Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Hull? Robitaille? No, Hasek key addition

Goalie has Red Wings on verge of their 10th Stanley Cup, his first.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published June 13, 2002

DETROIT -- His teammates call him Kramer.

Not simply because Red Wings goalie Dominik Hasek looks a little like the high-haired character from Seinfeld, but because he has a sense of humor.

"He's a funny guy," left wing Brendan Shanahan said. "The locker room is always laughing, and he really fits in well."

Who knew?

Hasek is many things; a player so serious about practice he slams his stick when he allows a goal, a player so superstitious he declined to sit on a stage for a media session and the best goalie never to have won a Stanley Cup.

But funny?

"I don't even want to go into it," said center Sergei Fedorov, a smile spreading across his face.

That probably was best because as far as Hasek is concerned, Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final against the Hurricanes tonight at Joe Louis Arena is serious business.

With a 3-1 series lead, the Red Wings can clinch their 10th title and Hasek can complete the triple crown of goaltending: a world championship, Olympic gold and an NHL title.

It is why Hasek, after nine seasons with the Sabres, asked to be traded to the Red Wings. It is why he refused to answer questions from a stage.

Instead, Hasek stood in front of it, surrounded by a crush of television cameras and microphones.

"I am sort of superstitious," the 37-year-old native of the Czech Republic said. "In the past, I was standing on the stage, and we were in the next round of the playoffs and we lost. This year, I said, "I'll go on the stage but not in the playoffs.' "

Talk all you want about the addition to Detroit's lineup of Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille, both of whom scored 30 goals. The most crucial addition was Hasek, a six-time Vezina Trophy winner and two-time league MVP acquired last summer for Viktor Kozlov and this year's first-round draft choice.

"The addition of the goalie, for me, made the most difference," Fedorov said. "He's been a very good goaltender all year. You can see his work ethic. He's a really committed player. He gets you going."

"We've had strong goaltending for quite a while here," captain Steve Yzerman said of Cup winners Chris Osgood and Mike Vernon. "But Dominik coming in, it gives you a guy that cannot just win a game but, potentially, can put together a string of games where you are not playing your best. So it was an upgrade in goal."

Hasek has a record six playoff shutouts this season, one more than he had in 65 regular-season games. His 1.89 goals-against average is ahead of the 2.15 regular-season average, and his .919 save percentage is better than his .915 mark.

He also has not allowed a goal in 127 minutes, 13 seconds.

Hasek has not had to be spectacular against the Hurricanes due, in great part, to a Red Wings defense (forwards included) that doesn't get nearly enough credit. Hasek has faced just 80 shots during regulation play.

He has been active, though, roaming the boards at times to get to loose pucks and even trying passes to start the offensive rush.

"I enjoy it," Hasek said. "I do it because my goal is to help my teammates, to prepare the puck for them. If I see they are going to get hit, I'd rather just play the puck around the boards, even though it might be a giveaway."

Even if there is, getting the puck past Hasek's unorthodox, flopping style, made more dramatic by his long, lean, dare we say Kramer-like physique, is a whole other story.

"His flexibility is scary," center Kris Draper said. "Some of those saves he makes, you can call them lucky. But he actually works on stuff like that."

Hasek, who made $8-million this season, said he has not decided if he will retire because "there is still some hockey to be played."

"It's all about winning," he said. "I really can't enjoy it unless we win the final game."

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright