Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 8

5D DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1999 HOCKEY REPORT NOTES NHL Standings D.C. makes its annual trip to MLS title game Friday's stars: Maxim Afinogenov. Sabres, scored two goals and assisted on another as Buffalo beat the Atlanta Ag reat day EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division Thrashers 4-0. Claude Lapointe, Islanders, scored two goals in a 2:20 span of the third period as New York MLS Cup '99 tomorrow for the Great One RT Pts GF GA New Jersey 10 6 3 1 24 51 43 Philadelphia 10 7 3 1 24 57 46 Y. Rangers 6 11 3 0 15 43 56 Pittsburgh 5 9 3 2 15 55 57 N.Y.

Islanders 5 9 2 0 12 32 48 Northeast Division Ottawa 12 8 1 1 26 58 46 Toronto 11 7 3 1 26 60 43 Boston 9 6 5 0 23 55 48 Buffalo 8 10 2 0 18 54 56 Montreal 5 14 1 1 12 38 55 Southeast Division Florida 10 7 2 2 24 51 45 Carolina 8 7 4 0 20 46 50 Washington 6 8 4 1 17 48 56 Tampa Bay 7 10 1 1 16 51 58 Atlanta 4 11 2 1 11 37 64 of Fame has set up its largest exhibit, a 2.300 sauare foot showcase with WESTERN CONFERENCE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TORONTO As a small boy, Wayne Gretzky would gaze longingly at the photos and plaques of hockey THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FOXBORO, Mass. It's getting to the point where it wouldn't be a Major League Soccer championship game unless D.C. United is playing. Washington plays in its fourth consecutive MLS Cup today when it takes on the Los Angeles Galaxy a rematch of the inaugural title game in 1996. The United has returned to the title game every year since then which is also every year the league has been in existence winning the championship again in 1997.

But the Galaxy is making its first trip back to the Cup. "I'd like to thank the D.C. United for inviting us to their annual championship game and letting us be a part of it," Los Angeles coach Sigi Schmid joked this week. "They like to change opponents every year. We'd like to be a part of it a little more regularly." The first game was also at Foxboro Stadium, with D.C.

over Central Division RT Pts 12 5 3 1 28 12 6 1 0 25 7 9 1 1 16 4 11 4 1 13 Northwest Division Detroit St. Louis Nashville Chicago defeated the Colorado Avalanche 3-2. Paul Kariya, Mighty Ducks, scored his 400th NHL point, an assist on Fredrik Olausson's goal, to help Anaheim defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2. Stl got ft Paul Coffey scored his first goal of the season with 9:14 left in the third period to give the Carolina Hurricanes a 3-3 tie with the Washington Capitals on Friday night. Coffey is the career scoring leader among NHL detensemen with 1,489 points.

Coffey was a healthy scratch in 11 of the team's 19 games. Stopper swap: The Phoenix Coyotes traded Mikhail Shtalenkov, the NHLs player of the month in October, to the Florida Panthers for Sean Burke in an exchange of goalies. The deal apparently means the Coyotes are ready to complete the season without goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, who is holding out in a contract dispute. Phoenix also gave Florida a fourth-round pick in next year's draft, while the Panthers gave the Coyotes a fifth-round selection. Sidelined: Atlanta Thrashers center Patrik Stefan, the No.

1 overall pick in the NHL draft, sustained a minor concussion Friday night in the first period against Buffalo. The injury was a troubling reminder of Stefan's history in the International Hockey League, where he sustained at least two concussions last season. An MRI exam will be done as a precautionary measure and Stefan won't make the trip to Buffalo for the second half of a home-and-home series. Stat: Calgary won tor the first time in regulation this season, beating the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 on Friday night. The Flames are 6-12-2, with the five previous victories coming in overtime.

Suspended for life: The United Hockey League banned Stu Monan, a backup goalie for the Saginaw Gears, for life Friday for swinging his stick at the crowd. The league said Monan left the bench during a game Nov. 12 against Mohawk Valley and "began swinging his stick in a careless and reckless tashion toward the crowd." Scouting: Maxim Kuznetsov and Bob Wren scored two goals each to lead the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks to a 7-4 victory over the Saint John Flames in the AHL on Friday. Kuznetsov went 60 games last season without scoring a goal. Speaking: "I didn't like the way they treated me and I give some extra effort every time I come in and play them.

I don't hold a grudge, but it still is in the back of my mind because I wanted to GF 66 59 45 48 57 54 45 47 23 20 18 14 Vancouver Colorado Edmonton Calgary legends honored at the Hall of Fame. Now the Great One takes his place among them although he will stand apart as the best ever to play the game. Just seven months after ending Pacific Division 73 67 61 56 41 13 9 2 1 12 5 4 0 11 6 3 0 10 9 2 1 8 8 3 0 29 28 25 23 19 San Jose Los Angeles Phoenix Anaheim Dallas Matchup Los Angeles Galaxy plays D.C. United at 1 :30 p.m. today for the MLS championship.

Television ABC. Head to head The teams split their two games this season with Los Angeles winning 2-1 and D.C. winning 2-0. All-time series D.C. leads 8-4.

Past champions 1998 Chicago def. D.C, 2-0; 1997 D.C. def. Colorado, 2-1; 1996 D.C. def.

Los Angeles, 3-2 (OT). Local connection D.C. United assistant coach Dave Sarachan is a Brighton native. eraging 2.03 goals per game, against the top defense of Los Angeles, which allowed an average of 0.91 goals. The two teams split their regular-season matches, but Washington is 8-4 against the Galaxy overall.

"Since the first game, they have been the dominant team in the league," said Galaxy defender Robin Fraser, one of five Los Angeles players in his second MLS Cup. "It's their league for someone to take away from them." The Galaxy is the last team with a chance to do that this year, at least. Los Angeles went 24-8 in the regular season for the best record in the Western Conference, just one game behind Washington's 23-9 East-leading mark. "It's a sexy final, I think, because both teams have demonstrated over the course of the year they're the two best teams in the MLS," United head coach Thomas Ron-gen said. Gretzky everything from his first skates at age 2 to the net that caught his record-setting 802nd goaL Bob Stellick, an organizer of the induction, said 175 journalists from North America and Europe have been accredited, with 20 cameras taping, more than any previous ceremony.

"It's been a long time since Bobby Orr and a long time since Gordie Howe," Cole said. "There've been so few players who stand so far above the others. That's the kind of company he's keeping. "It's a milestone that has to be observed." While two others will be inducted with Gretzky former NHL referee-in-chief Ian "Scotty" Morrison and longtime referee Andy Van Helle-mond the focus will be on the fair-haired forward who skated with the right side of his jersey tucked in, a habit from his childhood when his special ability put him in oversized uniforms against older kids. Gretzky said he had fond memo Overtime losses will count both as a loss and a regulation tie.

YESTERDAY'S GAMES New Jersey 3, Ottawa 1 Washington at Boston Atlanta at Buffalo N.Y. Rangers at Toronto Tampa Bay at Philadelphia Dallas at Carolina Pittsburgh at Florida San Jose at St. Louis Vancouver at Nashville Montreal at Los Angeles Detroit at Edmonton coming a two-goal deficit and torrential rain to win 3-2 in overtime. Today's weather forecast calls for highs in the 60s and clouds. "I remember waking up that win that Cup.

Islanders torward uaude morning and seeing a monsoon hit," said United defender Jeff Lapointe, traded to Calgary from Colorado dur Chicago at Phoenix TODAY'S GAMES ing the 1995-96 season, when the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup. N.Y. Islanders at Edmonton, 8 p.m. Guns and hoses: Members of the New Jersey FRIDAY'S GAMES Agoos, one of eight D.C. players who were in the '96 game.

"It was less of a soccer game than it was just trying to survive. Hopefully, this weekend will be different and State Police and the Atlantic City Fire Department will meet in a benefit hockey game Nov. 27 his NHL career, Gretzky will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame tomorrow. The Hall waived the normal three-year waiting period for the loth time in honor of the 38-year-old Gretzky, who holds 61 NHL records and has his name engraved four times on the Stanley Cup. More than that, he has become a national treasure in his homeland for being the best at a sport Canadians embrace as part of their identity and heritage.

And he did it without the scandals and public ego that dominate modern sports. "He's in many ways remained the boy next door," said Cam Cole, a columnist for The National Post, who covered Gretzky in Edmonton. "You can count the times he ever said anything even slightly intemperate on the fingers of one hand." Hoopla surrounding Gretzky's induction is unprecedented the Hall Carolina 3, Washington 3, tie Buffalo 4, Atlanta 0 at the new Flyers Skate Zone on Albany Avenue in Atlantic City, N.J. Proceeds will benefit the Juve N.Y. Islanders 3, Colorado 2 Calgary 3, Detroit 1 nile Diabetes Foundation of South Jersey.

Tneir own listing: NHL medical and equipment we'll see a much more attractive soccer fame." Anaheim 4, Chicago 2 personnel have put together a media guide listing all the trainers and equipment people for every NHL club, with biographies of each. The book is This year, the matchup pits the NHL Summaries league's No. 1 offense, with D.C. av- similar to one produced annually by trainers in the NFL. Both books have sports-medicine glossaries, but the hockey guide takes it a step fur Devils 3, Senators 1 ries of the hall as a boy.

He grew up in Brantford, not far from the Hall in Toronto when it was on the Canadian National Exhibition grounds. "I used to stare for hours," Gretzky said shortly after being elected. "I never had enough of it. I never thought I'd be a part of it. I'm not sure too many kids think they'll be part of the HalL It was beyond my wildest dreams." 0-1 Ottawa 1 0 New Jersey 1 0 2-3 ther with front and back views of the body's skeletal and muscle structure, which is helpful when you run across a term like zygoma (the cheek Snow Tires Handle Winter's Worst.

First period 1, Ottawa, Arvedson 6 (Bonk), :1. 2, New Jersey, Nemchinov 2 (Gomez, Morrison), 12:39. Second period None. Third period 3, New Jersey, Gomez 5, (Nieder-mayer, Daneyko), 7:25, 4, New Jersey, Stevens 3 (Lemieux, Holik), 19:29 (en). Shots on goal Ottawa 9-11-10 30.

New Jersey 10-7-16 33. Power-play opportunities Ottawa 0 of New Jersey 0 of 4. Goalies Ottawa, Tugnutt 7-5-1 (32 shois-30 saves). New Jersey, Brodeur 10-4-3, Ter-reri (3:13 third, 1-1), Brodeur (5:44 third, 29-28). Atten-dance 15,027 FRIDAY Mighty Ducks 4, Blackhawks 2 Rookie sparks Devils with winning goal aV bone).

"It took us two years and our own money to get that out," Turk Evers, the Flyers' equipment manager, said. Broadcast man: Jon Litner, former senior vice president of sports programming for ABC, has joined the NHL as executive vice president and chief operating officer. He'll be responsible for the management, development and planning of all business operations in the league office, including broadcasting, communications, new business technologies, special events, and international competition. Sounds as if that includes the 2002 Olympics, eh? quite happy to get rid of their contracts." Say what? See if we got this right. Wayne Huizen-ga buys every big baseball contract he can pry loose a few years back so his Florida Marlins can win a World Series.

Then a year later, he dumps every big contract that won him a championship to save bucks. He buys a hockey team, the Florida Panthers, and then offers to sell stock in the club to offset his financial burden. He moves from the Miami Arena to Sunrise, into a brand-new home to TTu rV) Chicago 1 0 1 2 Anaheim 2 2 0 4 First period 1, Chicago, Amonte 10 (Gilmour, Eriksson), 2:34. 2, Anaheim, Mclnnis 6 (Leclerc, Havelid), 4:20. 3, Anaheim, Rucchin 4, 12:27.

Second period 4, Anaheim, Mavelid 1 (Nielsen, Don-ato), 6:20. 5, Anaheim, Olausson 4 (Kariyaj, 18:59 (pp). Third period 6, Chicago, Gilmour 4 (Eriksson, Zham- NHL Highfehts GRASPIC STUDLESS State-of-the-art studless snow tire Superior ice and snow grip Firm compound for longer, even wear ARCTIC ALPIN STUDLESS Breakthrough tread compound for better grip Less clogging of tread for better traction Siping for better winter traction nov), 11:27. Snots on goal Chicago 9-14-9 32. Anaheim 9-13-6 28.

Power-play opportunities Chicago 0 of 3: Anaheim 1 of 5. Goalies Chicago, Thibaull 1-7-3 (28 shots-24 saves). Anaheim, Hebert 8-8-1 (32-30). Attendance 15.264 Flames 3, Red Wings 1 Detroit 0 0 1 1 Out the Door Pricing, No Extras, Everl Call for Additional Sizes and Prices Out tha Door Pricing, No Extras, Everl Call for Additional Sizes and Prices Calgary 111-3 4t Selanne charged Teemu Selanne, the NHLs top goal scorer last season, was charged Friday with endangering public safety during a head-on collision in July in Helsinki, Finland. The Anaheim Mighty Ducks star was traveling at 80-90 mph on a narrow gravel road when he hit a slow-moving car near Ikaalinen, about 125 miles northwest of Helsinki.

Selanne was training for a rally road race. Selanne was unhurt but the driver of the other car, Kalervo Kummola, president of the Finnish Ice Hockey Federation, broke a leg. make his team more competitive financially (read: luxury boxes), but doesn't like the fact that he's not making a huge profit on his club, so he puts the team up for sale last week for about $180 million. When was the last time an owner moved into a new arena and a year later wanted out because he was unhappy with the balance sheet? Shanny rumors. A lot of scouts were in the press box Thursday night when the Philadelphia Flyers hosted the Dallas Stars.

Given Dallas' injury situation and the rumors out of Detroit that the Red Wings want to dump Brendan Shanahan's $4 million salary, it makes sense that the Wings might want to do a deal with Dallas. Two scouts from Detroit showed up for the game. Is this fair? Hard to believe that the Penguins would actually consider firing Kevin Constantine. He is easily one of the best coaches in hockey and a salary bargain at $400,000 a year. Constantine has taken a club with one superstar (Jaromir Jagr), one aging, injury-prone goalie (Tom Barrasso), and a cast of thousands and kept the team competitive the last three seasons, while the team saw Mario Lemieux retire, gave up on Petr Nedved coming back from Europe, and The advantages are clear.

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WINTER SLALOM Improves traction in snow, ice and slush Gripping edges Bold new look First period 1, Calgary, Lindsay 2 (Dubinsky), 2:02. Second period 2, Calgary, Housley 5 (Bure), 19:10. Third period 3, Calgary, Domenichelli 1 (Savard, Housley), 1:28 (pp). 4, Detroil, Kozlov 6 (Murphy, Duchesne), 11:57. Shots on goal Detroit 7-14-8 29.

Calgary 7-7-6 20. Power-play opportunities Detroit 0 of 4: Calgary 1 of 3. Goalies Detroit. Osgood 10-2-3 (20 shots-17 saves). Calgary, Brathwaite 1-4-1 (29-28).

Attendance 15,358 Islanders 3, Avalanche 2 N.Y. Islanders 0 1 2-3 Colorado 0 1 1-2 First period None. Second period 1 New York. Green 2 (Brewer. Webb).

4:22 2, Colorado, C.Drury 5 (Hedjuk. Hmote), 15:39. Third period 3, New York. Lapointe 2. 2:03.

4. New York, Lapointe 3 (Pilon, Odjickj. 5:23. 5, Colorado, Rol-ston 4 (Ozolinsh. Yelle), 19:4.

Shots on goal New York 7-8-8 23. Colorado 10-10-12 32. Power-play opportunities New York 0 of 2: Colorado 0 of 5. Goalies New Vork. Potvin 5-8-1 (32 shots-30 saves).

Colorado, Roy 6-8-2 (23-20). Atten- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. Even though he is the earlyfrontrun-ner, Scott Gomez of the New Jersey Devils isn't thinking about being the NHL rookie of the year award yet. Why worry about something like that when playing is just so much fun now? Gomez added to his rookie credentials as he set up a goal and scored the winner in the third period as the Devils defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-1 yesterday, extending their home unbeaten streak to 10 games. "It's not a big deal, talking to buddies back home is more important," the 19-year-old Gomez said of the rookie award.

"I'm just having a great time." It's a lot more fun than Gomez's first season in the pros with Tri City of the Western Hockey League. "It's all about winning," Gomez said. "My first year back in Tri City we won 17 games. Every win was like the Stanley Cup. It's fun right now coming to the rink for each game, knowing we have a shot to win." Gomez, who is believed to be the first Latino to play in the NHL, is a big reason for that.

Not only does his five goals and 16 assists lead all rookies, but the 5-foot-u native of Alaska creates excitement with every shift "He might be the gamebreaker Out the Door Pricing, No Extras, Everl Call for Additional Sizes and Prices STEEL BELTED jSNOVVTEE! 50,000 WARRANTY Starting as low as 18.007 SCORING LEADERS Through Friday GP Save upAto A PTS 19 33 4 for we've been looking for for years," said veteran defenseman Ken Daneyko, who started the play that set up Gomez's goal. "He's very poised for his age." Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur, who gave up a bad goal to Magnus Arvedson on the Senators' first shot, wondered aloud if Gomez is ever going to take a night off. "He really has great skills," said Brodeur, who made 28 saves in improving his record to 10-4-3. Sergei Nemchinov scored the other goal in the first period and defenseman Scott Stevens added an empty net goal for New Jersey, watched as Ron Francis left for Carolina. And all that was before rumors of the club's bankruptcy.

Sure, the Penguins are struggling, but Constantine has put up with so much off the ice that he could not control. He deserves the benefit of the doubt until at least the new year. Stiffed: You have to think a few general managers (Philadelphia's Bob Clarke being one of them) around the NHL got a chuckle out of Joe Murphy practicing with the Rangers for four days in Rye, N.Y, saying he wanted to sign, then ending up signing with the Boston Brums after going AWOL. This infuriated Rangers GM Neil Smith. When Murphy's equipment arrived in Boston, he noticed that his sticks had been cut in half and there was only one skate in the bag.

Done deal: The folks in Denver finally reached agreement with billionaire developer Donald Sturm, who purchased me Colorado Avalanche, the Denver Nuggets and the Pepsi Center tor $461 million. The agreement guarantees that the two clubs will remain in Denver through the length of their 25-year leases at the Pepsi Center in the RADIAL Starting as low as 4 for 15580R13 Out the Door! Lower than Anyone Dse! Jagr.Pit Nolan, SJ fiecchi. Phi Turgeon, Stl Bure. Cal Damphousse. SJ SJ Bonk.

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Ana Amonte. Chi Kapanen. Car Francs. Car event of Sturm's death. ft FIGHT NailGanr" Tires Rookie happy, even if goals are scarce Ameiis tonight Buy 4 Uniroyal Laredo mo Show Ori iSsv 20 OFF on a Computerized 4-Wheel Alignment BY STAFF WRITER KEVIN OKLOBZIJA It took 12 games for Brian Campbell to finally score a goal in the American Hockey League, a wait (not NailGard) Tires and Receive $40.00 in Service Coupons.

Valid at anyACCC Nationwide. tO T1W HO I sapj.Bp, 1 Depot with the I purthoseot 4 UirraiP 5Jif NeillOorar- VjsCJ I Tare No Tint Purchase Necessary Parts and Labor Extra a By Appointment Onry Not VaM wit Any Other Oct 1 Nw MtMathOKsr Sat Stow tor Dxasi ttmf iixx Sooa Oct 1 -Nr Set SUM tor Ocuxa Huiy Enat Soon Mtgnmeni iCTers that had the rookie defenseman slightly concerned. Campbell's goal helped trigger a three-goal second period as the Rochester Americans defeated the Syracuse Crunch 5-2 on Friday. jTi FREE lifetime flat repairs MCtuoeo tb.00 KXUDED vMajsattleltMskn tttisMwiUKaaae FREE lifetime rotation learn how to over-think hockey games." Line shifts: With the New York Rangers still unable to win, the popular theory has coach John Muckler being fired. However, considering Muckler's exceptional job of building young talent in Buffalo, some believe GM Nel Smith will be fired, Muckler elevated to GM and assistant coach John TortoreRa, the former Amerks coach, will replace Muckler behind the bench.

The Canucks sent goalie Corey Schwab to Orlando of the IHL instead of to their minor-league affiliate, Syracuse. The Canucks want rookie Affie Michaud to develop, but the Crunch would have liked a veteran goalie to help them compete in the Empire Division. Former Hers hey Bears star Mitch Lamoureux made his first major decision as the United Hockey League's vice president of hockey operations. He banned Saginaw Gears backup goalie Stu Monan, someone maybe eight people in the NHL have heard of, for life for swinging his stick wildly at fans. He struck no one.

Campbel before)," Campbell said. "But I look at both ends. I really take a lot of pride in my defensive play." Now here's an idea: Ottawa center Alexei Yashin continues to vacation in Switzerland, seemingly not caring that the Senators suspended him for the remainder of the season because of his refusal to play. Yashin first wanted his contract reworked, then demanded to be traded. Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford may have the best idea for all teams: "He has a signed contract and should be honoring it Maybe well just say as teams we aren't going to honor contracts anymore.

I'm sure every team has two or three players they aren't happy with, and they'd be quite happy to get rid of their contracts." Play, donl think: Vancouver Canucks coach Marc Crawford wishes winger Bit Muckalt would just skate and react "I wont question his commitment or effort," Crawford said. "But he thinks way too much. He should just go and play. You go to Michigan to get a degree; you dont go there to The opponent Philadelphia Phantoms. Tuneplace 6:05, First Union Spectrum, Philadelphia.

Records The Amerks are 13-5-2 and have 26 points. The Phantoms are 7-11-1 after a 3-2 home loss to Kentucky on Friday. Season series Tied 1-1. The Amerks won 3-0 on Oct. 8 and lost 5-2 on Nov.

10. Both games were in Rochester. Radto WHTK-AM 1280. welL" Campbell provided instant offense when he arrived in mid October (three assists in two games), then returned to the parent Buffalo Sabres on emergency recall for a week, then had two assists in his next three AHL games. His dry spell mirrored the team's slump (2-5-2 before back-to-back wins over Syracuse Wednesday and Friday).

"I expect to put good numbers up, that's what Tve done through junior (12-75-87 in 62 games last season, 14-39-5J 66 games the year 10 Day Exchange mauoea FREE XXUDED installation tt I I MXUOED FREE l-l conpLtEfEftf jryiPMf cftfdr Coast to Coast Covraxy But Rochester Americans coach Brian McCtrtcheon isn't worried about the lack of production (just one assist in the six games before Friday) by the 1998-99 Ontario Hockey League player of the year. "That's not something we stress because we know well get that from him," McCutcheon said. "The adjustment for him from junior to the American League is knowing when he can join the rush and knowing when to think offense. It's not always carte blanche here and I think he's making the adjustment quite 33O0 Honett Rd 272-0180 4882 La fBrocfceort) 637-0050 740 R1ge Road E. 266-0650 1 380 RkIoa Roarl (Grwocw) 581 -5770 lCl OSiCS aCCETSjO 3 :3.