March 11, 2004
NHL Roundup
Both the Colorado Avalanche and the Vancouver Canucks returned to the ice last night for the first time since the ugly incident Monday night where Todd Bertuzzi attacked Colorado center Steven Moore.
In Edmonton, Adam Foote scored twice, including the game winner in OT, as the Avalanche prevailed over the Oilers, 3-2. Back in Vancouver, one of the players brought in at the trade deadline to bolster the Canucks' lineup, winger Geoff Sanderson, scored a third period goal to force a 1-1 tie with Minnesota.
Last night in Carolina, the best team in the league, the Tampa Bay Lightning, crept closer to the first 100 point season in the history of the franchise with a 4-2 win over the Hurricanes. John Grahame had 31 saves for the Lightning, as Arturs Irbe yielded three goals on only 12 shots before being lifted for an extra skater with 19 seconds remaining. It was Carolina's first game since team captain Ron Francis was traded to Toronto.
In his short stay in Washington, D.C., Mike Grier's incredible work ethic earned him the respect of his teammates, and the role of defacto captain. But that didn't stop Washington GM George McPhee from trading him away for a 19-year old prospect the Caps will need to sign soon if they want to avoid losing him back to the draft.
On Wednesday night, Grier got to play his first game in the uniform of his new team, the Buffalo Sabres, and helped them thoroughly crush his old club, getting a goal and two assists in a 6-0 shutout at MCI Center. In off-ice news, Caps owner Ted Leonsis announced that McPhee and head coach Glen Hanlon will be retained through next season. A lockout next season is a near certainty, and Leonsis is looking to conserve cash. With both men under contract through the end of the 2005 season, it simply doesn't make sense to dismiss them, only to pay two more salaries while the league lies in Limbo.
With a 3-1 win in Phoenix, the Kings vaulted themselves into a tie for sixth place in the Western Conference. Cristobal Huet had 22 saves for L.A.
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I really hope the Mike Grier pick up doesn't turn out to be a Lawyer Milloy one game wonder victory! I guess we'll find out tonight in Buffalo as the hated B's come to town (who are 3-1 against Buffalo this year).
Posted by:
at March 11, 2004 11:12 AM
Clearly we know my bias here, so I'm not trying to criticize, but any reason Eric why the Kings never warrant more than a sentence on your NHL round-ups? Especially this year when, if they somehow miraculously make the playoffs, Andy Murray should run away with Coach of the Year honors?
Posted by:
at March 11, 2004 01:00 PM
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06:41 AM