Outwitting the Dominator
Capitals gaining confidence against Hasek
Posted: Friday May 29, 1998 07:36 PM
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Not the Intimidator: Esa Tikkanen (left) and the Capitals have made Hasek look mortal (AP) |
BUFFALO, New York (AP) -- Richard Zednik often thinks back to when he was a kid growing up in the former Czechoslovakia, watching Dominik Hasek and hoping someday to meet his idol.
"Hasek was my hero," Zednik said Friday. "Back in Czechoslovakia, he was with the national team. I wanted to score on him -- like badly score on him. You always wanted to get one against him."
Now Zednik, a 22-year-old rookie, has not only scored one against Hasek, he's scored two. Both came Thursday night in the Washington Capitals' 4-3 overtime victory over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Washington knew coming into the series that it had to get past Hasek if the Caps were going to advance to the Stanley Cup for the first time in their 24-year history. The Capitals' problem was that they looked at Hasek the way Zednik did as a kid. Anybody walking into the front door at Marine Midland Arena sees a 16-foot replica of Hasek's jersey, adding to the impression that Hasek is larger than life, but Dominator or not, he's mortal.
"He's a great goalie," Zednik said. "Now we know we can score against Hasek. He's great, but if you have a great shot, there's nothing he can do about it."
Washington appeared to be in trouble after going scoreless against Hasek and losing Game 1. During one span that included the regular season, Hasek had held the Capitals scoreless for 175 minutes and 27 seconds. But after Peter Bondra broke through in Game 2, Hasek gave up seven goals on his next 47 shots and the Capitals won twice in overtime to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Kolzig has been a force in net for Washington, bettering Hasek through the first three games (AP) | |
"Maybe the aura has worn off," Caps goalie Olaf Kolzig said. "It's going to give our guys confidence knowing they can score on Hasek. It's going to be tough, but they know they can do it."
In Game 3, Washington scored twice on its first four shots, three times on its first 11. The Caps hope it continues for Saturday night's Game 4 in Buffalo. The Sabres have never come back from a 3-1 series deficit.
"Nobody predicted that we were going to win any of the series we've been in so far," Caps coach Ron Wilson said. "Nobody expects anything from the Capitals. It's been to our advantage."
Buffalo was much angrier with its own play than that of Hasek, who carried the team into the postseason and is the favorite to be named the NHL's most valuable player for the second straight year. He wasn't to blame fully for Thursday's loss despite mishandling Bondra's 30-foot slap shot in overtime. Buffalo had too many turnovers and made critical defensive mistakes on all four Washington goals.
"I think our players took some of Washington's players for granted over the last two games," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "There were some players out there who didn't realize who was on the ice."
Buffalo matched its top checking line of Michael Peca, Dixon Ward and Vaclav Varada against Washington's scoring line of Bondra, Zednik and Andre Nikolishin for Game 3. Bondra and Zednik each had two goals and one assist, and Nikolishin had three assists. All three moved freely through Buffalo's zone.
"God knows I was confused, and I'm sure Mike will tell you he was confused," Ward said. "When we're confused in front of [Hasek], it's bound to confuse him. It's not the goalie's fault. It's our fault."
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NHL Finals
