Edmonton Journal from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • 39

SlQ)(Q)rt a BusinessD3 WeatherD14 a Stats PageD6 EDITOR: Peter Collum, 429-5303 11 Oilers gird for Flames showdown k- i JIM MATHESON Journal Staff Writer Edmonton There was an absence of malice in a suddenly Civil War until Dave Brown and Stu (The Grim ReaiT) Crimson exchanged unpleasantness Sunday night. So. does that mean there'll be another heavyweight card tonight when the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary' Flames resume hostilities in Calgary? "Well don't foe leav ing for coffee," chuckled Brown, who has seven stitches over his right eye. alter Crimson nicked an old wound. It definitely wasn't club could have dodged a bullet if their power play hadn't short-circuited.

It blown a few fuse during the season, of course. "For some reason I think our work ethics are food on the power play. It our weakest area" said Muckler. "We try to lie too Tfit You don't see a kt of good concentration. if it was a-i strong ai the penalty killing we'd lie fine We M-em to Use thv kse puck, our entry' into their zone is bad.

our selection of parses is had. There's a Lick of shooting." Muckler concede it never been awesome, hot they often got the puck in the net by the sheer will of Wayne Gretky or Paul Coffey. "The things he did. only Wayne could Muckler "We're trying to imitate that There's no identity on the power play. It has to change." There i.s one small light, though, as they head to Calgary "lur power play is much better on the road than at home.

1 don't know why." he said. Muckler heard what Flames' coach Terry Crisp said about the Brown-Grimson uneh-up. aliout it N'ing a factor in Calgary inspired play. "Terry wants to say that's what won the game." said Muckler. "I thought it was two teams going at it with hard checking, lie said the three guys (Crimson.

Marc Bureau and Ken Safoourin) they brought up injected new blood into the team. That even their very small guys were hitting. I read all that." So, did the Flames figure they needed extra punch? "Terry felt they needed some muscle. Thanks for the complement. I guess.

He must think we're a tough team." A funny thing hapened just U'fore the buer. though. The game's smallest player. Theorcn Fleury. kicked up the most fuss.

He took the feet from under Kevin Lowe and Jiri Hrdina went in to score. I.owe was so infuriated he got a gross misconduct from referee Terry Cregson. And Fleury's actions? "I'm surprised a man of his stature would do such a thing." kidded Muckler. ON TIIF. BF.V II Oilers goaltender Bill Ranford has joined the Edmonton District I'nit of the Canadian Cancer Society as the charities 1990 Honorary-Campaign Chairman.

friendly fire as the Oilers and Flames went at it in Northlands on Sunday and you likely won't see Mr. Rogers Neighborhood tonight at the Saddledome. Forget the dandy-Brow n-Grimson bout. THE GAME Edmonton Oilers at Calgary Flames, 7:30 p.m., Saddledome, ITV, 1260 CFRN Radio Rick MacWilliam The Journal Flames Stu Grimson sets up Oilers Dave Brown before launching a haymaker in the heat ol Sunday's action both teams badly want this one tonight. It's not a life-and-death clinch, but the Oilers could use some breathing room in the Smythe race.

An Edmonton win and they're up by five points; another Calgary' victoy and it's one point. "For all those people who say the 80-game season doesn't mean a damn, it certainly isn't the case this year," said Oiler centre Craig MacTavish. "In the last 25 games or so. every one has been a huge game." Oiler coach John Muckler didn't like losing 3-1 Sunday but he didn't break into a cold sweat as he replayed the game in his head. "I hope they feel that's the l)est game they've played all year be- Canucks woesD2 ning was Al Maclnnis's goal with the Oilers two men short to make it 2-0.

They couldn't recover. "It's very rare two penalties on the same play will happen, but it did. I thought it was a legitimate call on Martin (Gelinas: elfoowing on Gary Roberts)," said Muckler, who figured his the world. I never thought we'd be three points up going into Calgary. I never thought we'd foe talking about first place at all.

In training camp. I didn't think we'd be there for 10 seconds." Muckler thought Brown versus Crimson was Sunday's thunder but the light cause we were aw fully close. And I know we can play tetter." said Muckler, ho's tickled with the home-and-home format. But if they lose? "It won't be the end of Canucks bulk up shop in six-player swap A Event skips grab spotlight Canadian Press RAY TURCHANSKY Journal Staff Writer "We've tried to fill a need by increasing our size on the wing." Canucks CM Pat Quinn Doc. 20 and put on the trading block at his request.

He appeared in 16 games this season missing several with a broken thumb and had two goals and seven assists. The Canucks acquired Pederson in a controversial 1986 trade with Boston. The Bruins received right-winger Cam Neely and a future first-round draft pick (defenceman Glen Wesley in 1988). Monday's trade was con-sum mated over the phone by Pat Quinn with general manager-coach Craig Patrick of the Penguins in New York. Capuano was playing in the minors with Muskegon of the International Hockey League when the deal was made.

The Canucks, last in the Smythe Division with a 13-22 8 record, hope to have all three newcomers in the lineup Wednesday when they play the Hartford Whalers at the Pacific Coliseum. Pederson never scored more than 24 goals in a season with the Canucks and often as injured. Tanti. 26. scored 40 or more goals three times for the Canucks.

He has 14 goals this season. Vancouver The struggling Vancouver Canucks got bigger and younger Monday when they acquired forwards Andrew McBain, Dan Quinn and Dave Capuano from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a six-player National Hockey League trade. The Canucks sent veteran forwards Barry Pederson and Tony Tanti to the Penguins, along with defenceman Rod Buskas. "Eig guys who can play a bit are hard to come by," Canucks general manager Pat Quinn said from Orlando, where he is attending a meeting of league general managers. "We've tried to fill a need by increasing our size on the ing." McBain and Capuano are wingers, while Quinn is a quick centre who has thrived on the power play in past seasons.

Tanti was the only traded player on the active roster. in Vancouver. Pederson walked out on the Canucks last month, demanding to be traded, while Buskas has been sidelined by an injury. "This trade is part of the process of getting this team younger and bigger," said Quinn. "It was tough to trade Tanti because he'd been a greater player for this organization over the years." The disgruntled Pederson.

28. was taken off the Vancouver roster Under a new seeding system based on teams playing in city honspiels this year, Martin had been seeded No. 1, Woytenko No. 2 and Wirth No. 5 lending credence to the program.

"Most of the curlers like this seeding, it's really good," said Martin, 23. an ice-maker at the Avonair Curling Club. Besides second Dan Petryk. who won the junior crown with Martin, he was backed by newcomers Brian No-lin and third Kevin Park. They finished fourth in the Vernon Carspiel this summer, then won the Thistle Cashspiel and lost the final of the Ottewell Cashspiel.

Monday they trailed 3-1 after three ends but roared back. "You've got to be worried when you fall behind to Marv. But with all the corn (brooms), there's going to be lots of comer guards." And so it was. Wirth tried to finesse a come-around through a port in the ninth but slipped to the back of the house and Martin drew the eight-foot for four. Meanwhile, the Johnson name figured to be among the zone winners, but Wes's younger brother Mark, who took over the helm of Brad Hannah's four- Edmonton A year ago at this time Wes Johnson was a high school teacher in Texas, where a freak blizzard allowed him to show his students a curling slide.

As for Kevin Martin, he was learning how to lose. Monday night they shared the spotlight as the skips to earn A Event berths in the Edmonton Area Curling Clubs Labatt Tankard playdowns at the Shamrock. During a game in which the lead changed hands four times, Martin cracked a huge four-ender on the ninth for a 9-6 win, to at least delay Marv Wirth's bid for a fourth straight zone. And Johnson never had to make his last shot, watching Mike Woytenko's final delivery slide through the house, giving Johnson a deuce and a 6-4 victory. For Martin, the 1985 Canadian junior champ, it was his third zone win in four years and second as skip, having rebounded from last year's showing when he never did win a game in A or Events.

Rick MacWilliam Me Journal Skip Kevin Martin (top) leads team to A Event berth Monday Their springboard to success was a 7-5 win over brother Mark. LAST STRAWS In senior women's zone play, Event berths went to Joyce Chris-lenson of the Balmoral (Joyce Bruyer, Nola Andison, Stella Hazlett) who defeated May Johnson 8-7; and Anita Hunter of St. Albert (Verna Storseth. Jean Walton, May Lou Rouault) who topped Irene Ke-nyon 6-5. some, was the realistic one.

Wes had earned a men's zone as a member of Rick Lawrence's team in 1986 but the 29-year-old substitute teacher last year had a high school teaching post in Fort Worth, that kept him from curling. Only when third Peter Wilk, himself nine years out of curling, started calling around this fall did they unite with Dave Birchell and Jim Bucholz. Jim Palmer has the look of a Hall of Famer Former Oriole the favorite to head to Cooperstown The Associated Press NHL Toronto 8 Washington 6 Pittsburgh 7 NY Rangers 5 innipeg 4 New Jersey 3 NBA Philadelpia 120 Indiana 116 Orlando 111 San Antonio 102 Milwaukee'l26 Charlotte 113 Dallas 110 Seattle 96 Golden State 139 Denver 122 Portland 108 Sacramento 96 ing six straight seasons from 1967 to 1972. Jenkins's image was tarnished in 1980 when, as a member of the Texas Rangers, he was arrested on charges of cocaine possession in Toronto. He was given an absolute discharge but suspended from baseball for two weeks.

By most standards, Perry has the numbers to make it into the Hall of Fame. In 20 seasons, the right-hander had a record of 314-265 with 3,534 strikeouts. Perry is the only pitcher ever to win the Cy Young award in both the AL and NL. Bunning, who missed election by four votes two years ago, pitched no-hitters in both leagues and compiled a record of 224-184 with 2,855 strikeouts. This is his 14th year of eligibility with one more remaining before being passed to the Veterans Committee.

1984. the graceful right-hander had a career record of 268-152. His career earned-run average of 2.85 is fourth on the all-time list, and only bettered by Walter Johnson (2.37). Grover Cleveland Alexander (2.56) and Whitey Ford (2.74). Palmer was a 20-game winner in eight different seasons and pitched 3J348 innings without allowing a grand slam in the major leagues.

After baseball. Palmer's matinee-idol looks helped him find fame and fortune as an announcer and a model for underwear. His career was threatened in 1967 by an arm injury, forcing Palmer to miss the '68 season. Palmer is also famous for a running feud with former Orioles manager Earl Weaver. "I first met Earl hen I was trying to make it back from my arm injury and pitching for Rochester," said Palmer.

"The bases were loaded and Johnny Bench was the batter. After throwing a couple of pitches up high. Earl came out and told me to throw it dowTi the middle. I did and Johnny hit it about 420 feet for a grand slam. I learned right there never to listen to Earl." Morgan started his career at second base with the expansion Houston Astros where he played seven seasons.

A trade to Cincinnati brought him two World Series and consecutive MVP awards in 1975 and 1976. He batted .271 with 268 home runs and 689 stolen bases in 22 seasons. Morgan also holds the National League record for most games played at second base (2.427). For his career. Morgan averaged 211, with 16 home runs and 69 RBIs.

"The bases were loaded and Johnny Bench was the batter. Alter throwing a couple of pitches up high, Earl came out and told me to throw it down the middle. I did and Johnny hit it about 420 feet for a grand slam. I learned right there never to listen to Earl." Jim Palmer But all three could be passed over again. In the Hall of Fame where there are stars and bigger stars, Palmer is one of the big ones.

At 19, Palmer broke into the majors with Baltimore in 1965, and by the time he was finished in New York Jim Palmer always had the look of a winner even in his underwear. Palmer and Joe Morgan are considered the favorites when results of balloting for the Hall of Fame are announced tonight at 11 p.m. EST. Others with a good chance at CooperstowTi are pitchers Gayiord Perry, Canadian Ferguson Jenkins and Jim Bunning. But they may have to wait for another day.

Jenkins, a native of Chatham, plays in Florida's Senior Professional Baseball League. But in his major league career most of it with the perennial losers Chicago Cubs Jenkins was 284-226 with 3,192 strikeouts. He was a 20-game winner seven times, includ TW 7:30 m. ITV The Edmonton Oilers try to get one back when they visit the Calgary Flames..