Archives for January 20, 2001

The Leafs have been drifting in the wind lately, going 3-3-3-1 in their last 10 games and 4-8-3-2 in their last 17. Maybe the rumors of Eric Lindros coming to Toronto via trade have been a distraction, maybe not.

Lindy Ruff, himself once a 23-year-old trying to make his way in the National Hockey League, pulled Denis Hamel aside after a practice earlier this season and gave him the best advice he could come up with: Be patient.

‘As for Peca, he could be pursued by the San Jose Sharks, now that Vince Damphousse is out until the spring and another negotiating deadline with the Sabres has passed. But the Sabres, who’ve thus far rebuffed all trade overtures, might hang on to him right until the March 13 deadline.’

‘With a 23-15-5-1 record heading into last night, Buffalo was already 12 points ahead of its 1999-2000 pace, and 10 of the Sabres’ next 14 games are against teams with losing records.’

‘This goal was similar to Hamel’s others in that hustle was a main ingredient.’

‘Hasek recorded his 51st career shutout, tying Patrick Roy for second among active goalies behind Eddie Belfour’s 56.’

Three shutouts in his last eight starts — sound like The Dominator of old? You bet. He may not have seen as much rubber as his counterpart of Florida, but he was looking like the Hasek of MVP days when he stuffed any Panther attempt, including six shots by Pavel Bure.

‘"Seven seconds left," said Luongo, who was still so upset he could barely form sentences. "We were there, the whole game and then…that’s the way it’s been since the beginning. Always the tough break, then we lose the game."’

‘In the end they were simply shellshocked.’

‘"What is there to say? There’s seven seconds left, it’s 0-0, and I give up a goal," said Luongo, the first player out of the Panthers’ locker room after the game. "We were there the whole game. That’s the way this year has been since the beginning."’