OCR Text |
Show Monday, May 1, 2000. THE DAILY HERALD, sf"."": VI I ww - HartTheHmkLcom), Provo. Ltah Page BJ fT J Kids coming through for Devils EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. While Martin Brodeur and Scott Stevens have been outstanding, one of the big reasons the New Jersey Devils have played so well in the playoffs is their rookies, and we're not talking about Scott Gomez. Gomez, who led NHL rookies in points and is the top candidate for rookie of the year honors, is struggling compared to center . John Madden and defensemen Colin White and Brian Raialski. White scored the only goal, Madden helped kill off a crucial (AP) : ' four-minut- V e high-stickin- g penalty in the third period and Rafalski spent most of the night helping Stevens shut down Toronto's top line as the Devils evened their series with the Maple Leafs on Saturday night. Games 3 and 4 of the second-rounEastern Conference series will be played at the best-of-seve- n d if v'W r y Continental Airlines Arena on Monday and Wednesday. "They are all fitting perfectly into the playoffs for us," left wing Patrik Elias said after the . Devils practiced Sunday. "Whitey is a tough guy who works hard. He's surprised me. He's played well. "Mads does his jobs well and pjays hard, and Ralfy, he's got a lot of experience even though this is his first year here." Since the playoffs started, the three rookies all made major contributions. White, a late season recall from Albany of the AHL, not only has played a physical, tough game on defense, he also has a plus-- rating. Rafalski, who has been Stevens' defensive partner all season, also is plus-3- . He has two assists and one goal, the game winner in Game 3 of the opening-rounsweep against Florida. Madden, who tied a record with six goals in the regular season, has helped the Devils kill off 23 of 24 situations. He's a for the playoffs with one plus-of his two assists coming on a goal by Scott Niedermayer during a two-madisadvantage in Game 2 against Florida. Gomez has been the biggest short-hande- d d 2 n Hull, Mmk - Ed Belfour is proving that his phenomenal goaltending in last year's playoffs was no fluke. Belfour posted his second straight shutout and third this postseason, making a goal by Mike Modano hold up as the Dallas Stars beat the San Jose Sharks 0 Sunday night. Belfour was at his best in the final minute when a power play and an empty net gave San Jose a skating advantage. In the first 10 seconds, he made a kick save up close and snared a long shot by Gary Suter with his glove, bringing 17,001 fans to their feet with chants of "Ed-die- ! He kicked away another Suter shot with 17 seconds left, then .the Sharks' last two attempts went wide of the goal. Belfour will carry a score- less streak of 138 minutes, 53 . seconds into Game 3 of the series Tuesday night at San Jose. The Sharks' scoring drought can be traced to the injuries hampering leading scorer Owen : Nolan. Problems with his foot and-o- r shoulder kept him out of this game and made him ineffec itaofe first-perio- d 1-- Ed-di- ri loss. tive in the opening How important is he? "Nolan scored 20 percent of San Jose's goals in the regular season, then upped that to 30 percent (six of 20) in the first round as the eighth-seedeSharks upset No. 1 seed St. Loujs. San Jose won that series by splitting the first two games on the road. This time, the Sharks go home still seeking their first goal of the series. Belfour has won seven straight postseason games at Reunion Arena dating to last season. He's allowed just five goals and had four shutouts in that span. He has 10 career playoff shutouts; these are his first consecutive. Belfour made 19 saves one more than Sunday night in Game 1 but every one was crucial because Dallas couldn't get a second shot past Steve Shields despite many good opportunities. The puck not going in usually had more to do with Dallas missing than Shields making a play, such as Jere Lehtinen hitting a post and Brett Hull sticking the puck in the side of the net. 4-- 0 d . days we -- PnM Fir Dallas. None. Penarlie9 Saoond , ClassicII ne. Morrow, Dal Penalties Dal (roughing). 2 30; Harvey, SJ P17S70R13 $48 P19570014 P18570R13 $51 I P19570R13 P17570R14 $54 $53 $57 $59 P20570R14 P21570R14 P20570R15 P21570R15 P22570R15 P21580R13 P16580R13 P17580R13 P18580R13 P17575R14 P18575R14 P19575R14 P9(K7M111 I - Few (AP) would have Detroit an thought easy time with the Colorado Avalanche. Still, the Red Wings didn't expect to be in this kind of hole. ., The Red Wings swept the Los Angeles Kings in the first round but have suddenly lost their scoring punch. They are n down with the Western Conference semifinal resuming Monday night at Joe Louis Arena. "We are ready to pay the price," Avalanche coach Bob Hartley said. "You just have to look at the faces of our players. After two games, there are lots of bumps and bruises. That's playoff hockey, and we have to keep doing the same 2-- best-of-seve- Determined to win back the ' Cup, too. But Colorado goaltender Patrick Roy blanked the Red in the first game, Wings win in then came back for a a second game in which Detroit did something its opponents take bad frequently do Colorado's first two penalties. goals came on power plays; the third was an empty-nette"I don't know how to explain it," Detroit center Igor Larionov said. "It's the playoffs, and it's a huge game. Of course you have to control your emotions. But we're taking those penalties and they score a couple of power play goals and from gy. 2-- 0 3-- 1 r. things" This is not the way the Red Wings figured things would go. After winning successive Stanley Cup championships in 1997 and 1998, the Red Wings were spent. When they reported to camp in the autumn of 1998, they felt like the season which went well into June had just ended. When the playoffs began in 1999, Detroit ran off six straight wins, including two in Denver. But the Red Wings ran out of gas and the Avalanche won the next four games, eliminating Detroit in the second round. Steve Yzerman, the Detroit captain, felt that might have been a blessing in disguise. The Red Wings reported to camp last fall rested and full of (ener (?( 60-6- - v-- w PwtodL-No- 3 25; Morrow. (ob topping). ne Dal U 32: Hstcta, Jose 1st $71 $54 $56 $59 $60 $68 7 39-- 19 Shod on goal-S- en Pomrfby Onntakto-Sa-n Jose Goetlei Dallas. A San Jose. Sherds 8 $72 $76 f18570R13 $49 P17570R14 $51 $52 $55 P18570R14 P19570R14 P20570R14 P19570R15 P20570R15 $57 $58 $59 P17W0R13 P18570R13. $40 $43 P18570R14 P19570R14 P2O570R14 P20570R15 $46 $47 $49 $50 $52 P20565R15 Dates 0 of 5. Debs 0 of 7 saves) . 3: ILL' (17 001) Fraser. Dave Jackson. ry Coins. Jean Moon 17.001 there, they play defensive, disciplined hockey." Meanwhile, the Red Wings' d offense has disappeared. "We have a lot of guys that are overdue," said Detroit coach Scotty Bowman, seeking his ninth Stanley Cup. "It's early in the series, and you have to go game by game." Under Bowman, the Red. Wings have won 15 of 18 playoff series since being bumped in the first round by the San Jose Sharks in 1993. Detroit is the only team to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs each of the past five seasons. high-powere- Offer nptran May 31tt 2000 You mutt t i P15580R13 $2f I P16580R13 $27 P17680R13 $2 P18580R13 $3c P18575R14 $3( P19575R14 $3( in UR P20575R14 $38 I P21575R14 $41 P20575R15 $3 P21575R15 $3i P22575R15 $3! P23575R15 $4( $50 $53 $46 $48 22jV75R14 P19575R15 P20575R15 P21575R15 P225r75R15 P23575R15 Trendsetter WHITE WALL - $50- $53 $54 I CobraGT SportmasterGLT 145R12 $32 Belfour Financing Available - Performance Our Best Rafaraeav-Ker- Kevm Tread Depth $47 $59 $52 $55 $53 $56 $60 $36 $39 $39 $42 $43 $43 $44 P2iy75R14 32 AS New AS Metric shots-- pail iwwim&wijw L $60 $64 $68 10-11- ' 1900 Dal - 35 $63 BLACKWALL Penatet Sutter. SJ (slashing). (ob tnppng). 349; Ragnarsson. SJ Purchase any TUFF SHED storage building or garage and we'll deduct $100 from any options you choose. Select from windows, shelves, air vents, paint and more. rt' your chc4ce, and so are the Mvings'l -- P21570R14 P20570R15 P21570R15 P22570R15 . P23570R15 P25570R15 SERIES 5 P20555R15 P20555R16 P22560R16 P18565R14 P19565R14 P19565R15 P20565R15 P21565R16 155R12 $32 155R13 $33 165R13 $36 175R14 $40 185R14 $41 165R15 $40 15570R13 $35 16570R13 $36 17570R13 $38 18570R13 $41 18570R14 $42 19570R14 $46 20570R14 $47 RAIStDWhTIIlTTEBS P26550R15 P29550R15 P20560R13 h"l P19560R14 1 P21S60R14 P22560R14 $83 $95 A $54 $58 $61 $62 $64 $69 4 I P23560R14 P24560R14 I P19560R15 P21560R15 P24560fl15 P25560R15 P27560R15 P21565R15 ' BLACKWALL AST Light P19550R15 P20550R15 P22550R15 P18560R14 $61 $66 $73 $52 P19560R14 $54 $69 $73 $76 $66 $55 $59 $61 P225,WR15 P21565R15 $62 Ell WHITEWAU W LT21575R15 $88 6 LT235r75R15 $85 6 LT23575R15 $91 6 30X9.50R15LT $86 6 LT24575R16 $115 10 LT23585R16 $108 WHITEWALL 6 31X10.50R15LT$89 6 31X10.5OR15LTJ99 6 31X1T.50R15LT$111 6 BEST PRICE All Wheels Guaranteed 8 2.50R15LT $121 pun $94 9.50R16.5LT $105 8 LT22575R16 $89 LT24575R16 $102 10 LT22V75R16 8 8 $112 8 6 $93 LT21585R16 $90 8 LT22575R16 $99 10 LT23585R16 $96 10 LT21585R16 $97 8 LT23585R16 $103 10 -- Any. Group Size (installed) 6 33X12.50R16.5JS1328 33X1 2995 10 30X9.50R15LT $92 8.75R16.5LT m $ BLACKWALL P19560R15 P20560R15 Discoverer LT Discoverer AST Ml - Battery Special $58 $63 Discoverer Light Truck AS Truck AS C?(30&G9 2 P20570R14 I Red Wings falling fast DETROIT P195mR14 16 20. TliW AS " P18570R14 1 1 ,,Ylll)ri, ' I 26 Sloan, Dal (interfer8:55; Neuwendyk. stek), than any other irffiuLTimL " WHITE 70 SERIES I 7 IN CASH! LOWER (H Most Popular AS High Quality A -- (Hul. Morrow). relund you OF THE DIFFERENCE Trendsetter SE . Pwtod-No- ence). 3:18; Modano 4 tI will ' IIAT.1E BRAtlD He has a team-bes- t four goals and points in six straight games. Modano has been the fastest skater, even while double-shiftinand he plays key roles on both specialty teams. That's the kind of impact Nolan usually has. He was replaced by Alexander Korolyuk, a healthy scratch the previous three games. Korolyuk was rarely a factor. O on our nationally known name brand Cooper Tire. If you purchase our Cooper Tire and then find a lower advertised price on any like or equal name brand within 30 200 Belfour. 0 e nnnnf i mum iuu7o Luwtrt r V On the goal, Shields stopped a long slap shot from Hull, but allowed a long rebound into open ice. Modano beat two Sharks to the puck and fired it past a diving Shields, who finished with 17 " saves. Modano is playing at as high of a level this postseason as SM JOM said,-"Ther- PRICE GUARANTEE Belfour stones San Jose for second straight game DALLAS (AP) . BEST PRICE 4 ,4 flairs g 1 d short-hande- being his lack of play and production. Although he had the goal in the series opener against Florida, his playing time has diminished. He's minus-- in six playoff games. Coach Larry Robinson nearly scratched him Saturday night because he has not been skating well. He played just 12 shifts and 9 minutes,. 34 seconds on Saturday, but Robinson said he skated better. To tell you the truth, as long as the team wins, there is nothing to be down about," Gomez said Sunday." Rafalski, who played four years in Sweden and Finland before joining New Jersey this season, said it isn't hard to fit into the Devils system because everyone has a role. "We all know what "we need to do," Rafalski hasn't been much change coming to the playoffs. Mad Dog (Madden) is still killing off penalties and it seems his playing time has increased playing against the top, lines. game-winnin- 3 BILL JANSCHAThe Associated Press Access denied: San Jose center Vincent Damphousse, right, knocks down Dallas right wing Brett left, In front of Sharks goaltender Steve Sheilds on Sunday. surprise, with the surprise 8 8 7.50R16LT $102 8.75R16.5LT $99 9.50R16.5LT A g00d mechanic iS .Alignments NOT Hard tO find! Air Conditioning ' Askforour .fatftlnsnfiction5 proven professionals anASE-Certifie- d Technician Mufflers Brakes 5h0C,!S lune-up- 0iicnanges etc... 100 West 3p0 South ProvoUT 84601 (801)377-713- 3 s . . |