So you think coach John Tortorella was hard on Vinny Lecavalier? How about the public tongue-lashing Wild coach Jacques Lemaire gave star Marian Gaborik?
"One of the best players and you can't count on him," Lemaire told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
After a 2-0 loss to the Oilers on Nov.13, Lemaire was astounded Gaborik did not come off the ice in the final minute: "He can do that in a garage league, Texaco vs. Mobil. There you can play two minutes and wait for a pass and score."
Gaborik, a 30-goal scorer last season, has two goals and three assists in 11 games after signing on Oct.31 a three-year, $9.2-million contract.
"He could not practice and go on the ice and do exactly what he wants - which is not work - and get points," Lemaire said. "That is the worst scenario. If he's like that, he'll never be a leader. He'll be a bad example or a guy who is rich and doesn't work hard."
Gaborik would not respond but teammate Andrew Brunette said, "Marian's got to remember to use people around him. He's trying to validate himself holding out."
Tune in, stay warm
The Heritage Classic outdoor game between the Oilers and Canadiens drew an average 2.747-million television viewers in Canada, making it the CBC's highest-rated NHL regular-season game. The record was 2.161-million for Wayne Gretzky's farewell game in 1999.
CBC's Hockey Night in Canada usually averages 1.3-million viewers. The record audience for a sporting event in Canada is the 10-million who watched Canada's gold-medal victory over the United States in hockey at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.
Five questions with Lightning defenseman Cory Sarich:
Q: When did you start doing crossword puzzles?
A: A couple of years ago to pass the time. I never had any interest in them but I started doing a few and got hooked.
Q: Do you do the New York Times puzzle?
A: It's pretty darn hard.
Q: Have you gotten better over time?
A: Absolutely. You're able to recognize words. There are words common to almost all puzzles.
Q: Such as?
A: Oboe. A member of the woodwind family. It's in every second puzzle.
Q: Has doing the puzzles sharpened your thinking?
A: No. It's just something I do, like reading a book. I guess that could sharpen your mental capacity, but I just read fiction.
Around the league
Commissioner Gary Bettman took a shot at the players' union during Heritage Classic festivities. "The union is in a stage now where they're concentrating on meeting with players and engaging in as much public-relations rhetoric as they can," he said. "When they get through that cycle maybe there'll be an opportunity to begin in earnest the work that needs to be done. ... Bettman said the average game length is 2 hours, 19 minutes. That is two minutes shorter than last season, when the average fell by 16 minutes. ... How about Alexandre Daigle? A washout with the Senators, Flyers, Lightning, Rangers and Penguins, the right wing is Minnesota's second-leading scorer with a team-high eight goals and three assists. ... How do you explain the Senators? Predicted by many to at least reach the Stanley Cup final, they are tied with the Canadiens for last in the Northeast. Goalie Patrick Lalime said it is time to put up or shut up. "Everything is magnified when you're not winning," he told the Ottawa Sun. "You don't want to panic and start getting a lot of thoughts in your head. That's what's happening a bit right now." ... When Panthers defenseman Mathieu Biron scored on his brother, Martin, a Sabres goalie, it was the first time in 23 years - since Phil Esposito scored on Tony - that a brother scored on a brother. "I hope he doesn't quit," Mathieu said.
Quotable
"You know, the '70s and '80s, the players then spoiled you (the media) and the fans. Now the game is not the same anymore and everybody is panicking. "What the hell is going on? It's not the same. It's a boring game."' - former Canadiens great Guy Lafleur.
- Compiled by Times staff writer Damian Cristodero using personal interviews and information from other news organizations.
