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Tuesday, January 30, 2001
Hasek hopes second half is team's better half
By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell
Special to ESPN.com
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When Dominik Hasek takes the ice as the starter for the World Team at the Feb. 4 All-Star Game in Denver, there are those who believe it will be for the last time. Hasek had announced that last season was going to be his final one before retirement, but a groin injury that limited him to just 35 games was one of the reasons he wanted to come back this season.
|  | | Dominik Hasek says the Sabres miss Michael Peca. |
Hasek, who turns 36 on Monday, had a tough start to this season but has turned his fortunes around in recent weeks. The five-time Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL's top goalie and two-time Hart Trophy winner as the league MVP believes he still has something to prove.
When asked how he would rate how he has played to this point, Hasek said he wasn't satisfied.
"The first half of the season, I wasn't pleased with my performance," he said. "The team played pretty well but I believe that if I'd played better, it could have been different. Maybe eight more points. I felt good with the way I practiced, the way I feel, I have had so many problems with injuries. I felt great but only in the game I was struggling a bit and I think it's something I can improve in the second half of the season."
Hasek's numbers and performances, and we're not talking about the $7.5 million he's earning this season, had actually been pretty mortal until recently. He is sporting a 2.24 goals-against average and .918 save percentage (off from his career average of .926) and although he has six shutouts, half of those have come against poor teams – the Islanders, Anaheim and Florida.
Buffalo is by no means a great club but it is one that is in the hunt with more than at least a half dozen teams that could make noise in the Eastern Conference. If Hasek can get on a roll, for which he has become so well known such as during the 1999 Stanley Cup run, the Sabres could at least have a chance. One thing that bothers Hasek, though, is the absence of former captain Michael Peca, who has missed the entire season thus far due to a contract dispute. In order for Buffalo to go as far as it can, Hasek believes they need Peca.
"I am upset about that," he said. "It is very sad what happened and I really wish to have Michael back on the ice and playing in front of me because not only is he a very good offensive player but first of all, he is a great defensive forward. Maybe the best in the league, for sure one of the best three in the league and I wish to have him back in front of me."
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I believe with (Michael Peca), we could have maybe 6-10 more points and we could be in first place in our division. I don't know, I hope something is going to change before the season is over. ” |
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— Dominik Hasek |
Hasek said he firmly believes the Sabres would be in much better position than the middle of the Northeast Division if Peca were signed and playing.
"I believe with him, we could have maybe 6-10 more points and we could be in first place in our division," he said. "I don't know, I hope something is going to change before the season is over and if Michael cannot get a contract here in Buffalo, I think it is better if the organization trades (him) and maybe bring in some other good players to Buffalo and we will be happy – both the Sabres and Michael will be happy. But I am not in charge."
One area where Hasek is most definitely in charge is in the net. But how well they do will depend on some other factors in addition to Hasek. The Sabres' offense hasn't been very great – inconsistent at best – and although the defense has played well, it remains to be seen how far they can be expected to advance.
"I like our team," said Hasek. "I don't think our team is worse than two years ago (when they went to the finals). I believe this team is even better, we made some trades and I feel with Michael Peca back (the team would be much better). In the first half, I really didn't play at my best. I didn't play bad but I could play better. With Michael back, I believe we can be in first place in our division. But unfortunately, Michael is not back and I didn't play so well in the first half. So I hope the second half is going to be better for myself and with somebody else, with help from Michael Peca or somebody else, we can get home-ice advantage before the playoffs start."
Hasek said he won't commit to anything beyond this year. He said he wouldn't rule out playing for his country in the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City but he wouldn't say whether this would be the year he retires. He said he's holding everything in obeyance.
"There won't be anything set until the season is over," he said. "After the season, I'll make other decisions. But like I said, I don't want to say anything until the season is over. After the season, I will sit down with my wife and the organization and I will make some decision. But right now, I want to be only be focused on the season and the playoffs so you won't hear anything else from me."
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CHECK IT OUT
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Hockey talk
"It's never fun to be in a drought especially when your team needs some goals. Sometimes you get chances and you hit the post. I've hit some posts or the goalie has made some big saves and I've just missed some shots. After that happens a few times, it seems like you start gripping your stick a little tighter and they don't come as easy."
– Bruins' center Jason Allison, who scored his first goal in 15 games, which turned out to be the game winner against Toronto.
The number
The percent of faceoffs Maple Leafs' center Yanic Perreault won through games of Jan. 22, which was tops in the league.
Infirmary report
The NHL computer this week told the Montreal Canadiens something they already knew – too many of their players are hurt. At the start of the week, when the club attempted to file its injury report to the league computer, the computer spit it back at the team, saying it only allows 10 players on injured reserve at any one time. Unfortunately for the ailing Canadiens, they had 11. Chad Kilger subsequently became No. 12. The last time the Canadiens had no one on injured reserve was in November of 1995. |
Inside the locker room
There's a real good news/bad news chemistry between Toronto forwards Darcy Tucker and Shayne Corson, who besides being linemates are brothers in law. Corson's sister is married to Tucker. The two, who are emotionally charged on their own as well as together, got into hot water last weekend in a game against Buffalo. Sabres' tough guy Rob Ray said something nasty to Corson late in the third period, reportedly an insult of the family variety, and Tucker took equal exception to it. As a result of their quest for vigilante justice against Ray, both ended up with misconducts within two minutes of each other. Coach Pat Quinn said he's not quite yet worried that they can be knocked off their game. "It's possible they get duped in and they have to be cautious of that," said Quinn. "They both are emotional guys and we have them together because they like to play together and because that emotion, sometimes, has a good effect."
Northeast Division
The Senators are hoping once they get back forward Magnus Arvedson that he will be able to be healthy for the stretch run and the playoffs. Arvedson has been sidelined since Jan. 10 when he slammed knees with Vancouver's Mike Stapleton. He isn't expected back until after the All-Star break. His knee has no structural damage but it's badly bruised. It's been a rough year for the forward. He has 20 points in the 21 games he's played but he missed 19 because of a broken foot suffered Nov. 16. He returned for just four games before suffering the latest mishap. He missed 35 games last year with a freak abdominal injury that required surgery as a result of slamming into the bench door ... The Maple Leafs' power play has been awful at the Air Canada Centre. In the last eight home games, Toronto has gone 0 for 36 on the man advantage ... The Bruins are also struggling on the power play. Heading into their game Friday against Buffalo, Boston was 0 for 18 over their last four games.
Atlantic Division
One of the more pleasant surprises during the Flyers' very up and down season has been the performance of forward Ruslan Fedotenko, who has risen to the team's top line with Mark Recchi and Keith Primeau. The left wing, who's only 22, was laboring in the East Coast League a year ago for a time because the AHL Phantoms had no place for him. When Recchi suffered a concussion, the team brought up Fedotenko and he's been impressing ever since. His chief role is as a defensive presence ... It was an eerie moment in the Devils' victory over the Dallas Stars, a rematch of the Stanley Cup finals. Forward Petr Sykora was drilled by Brendan Morrow. Although he was all right, it harkened back to last year's Game 6 of the finals when towering Stars' defenseman Derian Hatcher hit Sykora so hard, the forward had to be taken to the hospital.
Southeast Division
Remember when Peter Bondra was demanding a trade from Washington? Well, things have changed dramatically on that front. Now, Bondra's agent reportedly is set to discuss a pact extension with the sniper. Bondra has been on fire of late. With Wednesday's win over Florida, during which Bondra scored both Washington goals, Bondra has seven game winners, second in the NHL. He has had the deciding goal in five of the club's last nine victories and has 14 goals and a total of 21 points in the last 16 games. Bondra has 26 goals after potting only 21 all last year ... Despite their woeful stretch (0-9-3 in their last 12 heading into Thursday night), Atlanta general manager Don Waddell said he isn't considering a goalie swap. The club has been hit hard by injuries but neither goalie Damian Rhodes nor Milan Hnilicka have done all that well. Rhodes, particularly, has had a hard time. In his last five starts, he surrendered 18 goals and was 0-5-3 in eight decisions since beating the Rangers back on Dec. 28.
Nancy Marrapese-Burrell of the Boston Globe covers the Eastern Conference for ESPN.com.
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