Missing postseason hurts teams on, off ice
By TOM JONES
Published March 26, 2006
One of the most amazing streaks in sports officially ended last week. The Blues were eliminated from playoff contention and will miss the postseason for the first time in 25 seasons.
The Blues hadn't missed since 1979. It was the longest current streak in the four major North American sports and the third longest in history behind the Bruins (1968-96, 29 seasons) and Blackhawks (1970-97, 28 seasons).
The Blues have never won a Stanley Cup. Yet missing the playoffs does damage, and it's something the Lightning might feel if it misses the postseason, something former Blues great Bernie Federko keenly points out.
"(The playoffs mean) grabbing the fan that maybe is not the die-hard fan, the one that's sitting back because he doesn't want to watch hockey until the playoffs are on," Federko said. "That's a hockey fan that you hope will get excited about the playoffs and maybe next year he'll become a regular hockey fan.
"When you do not make the playoffs, when you do not excite the people about your performance, you're going to lose some of those fans. And you can't afford to do that."
Think of how many fans the Lightning attracted in the past two postseasons. St. Louis is a baseball town first but a solid hockey town, too. Maybe more so than Tampa Bay. So not only might a nonplayoff Lightning team miss out on attracting new fans, it might lose a few who jumped aboard the bandwagon in 2004 only because the Stanley Cup run was so chic.
MAKING POINTS: Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby believes he is on a short leash with NHL officials. Last week, he was elbowed in the head, and when he complained, he ended up getting a rarely called "abuse of official" penalty.
"I'm sure tons of guys do the same things, but I seem to be watched closer," Crosby said. "I'm not saying it's right. I'm not saying it's what I want to be known as. But it's an emotional game, and I'd be lying if I said I'm not going to get caught up in a game."
A day after Crosby's comments, Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson took a shot by saying Capitals rookie Alex Ovechkin doesn't whine like others (read: Crosby).
Crosby downplayed it, but the comments fired up Pens coach Michel Therrien , who said, "The kid has been terrific for our franchise, and he's doing more than he has been asked for by the NHL. He's a true example for a lot of young players, and it's sad to hear comments like this because there used to be a time that what was on the ice stayed on the ice."
CZECHS AND BALANCES: Maybe the Senators won't be in trouble after all if goalie Dominik Hasek cannot recover from his injured groin. Backup Ray Emery looked a tad shaky before the Olympic break but is 11-1-1 entering Saturday since.
"He has the possibility of being the guy here for a long time," coach Bryan Murray said. "So for a guy like Ray to get a chance to develop is huge, and getting the confidence of the team is big, too. To get back in the race, we needed that type of performance from our goaltender, and he has given us a chance to win in every game."
Murray said he would not be worried if he has to start the playoffs with Emery.
DECADE OF EXCELLENCE: The Red Wings have reached 100 points for the sixth consecutive season.
"That's just unbelievable," said coach Mike Babcock , in his first season with Detroit. "People here don't realize how hard that is. I've been in other places, and (a 100-point season) just doesn't happen. Obviously, it's about great ownership and a commitment to success."
LONG ISLAND DOINGS: Vancouver assistant general manager Steve Tambellini is the guess to replace Mike Milbury as Islanders GM this summer. There was talk that Red Deer coach Brent Sutter was interested, but it's more likely he will coach for brother Darryl in Calgary.
Whoever takes over would be wise to retain interim coach Brad Shaw , the ex-Lightning assistant.
THRASHING AROUND: The Thrashers have set the franchise mark for victories and home victories. And GM Don Waddell 's recent playoff guarantee is looking better every day.
ICE CHIPS: Good news from Buffalo. Madeleine Ruff , the 11-year-old daughter of coach Lindy Ruff , had a tumor about the size of a quarter removed from her brain and is expected to make a full recovery. ... Entering Saturday, Carolina's power play was 5-for-56 since Erik Cole got hurt. ... Don't be surprised if Craig Patrick does not return as GM in Pittsburgh. There are rumors he could end up running the show in Boston. ... Goalie Dwayne Roloson lost 11 one-goal games in Minnesota and entering Saturday had lost three in Edmonton. He hasn't been bad, but he hasn't been the savior the Oilers wanted. ... How much does Phoenix miss the injured Ladislav Nagy ? He hasn't played since Jan.29, but he led the team in points (56) until Shane Doan passed him Thursday.
Information from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Detroit News was used in this report.