Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.sports From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: With veterans showing the way; Lightning take league by Date: Wed, 11 Nov 92 14:23:38 EST Message-ID: \SE D;SPORTS;NHL REPORT;NOTEBOOK \HD With veterans showing the way; Lightning take league by surprise \BY David Elfin \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES Boston Bruins assistant coach Tom McVie, who coached Washington in its second season, 1975-76, and also guided Winnipeg's entry into the NHL in 1979, was asked what it's like to coach an expansion team. "War is hell, but expansion is worse," said the always-blunt McVie. "I'm the only guy walking on this planet who coached three expansion teams and lived to talk about it. Oh, maybe there are one or two others, but they're in a home somewhere, weaving baskets." That's what many thought Tampa Bay's Terry Crisp would be doing soon after returning to the NHL this season with the expansion Lightning. The Sporting News' Larry Wigge even suggested last summer after Lightning general manager Phil Esposito signed European retreads Chris Kontos and John Tucker, that the 50-year-old Hall of Famer might want to come out of retirement and join Tampa's power play. Instead, Espo and Crisp have put together perhaps the best expansion team ever. After stunning the Rangers 5-1 Monday in New York, they're 7-8-2 overall and 3-0-1 against Norris Division rivals Chicago and St. Louis. Only Pittsburgh superstar Mario Lemieux has more goals than Kontos' 16. Tucker, meanwhile, has a team-high 14 assists. "I keep pinching myself to make sure it's real," said captain Rob Ramage, one of six veteran defensemen on the Lightning, who have outscored their foes 62-55 and are 4-3 at home. Kontos' tale has been well-documented, but the 28-year-old Tucker, who scored a career-high 31 goals and 65 points for Buffalo in 1985-86, is almost as much of a reclamation project after producing just 11 points in 38 games for the Sabres and New York Islanders in 1990-91, and spending last season in Italy. "John's working hard, killing penalties and playing the power play for us," Crisp said. "He and Chris know this is their last shot. They have to play to their potential and they're doing that. The question is how they'll be doing in January." Montreal right wing Mike Keane, whose Canadiens are on a 10-0-1 tear, doesn't have any questions about the Lightning. "Everyone compares them to [expansion partner] Ottawa, but you can't do that," Keane said. "Ottawa [which is 0-13-1 since shocking Montreal in its opener] has mostly young players and minor-leaguers. Tampa Bay has only NHL players." The NHL's other Sunbelt team has been almost as surprising as the Lightning. The experts wrote off Los Angeles in September when the league's all-time leading scorer, Wayne Gretzky, was lost for the season with a herniated disk. Instead, the Kings were 10-4-1 before visiting Winnipeg last night and had outscored their foes 72-54. "We knew we were going to be without Wayne for a long time," said veteran Kings goalie Kelly Hrudey. "We've really stuck together. This is the closest team I've ever been on." Kings owner Bruce McNall lured six-time Edmonton all-star right wing Jari Kurri back from Italy last season to play with buddy Gretzky, but the old magic was gone. Kurri scored just 23 goals and 60 points and posted a minus-24 defensive rating. First-year coach Barry Melrose has rejuvenated the 32-year-old Finn by moving him into Gretzky's spot as L.A.'s No. 1 center. After his six-point night Sunday in San Jose, Kurri was fourth in the NHL with 31 points and was leading the league with a plus-22 rating. Teammates owned three of the next four spots in the plus-minus ratings. Kurri and linemates Luc Robitaille and Tomas Sandstrom combined for seven goals and 17 points in Sunday's 11-4 rout of San Jose. In 16 games, the trio has produced 35 goals and 80 points. Robitaille just became the 91st player to score 300 career goals. "It was like the puck was on a string," said Kings right wing Mike Donnelly. "Some of the plays they were making were just phenomenal." That's what Los Angeles has been at home (6-1). Only Pittsburgh (7-0-1) and Montreal (8-0-1) are better. It looks like visiting teams should leave their golf clubs behind and concentrate on hockey when they get to Florida and Southern California. Trivia time - Who holds the record for most goals and most points by a player on an expansion team (not counting the four teams brought in by the merger with the World Hockey Association)? Bargain basement - Despite their great start, the Bruins will regret waiving Bob Sweeney last month. Adams Division rival Buffalo and Calgary both claimed him. After deadlocks in the first four tiebreakers, Sweeney was finally awarded to Buffalo because its goal differential last season was one worse than Calgary's. Sweeney produced just six goals and 14 assists in 63 games with Boston last season, but the 28-year-old center has given the Sabres a big boost with seven goals, including two game-winners, and eight assists in 13 games. Sweeney is third in the NHL with a 34.8 shooting percentage and sixth with a plus-12 defensive rating. Trivia answer - Gilbert Perreault started his Hall of Fame career with the Buffalo Sabres with 38 goals and 72 points in 1970-71. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM