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Friday, November 19, 1999
Hey, this could happen
Sharks, Senators are no longshot to meet in Stanley Cup final
Eight seasons ago they staged an inglorious battle for what was then referred to as the Alexandre Daigle Cup.
Seven months from now, they could very well be playing for the real deal -- the Stanley Cup.
Last night's game only reconfirmed that the Senators and Sharks are among the very best in their respective conferences; Ottawa the top defensive team in the NHL, San Jose the top offensive team in the league.
So much has changed since 1992-93, when both clubs finished with 24 points and the Senators were awarded the first pick overall in the following entry draft by virtue of having won one less game (10) than the Sharks. Heading into last night's mid-November meeting, both had already bettered those marks with 12 victories apiece.
Each team could greatly improve its chances if the once-rumoured (albeit highly unlikely) deal sending Alexei Yashin to the Sharks for a package including Patrick Marleau ever transpired.
But either way it says here Ottawa and San Jose are in for longer seasons than any other NHL clubs.
STOPS AND STARTS: The Senators went into last night's game having lost 42 man-games to injury -- and in the second period they lost their (big) Man (in a fluke) Injury. Andre Roy had just finished a strong shift and was booting it to the bench when his skate connected with one belonging to Magnus Arvedson. Roy fell and crashed into the boards hard, and although he would later play one more shift, he was soon gone for the night because of the sore right knee ... Only moments later, Shaun Van Allen was sitting with Roy in the room after he was cut by Dave Lowry's high stick near the right eye. Van Allen did return, however ... In what is becoming known as Open Season On Goalies in the NHL, a Marian Hossa first-period goal was actually called back when Arvedson crashed into Mike Vernon just before the puck entered the net. The problem -- it sure looked like Arvedson was pushed by a Shark.
BETWEEN PERIODS: It's all fun and games until Spartacat knocks the beer out of your hands, as one guy in the expensive seats found out in the first ... Mike "The Fish" Fisher, who stepped around one pylon dressed in teal early on, saw time at left wing on the Senators power play. Remember, at 19 The Fish is young enough to be Grant Ledyard's son ... In his first game as a Senator, the 37-year-old Ledyard played just well enough to be claimed by another NHL team before he clears waivers today at noon ... The Senators' black and blue line situation would be in worst shape if the defencemen had to face Owen Nolan more often. The Sharks' punishing captain has emerged as the No. 1 power forward in the league.
OFF THE POSTS: Chris Phillips will tell you he backed in too close to Ron Tugnutt in allowing Alexander Korolyuk to score San Jose's first goal. Believe him ... Vernon almost left his right arm behind when his stick got caught in the end boards -- and he kept moving forward -- while playing a puck behind the net ... Joe Juneau could not get the puck in a wide open cage with about seven minutes left in the third ... Vernon spent almost every TV timeout standing at the Sharks bench with his mask off, leading you to believe he was warm as well as hot ... Overheard last night: "Wayne and Janet Gretzky are going to buy a house in Montreal. They want to live in a city that doesn't have an NHL franchise." ... Last night's bottom line -- Vernon outplayed Tugnutt.
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