI      FLORIDA      12   1  JAROME IGINLA      CALGARY       2   1
STEPHANE YELLE     COLORADO     13   1  JON KLEMM          COLORADO      6   1
                                        TODD WARRINER      TORONTO       6   1
                                        VALERI BURE        MONTREAL      6   1
                                        SAKU KOIVU         MONTREAL      6   1
                                        RORY FITZPATRICK   MONTREAL      6   1

NHL ROOKIE POWER PLAY GOAL LEADERS      ROOKIE SHORTHANDED GOAL LEADERS
PLAYER             TEAM         GP  PP  PLAYER             TEAM         GP  SH
NIKLAS SUNDSTROM   NY RANGERS   11   1  MARK KOLESAR       TORONTO       3   1
                                        STEPHANE YELLE     COLORADO     13   1

NHL ROOKIE SHOT LEADERS
PLAYER             TEAM         GP   S
ERIC DAZE          CHICAGO      10  32
NIKLAS SUNDSTROM   NY RANGERS   11  27
RADEK DVORAK       FLORIDA      12  24
VALERI BURE        MONTREAL      6  19
ED JOVANOVSKI      FLORIDA      12  19

NHL ROOKIE PLUS/MINUS LEADERS
PLAYER             TEAM         GP +/-
RHETT WARRENER     FLORIDA      12   6
ERIC DAZE          CHICAGO      10   4
ED JOVANOVSKI      FLORIDA      12   4
DAVE ROCHE         PITTSBURGH   11   3
JAROME IGINLA      CALGARY       2   2
JON KLEMM          COLORADO      6   2
SAKU KOIVU         MONTREAL      6   2
JOE DZIEDZIC       PITTSBURGH   10   2
STEPHANE YELLE     COLORADO     13   2

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995-96 NHL Goaltending Leaders 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

NHL GOALS AGAINST LEADERS (Minimum 180 minutes)
GOALTENDER         TEAM                 GPI MINS   GA    AVG
CHRIS OSGOOD       DETROIT               10  637   17   1.60
OLAF KOLZIG        WASHINGTON             5  341   11   1.94
RICK TABARACCI     CALGARY                3  204    7   2.06
ED BELFOUR         CHICAGO                9  666   23   2.07
RON HEXTALL        PHILADELPHIA          12  760   27   2.13

NHL WIN LEADERS
GOALTENDER         TEAM                 GPI MINS   W    L  
J. VANBIESBROUCK   FLORIDA               12  730   9    3
PATRICK ROY        COLORADO              13  873   9    4
KEN WREGGET        PITTSBURGH             9  599   7    2
CHRIS OSGOOD       DETROIT               10  637   6    4
ED BELFOUR         CHICAGO                9  666   6    3
JON CASEY          ST LOUIS              12  747   6    6
RON HEXTALL        PHILADELPHIA          12  760   6    6

NHL SHUTOUT LEADERS
GOALTENDER         TEAM                 GPI MINS   SO    W  L  
CHRIS OSGOOD       DETROIT               10  637    2    6  4
ED BELFOUR         CHICAGO                9  666    1    6  3
J. VANBIESBROUCK   FLORIDA               12  730    1    9  3
JON CASEY          ST LOUIS              12  747    1    6  6
PATRICK ROY        COLORADO              13  873    1    9  4

NHL SAVE PERCENTAGE LEADERS
GOALTENDER         TEAM                 GPI MINS   GA   SA  SPCTG   W  L  
J. VANBIESBROUCK   FLORIDA               12  730   26  425   .939   9  3
OLAF KOLZIG        WASHINGTON             5  341   11  167   .934   2  3
KEN WREGGET        PITTSBURGH             9  599   23  328   .930   7  2
ED BELFOUR         CHICAGO                9  666   23  323   .929   6  3
CHRIS OSGOOD       DETROIT               10  637   17  217   .921   6  4

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995-96 NHL Player Statistics 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    
Complete player statistics can be found every Monday on 
the LCS: Guide to Hockey web site.  Head over to
http://www.canadas.net/sports/Sportif/ and find these stats and more.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995-96 NHL Goaltending Statistics 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    SW#  GOALTENDER        GPI MINS   AVG  W  L  T EN SO  GA   SA  SV % G  A PIM</B>
     30  CHRIS OSGOOD       10  637  1.60  6  4     1  2  17  217  .922 0  0   2
     29  MIKE VERNON         4  243  2.72  2  2     0  0  11   81  .864 0  0   2
             DET TOTALS     14  882  1.97  8  6     1  2  29  299  .903

     30  GARTH SNOW          1    1   .00  0  0     0  0   0    0  .000 0  0   0
     27  RON HEXTALL        12  760  2.13  6  6     1  0  27  319  .915 0  0   6
             PHI TOTALS     12  763  2.20  6  6     1  0  28  320  .913

     34  J. VANBIESBROUCK   12  730  2.14  9  3     0  1  26  425  .939 0  1   8
     30  MARK FITZPATRICK    1   20  6.00  0  0     0  0   2   11  .818 0  0   0
             FLA TOTALS     12  752  2.23  9  3     0  1  28  436  .936

     35  STEPHANE FISET      1    1   .00  0  0     0  0   0    0  .000 0  0   0
     33  PATRICK ROY        13  873  2.27  9  4     0  1  33  360  .908 0  0   0
             COL TOTALS     13  875  2.26  9  4     0  1  33  360  .908

     30  ED BELFOUR          9  666  2.07  6  3     0  1  23  323  .929 0  0   4
     31  JEFF HACKETT        1   60  5.00  0  1     0  0   5   32  .844 0  0   0
             CHI TOTALS     10  727  2.31  6  4     0  1  28  355  .921

     29  BRUCE RACINE        1    1   .00  0  0     0  0   0    0  .000 0  0   0
     31  GRANT FUHR          2   69   .87  1  0     0  0   1   45  .978 0  0   0
     30  JON CASEY          12  747  2.89  6  6     0  1  36  378  .905 0  2   8
             STL TOTALS     13  818  2.71  7  6     0  1  37  423  .913

     31  KEN WREGGET         9  599  2.30  7  2     1  0  23  328  .930 0  1   0
     35  TOM BARRASSO        4  199  3.32  1  2     2  0  11  115  .904 0  0   2
             PIT TOTALS     12  799  2.78  8  4     3  0  37  446  .917

     37  OLAF KOLZIG         5  341  1.94  2  3     0  0  11  167  .934 0  0   4
     30  JIM CAREY           3   97  6.19  0  1     0  0  10   39  .744 0  0   0
             WSH TOTALS      6  439  2.87  2  4     0  0  21  206  .898

     39  PAT JABLONSKI       1   49  1.22  0  0     0  0   1   17  .941 0  0   0
     41  JOCELYN THIBAULT    6  311  3.47  2  4     0  0  18  188  .904 0  0   0
             MTL TOTALS      6  365  3.12  2  4     0  0  19  205  .907

     31  RICK TABARACCI      3  204  2.06  0  3     0  0   7   84  .917 0  0   0
     37  TREVOR KIDD         2   83  6.51  0  1     0  0   9   40  .775 0  0   0
             CGY TOTALS      4  290  3.31  0  4     0  0  16  124  .871

     35  N. KHABIBULIN       6  359  3.18  2  4     1  0  19  214  .911 0  0   0
             WPG TOTALS      6  360  3.33  2  4     1  0  20  215  .907

     29  FELIX POTVIN        6  350  3.26  2  4     0  0  19  198  .904 0  0   2
     33  DON BEAUPRE         2   20  6.00  0  0     0  0   2   13  .846 0  0   0
             TOR TOTALS      6  373  3.38  2  4     0  0  21  211  .900

     35  MIKE RICHTER       11  661  3.27  5  6     2  0  36  308  .883 0  0   0
             NYR TOTALS     11  665  3.43  5  6     2  0  38  310  .877

     31 *COREY HIRSCH        6  338  3.73  2  3     0  0  21  166  .873 0  0   2
      1  KIRK MCLEAN         1   21  8.57  0  1     0  0   3   12  .750 0  0   0
             VAN TOTALS      6  361  3.99  2  4     0  0  24  178  .865

      1  JEFF REESE          5  198  3.64  1  1     0  0  12  100  .880 0  0   0
     93  DAREN PUPPA         4  173  4.86  1  3     0  0  14   86  .837 0  0   0
             T.B TOTALS      6  371  4.20  2  4     0  0  26  186  .860

     30  BILL RANFORD        4  239  4.02  1  3     0  0  16  112  .857 0  0   0
      1  CRAIG BILLINGTON    1   60  6.00  0  1     0  0   6   28  .786 0  0   2
             BOS TOTALS      5  300  4.40  1  4     0  0  22  140  .843
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