THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6.2005
HOCKEY
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 9B
NHL
Paul Sancya/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
St Louis Blues goalie Patrick Lalime stops a shot by Detroit Red Wings' Tomas Holmstrom (96) of Sweden during the second period in Detroit yesterday.
Blues ice Red Wings
BY LARRY LAGE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DETROIT — Pavel Datsyuk had a goal and an assist in the first 7 minutes and the Detroit Red Wings went on to beat the St. Louis Blues 5-1 on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams.
The game turned into a rout in the second period when Detroit scored three goals while St. Louis took just three shots, none of which got past Manny Legace, who needed to make a mere 13 saves.
Patrick Lalime allowed four goals on 24 shots before the Blues replaced him with Reinhard Divis midway through the second period.
Robert Lang, Mathieu Schneider, Mikael Samuelsson and Brett Lebda scored for the Red Wings, who still seem to have a lot of talent despite having to
cut their payroll almost in half because of the NHL's $39 million salary cap, a result of the lockout that cost last season.
Eric Brewer had a goal midway through the first period for the Blues, who will be challenged to extend the longest playoff streak in professional sports to 26 straight years after this season because their owners have put the streamlined team on the market.
St. Louis traded star defenseman Chris Pronger to Edmonton, allowed forward Pavol Demitra to leave as a free agent and legendary defenseman Al MacInnis retired.
It didn't take long for Datsyuk to make a return on Detroit's investment in him.
million, 2-year contract.
The one-sided game didn't provide much excitement, but Detroit's Brendan Shanahan did with some feisty play in the third period.
After Keith Tkachuk knocked down Datsyuk and was called for roughing, Shanahan pounced on him and the two were in the middle of a scrum. Shanahan fought skate-to-skate with Jamal Mayers later in the period, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Notes: Detroit's Steve Yzerman and Chris Osgood did not play because of groin injuries. .. St. Louis was without one of its best defenseman, Barret Jackman, who is out with a separated shoulder. ... Chris Chelios is the oldest player in the NHL — 43 years, 253 days — and the
outside play for the Red Wings.
... Lebda became the first Red
Wing to score in his NHL debut
since Tim Taylor in 1993.
- 43 years, 253 days — and the oldest to play for the Red Wins.
Fans hail hockey's return
BY IRA PODELL
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
In 15 cities around North America on Wednesday night, the NHL was back.
PHILADELPHIA — The Great One made his debut behind the bench, the Next One had his coming out party in New Jersey and the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning finally got the salute they waited more than a year to receive.
Toronto Maple Leafs Mats Sundis is assisted after sustaining an injury during first period NHL action against the Ottawa Senators in Toronto yesterday.
While Wayne Gretzky coached his first game with the Phoenix Coyotes, 18-year-old Sidney Crosby — touted as the player to threaten many of Gretzky's scoring records — laced up his skates when the Pittsburgh Penguins faced the New Jersey Devils.
All in the name of winning back fans after a year lost to the lockout.
"I'm probably as excited as anybody who is dressing and playing in a game tonight," said Gretzky, the holder of 61 NHL records.
Frank Gunn/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Flyers stretched the series to seven, but never made it back home as they fell to the
From coast to coast, the words "Thank You Fans!" were stenciled into NHL rinks.
"I am so excited for things to be back — last year was horrible," said Amber Turbyne of Waldorf, Md., who attended the Washington Capitals home game against Columbus. "I usually hold a grudge like something awful, but I'm too happy to have hockey back."
A sold-out crowd was dressed in matching T-shirts just as they were 17 months ago for the "Orange Crush" during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Just down the New Jersey Turnpike, it was as though the Philadelphia Flyers never left.
eventual champion Lightning.
"I bleed the orange and black," said fan Brock Kerchner from Mechanicsburg, Pa. "Was I disappointed? Yes! But it's a new season and we've got Cup hopes."
Down in Florida, Lightning fans got to celebrate just as they did over a year ago as the Stanley Cup championship banner was raised — just much later than anyone anticipated.
A 10-minute ceremony commemorated the almost forgotten season that preceded the long laffov.
On display were individual awards given to Lightning
players, including Martin St. Louis' MVP trophy, and the one Brad Richards took home for his starring role in the playoff run.
But nothing could compare to the presentation of the Stanley Cup.
The Lightning still are the rightful owners to the trophy that wasn't awarded in 2005, the first time that happened since a flu outbreak in 1919 canceled the finals.
No other team could bring out the Cup on opening night; but several clubs did unveil their latest trophies — ones they hope will soon make them champions.