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Tuesday, December 29, 1998
Billington guards trade secrets
VANCOUVER (CP) -- There's nothing magical about stepping in to replace one of the NHL's best goaltenders, but that doesn't mean Craig Billington of the Colorado Avalanche is about to give away any trade secrets.Billington was forced into duty when starting goaltender Patrick Roy suffered a sprained left knee in a Boxing Day loss to Dallas. With Roy out for seven to 10 days, the load has fallen on Billington to keep Colorado in the Western Conference playoff battle.
Billington turned in a brilliant performance Sunday against the Calgary Flames, making 30 saves in a 2-1 victory. He also came within 29 seconds of recording his eighth career shutout and first since Nov. 11, 1997.
"Preparation is a big part of it," said Billington, who was expected to start Tuesday night when Colorado played the Vancouver Canucks.
"If you do the things you have control of, and are in your power, you give yourself the best opportunity for success. There's not much magic to it."
But Billington clammed up like a magician when asked to explain how he prepares.
"I don't want to get into it too detailed to be honest," said the London, Ont., native, who has a 5-4-0 record and 2.68 goals-against record in 10 games this season.
"I would say I try to cover all the different spectrums."
Maybe Billington wanted to keep mum, but Colorado coach Bob Hartley spilled the beans on his surreptitious methods.
"He's a guy that really analyses the game," said Hartley.
"He watches lots of videos on the other team, he does lots of videos on his own team. He's a very technical goalie."
Billington, 32, has done his share of travelling around the league. After playing junior with Belleville of the Ontario Hockey League, he was the New Jersey Devils' second choice, 23rd overall, in the 1984 draft.
He spent parts of five seasons with the Devils, but also toiled in the American Hockey League and had a 34-game stint with Canada's national team in 1990-91.
His best season was with the Devils in 1992-93 when he had a 21-16-4 record and played in the NHL all-star game.
The next year he was traded to the Ottawa Senators. In April 1995, Ottawa dealt him to Boston. Billington was signed as a free agent by the Florida Panthers in September 1996, but then Colorado claimed him in the NHL waver draft.
In just under 2 1/2 years with Colorado, playing behind Roy, Billington has played in 56 games and has a 24-19-6 record prior to facing the Canucks.
"We know what we are going to get from him," said Hartley. "We feel very comfortable with him."
For his part, Billington is happy to have found a job in Denver.
"I've been treated very well, treated with respect," he said. "If you get treated with respect, that's 90 per cent of the battle."