Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 42

10D THE DETROIT NEWS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1996 NHL Western Ccr.fercr.co Eastern Conference Saturday's results DETROIT alL.A. (N) Buffalo al Boston (N) Hartford al Ottawa (N) New Jersey al WasK. (N) Phila.atT.Bay(N) Montreal at Toronto (N) Calgary at Florida al St. Louis (N) N.Y. I.

at Phoenix (N) N.Y. R. al Vane. (N) Anaheim al San Jose (N) Today's game DETROIT at 8 Monday's garnet T. Bay at Montreal, 7:30 Friday's results Pittsburgh 7, Hartford I Washington 5, N.

J. 1 Florida 2, Dallas l.OT Chicago 5, Calgary 2 Central I Pts Gf 6 Pacific Pt GF GA Atlantic I Pts GF 6A Northeast Pts GF GA Dallas 14 7 1 29 64 52 Colorado 15 5 4 34 91 50 Florida 13 3 5 31 67 42 Hartford 10 6 3 23 57 57 DETROIT 12 7 3 27 63 42 Vancouver II 8 0 22 56 56 New Jersey 11 7 i 23 47 48 Buffalo 9 10 1 19 56 61 Chicago 11 10 3 25 64 59 Edmonton 10 11 1 21 74 72 Washington 1 1 9 i 23 62 57 Montreal 8 11 3 19 81 84 St. Louis 12 10 0 24 71 67 Los Angeles 9 9 3 21 59 66 Philadelphia 11 10 1 23 63 61 Boston 7 8 4 18 55 65 Toronto 9 12 0 18 64 73 Calgary 9 11 2 20 57 56 N.Y. Rangers 7 12 4 18 73 70 Ottawa 6 8 5 17 52 57 Phoenix 6Tl 3 15 46 60 SanJose 7 11 4 18 58 74 Tampa Bay 7 9 2 16 59 60 Pittsburgh 7 13 1 15 65 81 Anaheim 4 13 4 12 56 79 N.Y. Islanders 4 9 7 15 49 Red Wings schedule Sun.

24 Mon.25 Tue. 26 Wed. 27 Thur. 28 Frl. 29 Sat.

30 8:00 7:30 UPN50 UPN50 Home games shaded Notebook it, Grey Cup could be CFL's swan song Whalers about to give up on trading Coffey If -M Uttnif I XT 1 1 7 Associated Press Late Friday, Penguins' Jaromir Jagr comes close, but Whalers goalie Jason Muzzatti makes save this time. Pittsburgh won CFL Commissioner Larry Smith said he is interested in "building a relationship" with the NFL, but that the CFL will not become something similar to a Triple-A minor-league organization. "I have no interest in a farm system," Smith said. "If we could have some developmental relationships like we've done in the past with guys like Warren Moon and Joe Theis-mann, then that would be great." Moon and Theismann were CFL quarterbacks in the 1970s and 1980s before jumping to the NFL. CFL purists fear closer ties with the NFL would threaten the distinctiveness of Canadian-style football.

Canada's game resembles the U.S. brand, but there are a few key differences. The playing field is longer and wider. Canadian teams get three downs instead of four to gain 10 yards and keep possession of the ball There are 12 players a side compared with 11, and single points are awarded for missed field-goal attempts not run out of the end zone. Football writer and former CFL player Frank Cosentino said the" NFL could help pay the salaries of developing players, but that closer ties could alienate the CFL's remaining followers.

But fans already appear to have turned off the CFL. Average attendance slipped to 22,095 this year, from 24,400 in 1995, Detroit News wire services. "Well get out from under it," he said. "There are players out there who want to come to Hartford. We've just had some isolated cases.

"It may end up that Paul is going to stay here. If, in the near future, a solid offer is not made, we're going to have to make a decision to do nothing." Rutherford wants to avoid two things. He doesn't want trade talk to continue to be the focus on the team into the the second half of the season. And, he will not move Coffey for just any offer. "Teams are trying to steal him," Rutherford said.

"Once I say that he's here, then I'm not negotiating a trade for him. I've been doing this for a month." Rutherford said the Wings are not paying a large portion of Coffey's salary. He said the Wings pay Hartford the difference between Shanahan's contract and the combined salaries of Coffey and Primeau. For instance, this season Primeau will make $1.5 million and Coffey $2.6 million for a total of $4.1 million Shanahan makes $3.9 million, but the St Louis Blues are still picking up $300,000 of that deal, cutting the figure down to $3.6 million. That means the Wings will pay $500,000 this season.

They will pay about $700,000 next season and more if Shanahan signs on for another year, which seems likely. If Coffey is traded, the Wings are off the hook. Round one Because of the trade for Shanahan, the Wings are without a first-round pick in the 1997 draft. It will be the first time since Mike Hitch bought the team that the Wings sit out the first round. Can the Wings obtain a first-round pick before the June draft? "I dont think so," senior vice pres- Cash-strapped league might need NFL's help to survive beyond today.

TORONTO The Canadian Football League is set to hold what many fear might be its last Grey Cup championship game today after a chaotic, money-losing season. The championship between the Toronto Argonauts led by former Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie and the Edmonton Eskimos is the 84th league title game. But some wonder if there will be a Grey Cup next year. Despite returning to its Canadian roots this season after a failed U.S. expansion, the CFL is dripping red ink.

All but one of its nine teams will lose money because of small crowds and cash bailouts to keep teams in Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver afloat during the 1996 season. The 120-year-old Ottawa Rough Riders folded earlier this month at the end of the regular season. So precarious are the league's finances that the cash-strapped Eskimos could not afford to fly players' wives to the Grey Cup game in Hamilton, Ontario, 42 miles southwest of Toronto. The LAST Grey Cup?" asked the Toronto Star, Canada's biggest newspaper, in a front-page story Friday. Some say the CFL needs the bigger and richer NFL to survive.

Summaries Latest line Chicago 5, Calgary 2 Chicago Calgary 4-5 0-2 First 1, Chicago, Amonle 14 (Zhamnov, Crnlios) 15:22 (ah). Swmd 2, Calgary, Titov 8 (Flawy, Gagner), 1:08. 3, Calgary, Titov 9 (Floury. Chnsaon), 854. Third 4, Chicago, Daze 6 2:04.

5, Chicago, Krivokrasov 3 (Amonle. Weinrich), 4:28. 6, Chicago, Moreau 6 (Weinrich, Cummms), 6:44. 7, Chicago, Amonle 15 (Krivokraaov, Carney), 18:25 (pp). Shott Chicago 14-3-16 32.

Calgary 1313-34. Qoallai Chicago, Bettoor. Calgary, Kidd, Attendance Florida 2, Dallas 1 Florida Delias 1-2 0-1 Flrel None, TWrd 1, Florida, Lindsay 4 (Dvorak), 4:48. 2, DaNai, Adama 11 (Verboek, Matvichuk), 11:40. Overtime 3, Florida, Hud 3 (Lindsay, Vanbiesbrouck), 4:55 (sh), Mwtt Florida 13-57-2-27.

Dallas 1-15-14-030. GoekM Florida, Vanbiesbrouck. Dallas, Moog. Attendance 16.573 Colorado 3, Islanders 2 N.Y. Islanders Colorado 0-2 0-3 Flrel 1, New York.

Hughes 2 (Plants, Armstrong), 4:58. 2, Colorado, Kamensky 8 (Forsberg, Sakic), 12:58 (PP). Second 3, New York, lapointe 3 (Wood), 4:32. 4, Colorado. YeHe 2 (Severyn, Faraull), 5:56.

5, Colorado, Kamensky 9 (Gusarov), 10:36. TNtd None. Shots New York 4-9-10-23. Colorado 10-6-11 27. QotHea New York, Sak).

Colorado, Roy. Attendance- 16.061 Washington 5, New Jersey 1 Washington New Jersey 1-5 1-1 First 1. Washinoton. Simon 4 I'Rondra Hnualovl 6:38 (pp). Second 2, Washington, Konowalchuk 4 (Hunter), 3:18.

3, Washington, Simon 5 (Bondra, Gonchar), 3:52 (pp). 4, Washington. Miller 2, 13:56 (sh). TWrd 6, Washington. Bondra 7 (Nikolishin), 1:19.

8, New Jersey Guerin 8 (Brylin, Zelepukin), 13:12. Shell Washington 9-13-5-27. New Jersey 17-10-12-39. OoMiee Washington, Kolzig. New Jersey.

Brodeur. Attendance 15,431 Pittsburgh 7, Hartford 1 Pittsburgh Hartford 5-7 1-1 First 1, Pittsburgh, Nedved 10 (Hatcher, Barnes), 18:06 (pp). Second 2, Pittsburgh, Olausson 3 (Nedved, Woolley), 7:25 (pp). Third 3, Pittsburgh, Jagr 17 (Lemleun), 3:12. 4, Pittsburgh, Jagr 18, 7:50.

5, Hertford, Kapanen 4 (Cas-eels, Emerson), 10:48. 6, Pittsburgh, Hatcher 4 (Sand- Strom), 12:26, 7, Pittsburgh, Francis 6, 18:13. 8, Pitts- burgh, Johansson 3, 19:56. Shell Pittsburgh 12-11-14-37. Hartlord 11-1413-38.

Ooalles Pittsburgh, Wregget. Hartford, Muzzatti. (H.rjouj. NHL leaders Hartford General Manager Jim Rutherford says if he is unable to trade Paul Coffey over the next couple of days, he will stop trying. Last weekend, Coffey went pub-he with his desire to be traded, something he expressed privately to Rutherford on Nov.

4 when the Whalers were in Detroit. "We offered him an extra year, adding things like a no-trade clause and the opportunity to stay in the organization after he's done Cynthia Lambert playing," Rutherford said. "Once we did that we opened the issue for his agent (Mike Barnett) and we haven't been able to agree on anything." Rutherford has been in the trade mode since training camp, when Brendan Shanahan demanded out. He accommodated Shanahan by negotiating a trade that was acceptable to Hartford and Detroit. Rutherford wanted Keith Primeau, but coveted Coffey.

Coffey did not share those same feelings about Hartford at the time of the trade or now. Asking to be moved, and having it done are two different things. "I would say the interest is lukewarm, at best," Rutherford said. "Certainly teams have expressed interest, but they're still under the impression that they can steal him. But Paul's handled it like a professional.

(Wednesday) night he had a goal and assist and was the first star." Will Rutherford ever have a team filled with players who want to be there? He says that time is not far away. Roundup Panthers top DALLAS Imagine Jody Hull's surprise when he found a free puck in front of a wide-open net. Imagine goaltender Andy Moogs shock when Hull scored. Moog, actually, was not in position to defend the shot with 4.8 seconds left in overtime that gave the Florida Panthers a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Friday night. The Stars had a power play at the time, and were pressing for the winning goal when Hull scored short-handed following a rush by Bill Lindsay.

Moog stopped Lindsay's rush, but Hull, trailing the play, knocked in the rebound from 25 feet into an open net while Moog scrambled to get back into position. "Both defensemen went for Bill, so I was all alone," Hull said. "The rebound went right to me and all I had to do was pick the open net. I was trailing the play looking for the rebound. It was a great opportunity and I had to take advantage of it." The goal ended a close game between two of the NHL's division Wings Notebook 1 ill i A 11 I fj 1 When the players were at the rink earlier, Trent McCleary had an odd premonition, teammate Dean Chynoweth said.

"When we came in to the morning skate one of the guys, maybe Trent McCleary, looked up at the scoreboard and said, 'Holy smokes, look at the size of that thing. Can you imagine what it would be like if that thing ever came Toronto played at the rink on Thursday night, but the players were still a bit leery. "I know well skate faster through the neutral zone," Tie Domi said before the game. "No one wants to take the opening faceoff." Good exposure Shanahan is featured in a recent issue of Sports Illustrated a story written by Michael Farber. Despite Shanahan's mild objections, Farber wrote about Shanahan's enjoyment of poetry.

1 "The guys won't understand it," Shanahan said. "Maybe 111 just tell them it "was another lie." Shanahan, in true Irish fashion, has a reputation for spewing blarney. overtime The Whalers remained on top of the Northeast Division. The Penguins remained last in the division. Chicago 5, (at) Calgary 2: Sergei Krivokrasov scored the winner for Chicago, which produced three goals in a 4:40 span of the third period.

Tony Amonte had two goals and Eric Daze and Ethan Moreau also scored for the Blackhawks, who broke a five-game winless streak. German Titov scored both goals for the Flames, who have lost three in a row. (At) Colorado 3, N.Y. Islanders 2: Valeri Kamensky scored two goals and NHL scoring co-leaders Peter Forsberg and Joe Sakic each had an assist. Kamensky scored his eighth and ninth goals of the season for the Avalanche, 11-1-3 in their last 15.

The assists by Forsberg and Sakic gave them an NHL-leading 35 points apiece. Detroit News wire services. unsuccessful trip to Florida, where they lost to Tampa Bay and Florida by a combined 7-1. But the experience should help the team, defense-man Rob Blake said. "Florida is a we have to beat," he said.

"They play the style we need to play, with solid defense and good goaltending. They haven't had any big stars and we don't have any, either." Robinson said he doesnt want his team emulating the Panthers but learning from them would be nice, "We don't want to mold ourselves after any particular team," Robinson said. "But Florida proved some things last year, that playing strong defense can keep you in a lot of games." ident Jim Devellano said. "To do that we would have to give up a pretty good player, a guy we need." Deserving honor The Maple Leafs held a ceremony honoring former Toronto (and Detroit) defenseman Borje Salm-ing. Salming, one of the first impact players from Sweden to play in the NHL, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame later this year.

Announcer Bob Cole and former defenseman Al Arbour also attended the ceremony. "Every Swede in the NHL today should send Salming a portion of their salary for what he went through," said announcer Harry Neale, a former NHL coach. "I was as guilty as anyone else. I told my guys to run the Swede he couldn't take it. That sounds silly now but that was the mind-set then." Go boom When the $4-million scoreboard at Buffalo's new Marine Midland Arena crashed to the ice hours before the Sabres were to play Boston last Saturday, it sent tremors through both teams.

seconds left in Moog, the NHL's victory leader among active goaltenders with 337, made 25 saves, Other Friday results Washington 5, (at) New Jersey 1: Chris Simon scored two power-play goals and Olaf Kolzig made 38 saves for Washington, which broke a 10-game winless streak against New Jersey. Washington was 0-9-1 against New Jersey in their 10 previous meetings. The Capitals also won for the first time against goaltender Martin Brodeur. The loss ended the Devils' two-game winning streak and was their second in the last nine games (7-2-0). Pittsburgh 7, (at) Hartford 1: Ken Wregget stopped 36 shots and Jaromir Jagr scored twice for Pittsburgh, which ended its road drought.

Five others scored for the Penguins, who hadn't won in their first 12 games away from home (0-11-1) and were the NHL's only winless road team. It's very similar to Lemaire, whether Lemaire wants to admit it or not. He did the same kind of thing, thinking ahead." Tourists from Detroit During their lengthy stay in Southern California, the Wings have doubled as tourists. But it seems no one was more impressed with the area than rookie forward Tomas Holmstrom. "Everywhere we go it's the first time for me," Holmstrom said.

"My favorite part was meeting Pamela Anderson (Lee). We saw her at Universal Studios. That was nice." Different look The Kings just completed an Peter Foraberg Colorado 24 24 Steve Yzerman Detroit 22 20 Saku Koivu Montreal 22 19 Wayne Gretzky NYRangere 23 19 Mario Lemieux Pittsburgh 20 18 Ron Francis Pittsburgh 21 18 Sandis Ozoiinsh Colorado 24 18 Man Sundin Toronto 21 17 Doug Weight Edmonton 22 17 Brian Leetch NYRangere 23 17 Power-play goals Nam Team OP PP Dim Ciccarelli Tampa Bay 18 8 Jaromir Jagr Pittsburgh 21 6 Petr Nedved Pittsburgh 21 6 Theoren Fleury Calgary 22 6 Brett Hull St Louis 22 5 JohnteClair Philadelphia 22 5 Jarome kjinkt Calgary 22 5 Brian Leetch NYRangers 23 5 Scott Young Colorado 24 5 Shorthanded goals Nam Teem OP SH Todd Merchant Edmonton 22 3 Adam Graves NY Rangers 23 3 Brian Bradley Tampa Bay 13 2 Brendan Shanahan Har-Det 21 2 Mate Sundin Toronto 21 2 Martin Rucmsky Montreal 21 2 Peter Forsberg Colorado 24 2 Power-play assists Name Teem OP PPA Joe Sakic Colorado 24 13 Wayne Gretzky NY Rangers 23 12 Sandis Ozoiinsh Colorado 24 12 Jason Amott Edmonton 22 10 Peter Forsberg Colorado 24 10 Ron Francis Pittsburgh 21 9 Boris Mironov Edmonton 17 8 Doug Weight Edmonton 22 8 Shorthanded assists Name Teen OP SUA Merio Lemieux Pittsburgh 20 2 Dimitri Ktmstich Los Angeles 21 2 Mark Messier NY Rangers 21 2 Bill Lindsay Florida 21 2 Kelly Buchberger Edmonton 22 2 Vincent Dempnousse Montreal 22 2 Sylvain Lefebvre Colorado 24 2 Power-play points Name Teem OP PPP Wayne Gretzky NYRangers 23 16 Joe Sakic Colorado 24 16 Jason Arnott Edmonton 22 14 Peter Forsberg Colorado 24 14 Sandis Ozoiinsh Colorado 24 14 Shorthanded points Nam Teem OP SHP Adam Graves NY Rangers 23 4 Mark Messier NY Rangers 21 3 Todd Merchant Edmonton 22 3 Game-winning goals Name Teem OP OW Jim Campbell St Louis 22 5 Aaron Miller Colorado 13 3 Eric Daze Chicago 16 3 Darren Turcotte San Jose 19 3 Dean McAmmond Edmonton 20 3 Wendel Clark Toronto 21 3 Keith Jones Was Col 21 3 Martin Rucinsky Montreal 21 3 Mike Modem Dallas 22 3 1 Pat Verbeek Dallas 22 3 Harry York St Louis 22 3 Game-tying goals Nam Teem OP OT I Adam Graves NY Rangers 23 3 Alexandre Deigle Ottawa 19 2 Shots Nam Team OP I Joe Sakic Colorado 24 109 Mike Modem Dallas 22 94 Jason Arnott Edmonton 22 94 Theoren Fleury Calgary 22 91 Mark) Lemieux Pittsburgh 20 90 Wayne Gretzky NYRangers 23 90 Shooting percentage Neme Team OP I PCT Miroslav Satan Edmonton 18 7 22 31.8 Mariusz Czerkawekl Edmonton 18 7 23 30.4 Rem Murrey Edmonton 22 i I 20 30 0 Werren Rychel Anaheim 20 6 22 27 3 Derek King NY Islanders 20 10 40 25.0 Dave Lowry Florida 21 6 24 25.0 Plusminus Name Teem1 OP Steve Yzerman Detroit 22 19 Tony Amonte Chicago 24 18 Sandis Ozoiinsh Colorado 24 16 Peter Forsberg Colorado 24 15 Mete Sundin Toronto 21 13 MikeModam Dallas 22 13 Nicklaa Lidslrom Detroit 22 13 Eric Lecroix Colorado 24 13 Goals-against average Ooettender Team OH Mm OA Ave J. Venbknbrouck Florida 16 938 27 1.73 Chris Osgood Detroit 15 865 25 1.73 Marlm Brodeur New Jersey 15 848 28 1.98 Patrick Roy Colorado 20 1211 42 2 08 Andy Moog Dallas 17 974 34 2.09 Stars with 4.8 al leaders. The Panthers, who lead the Atlantic Division with a 13-3-5 record, are 5-2-1 in their last eight.

The Stars, still on top in the Central Division, are 4-2-1 in their last seven and 14-7-1 overall. "I think both teams looked at it as a benchmark game," said Panthers goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck, a Detroiter. "Dallas has been surging in the West and we've been holding our own in the East. It was like a playoff atmosphere out there tonight" All the scoring came in the third period and overtime. Lindsay broke up a scoreless game with 15:12 left in regulation before Greg Adams scored the tying goal for the Stars with 8:20 remaining.

Vanbiesbrouck, who finished with 29 saves, got the second assist on the winning goal. "It was a bit of luck," Vanbiesbrouck said. "I was just trying to get it out of the zone and it ended on Bill's stick. I don't think a lot of people realize we have some fast guys on this team." really wear you down. But for Scotty, it's in his blood.

This was his chosen profession. Me, I'm in my 27th season in hockey (second as head coach), so I guess I've lasted a while, too." Robinson once spoke openly about how, as a player, he detested Bowman. Now the two chat, and Robinson also has kind words for his former mentor. He even finds similarities between Bowman and New Jersey Coach Jacques Lemaire, also a former Bowman player. Before he took the job in L.A., Robinson was an assistant to Lemaire.

"I understand Scotty a little better than when I played," Robinson said. "He's always thinking. He may not be thinking about this game, but the next one or two games from now. Record-holder Bowman approaching 1,000 victories Scoring MY OP A PTS PIM Forsberg, Col 24 11 24 35 12 Sakic, Col 24 10 25 35 14 Sundm, Tor 21 13 17 30 6 Koivu, Mon 22 10 19 29 14 Gretzky, NYR 23 9 19 28 2 Lemleun, Pit 20 9 18 27 10 Yzerman, Del 22 7 20 27 12 Setanne, Ana 21 12 14 26 10 Recchl, Mon 22 11 15 26 25 Ozosnsh, Col 24 6 18 26 30 Jagr, Pit 21 18 7 25 14 Amonle, Chi 24 15 9 24 20 Amott, Edm 22 9 15 24 29 Leetch, NYR 23 7 17 24 14 Francis, Pit 21 6 18 24 2 Kamensky, Cd 19 9 14 23 12 Nolen, SJ 22 9 14 23 42 Leclair, Phi 22 13 9 22 22 Palffy.NYl 20 12 10 22 25 Hull, S1L 22 10 12 22 4 Damphousse, Mon 22 8 14 22 16 Modarw, Dal 22 7 15 22 6 Goals Name Teem OP Jaromir Jagr Pittsburgh 21 18 Tony Amonle Chicago 24 18 Dim Ciccarelli Tampa Bey 18 13 MateSimdin Toronto 21 13 John Leclair Philadelphia 22 13 Zigmund Partly NY Islanders 20 12 Selanne Anaheim 21 12 Mike Gartner Phoenix 20 1) Wende) Clark Toronto 21 11 Greg Adams Dallas 22 11 Mark Recchl Montreal 22 11 Ryan Smyth Edmonton 22 11 Peter Forsberg Colorado 24 11 Assists Name Team OP A Joe Sakic Colorado 24 25 By Cynthia Lambert The Detroit News INGLEWOOD, Calif. Entering Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Kings, Wings Coach Scotty Bowman needed 13 victories to reach 1,000 for his career.

It's a level no coach has reached. And it will never be reached again after Bowman gets there, said Kings Coach Larry Robinson, who played for Bowman in Montreal. "Nobody, at least in my lifetime, will come close to that," Robinson said. "I don't know how anyone can last that long. "The games are the easy part.

It's all the other things that go with it the preparation, the travel that.