NHL preview tidbits

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 10, 2002

Hot dates

If you like hard hitting, nasty games, these might be your best bets.

TONIGHT: LIGHTNING AT PANTHERS: Tampa Bay's Nikita Alexeev is with AHL Springfield, so Florida tough guy Peter Worrell will have to look elsewhere to avenge Alexeev's knee-to-knee hit last season on Stephen Weiss. These two teams always play rough so chances are Worrell, and Tampa Bay's Andre Roy, will be in the mix.

OCT. 17, AVALANCHE AT KINGS: Los Angeles brutalized Peter Forsberg during last season's playoffs without paying a discernable price. Is it time to even the score or will the Avs wait for a Dec. 29 game in Denver?

OCT. 21, LIGHTNING AT RANGERS: Do Tampa Bay's Andre Roy and Sandy McCarthy have a score to settle after last season's set-to at the St. Pete Times Forum? Roy says no, but added, "If there's stuff to settle, I'll do it."

NOV. 23, ISLANDERS AT RANGERS: The first meeting of the season between the two antagonists, though with Theo Fleury out of the mix, things may calm down some.

NOV. 29, CANADIENS AT BRUINS: Is it time to pay back Boston's Kyle McClaren for the brutal elbow to the face of Montreal's Richard Zednik in last season's playoffs?

JAN. 2, BLACKHAWKS AT ST. LOUIS: It is always contentious when these teams meet. And after the Blues dominated Chicago in last season's playoffs, it is not unreasonable to think the Blackhawks will try to re-establish some equilibrium against their Central Division rivals.

FEB. 25, ISLANDERS AT MAPLE LEAFS: New York rang up Darcy Tucker for his low hip check that removed Mike Peca from last season's playoffs. It has yet to sufficiently retaliate against Gary Roberts for his inexcusable hit from behind that resulted in Kenny Jonsson's eighth concussion when his head smashed into the glass. Roberts had double shoulder surgery and isn't expected back until after the All-Star break.

NEW BEHIND THE BENCH

Mike Babcock, Mighty Ducks

• Can his energy and passion overcome laid-back SoCal attitude?

Pat Burns, Devils

• He landed in a terrific position with a team that doesn't need a major overhaul.

Bruce Cassidy, Capitals

• The AHL coach of the year last season with Grand Rapids, Cassidy, 37, is the NHL's second-youngest coach.

Ken Hitchcock, Flyers

• His biggest job will be bringing the team together.

Dave Lewis, Red Wings

• After nine years working with Scotty Bowman, Lewis knows the ropes.

Dave Tippett, Stars

• An offensive coach, the former Kings assistant has the horses to make it work.

Bryan Trottier, Rangers

• Coaching in New York's media pressure cooker, with a famous name to boot, will be nothing like it was with the Avs.

COLDEST ARENAS

1. America West Arena, Phoenix.

• Considering the usually warm weather outside, the deep freeze inside is startling.

2. Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim.

• A long-sleeved shirt and a jacket are not nearly enough to be comfortable.

3. Madison Square Garden, New York.

• Seats by the Zamboni entrance should come with complementary gloves and hot chocolate.

4. Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, N.J.

• As if the bad sight lines and disinterested crowds weren't bad enough.

5. Office Depot Center, Sunrise.

• You have never been so happy to walk outside into the muggy soup that is South Florida.

YOU DIDN'T HEAR ENOUGH ABOUT ...

1. MIKE KEENAN'S CONTRACT: The Panthers coach signed a contract good through 2007-08, which means Keenan and GM Rick Dudley must co-exist.

2. RANDY ROBITAILLE: The journeyman had a career-high 30 points in 40 games after the Kings traded him to the Penguins.

3. THE KINGS' UNIFORMS: Los Angeles has removed the ugly coat of arms from the front of its jersey and replaced it with a crown, though a much better looking one than when the team colors were -- yikes -- yellow and purple.

4. LOU LAMORIELLO: Known as one of the league's most astute GMs may have hit a brick wall with some moves this summer. He let gritty center Bobby Holik go to the Rangers and then traded Petr Sykora for question mark Jeff Friesen and defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky.

5. PATRICK MARLEAU: The 22-year-old center who has scored at least 20 goals in three of his five seasons in the league, and had six goals and five assists in 12 playoff games last season, might be the Sharks' ace in the hole.

5 TEAMS ON THE RISE

1. SHARKS: Fun to watch with four good lines and Evgeni Nabokov in goal. Add a loud arena, motivation after last season's playoff disappointment, and the Stanley Cup beckons.

2. KINGS: Hard to ignore the team that ran up the league's best record (33-15-8) after Dec. 1, though the team needs goalie Felix Potvin to take a big step step up.

3. STARS: Mike Modano is poised for an MVP season, and Bill Guerin adds grit and power if he can stop assaulting his teammates.

4. CANADIENS: With Jose Theodore in goal and Saku Koivu in remission, anything is possible for the league's most storied franchise.

5. CANUCKS: Lots of offense will pay off if goalie Dan Cloutier rebounds from playoff disappointment.

5 TEAMS GOING NOWHERE

1. THRASHERS: Did you see that 8-1 preseason loss to Tampa Bay?

2. BLUE JACKETS: Rick Nash, the No. 1 pick in the draft, can't grow up soon enough.

3. PREDATORS: A partial ticket refund if they don't make the playoffs? Get ready to pay up.

4. PANTHERS: Rick Dudley has lots of work to do in Sunrise.

5. SABRES: Don't discount the affect of horrendous financial and ownership woes.

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