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 Sabres report No mercy exists in Stanley Cup battles
Posted: Saturday June 12, 1999 07:07 PM
BUFFALO, N.Y. (CNN/SI) -- War has been declared in the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup finals and the Buffalo Sabres are wondering if the conflict will have any rules. Early in the fray, the Sabres protested that Dallas' Brian Skrudland head-butted Sabres forward Vaclav Varada in Game 1. The league reviewed the incident and basically said that what's good for the regular season isn't necessarily the case in the playoffs. "There is a difference in the playoffs than during the regular season," said NHL vice president Colin Campbell, the man charged with handing out supplemental discipline. "There's a lot at stake here. We would sit a player to prove a point in the regular season, but this is different." Skrudland clearly hit Varada and the act normally is punishable by a penalty and or a suspension, but there was neither. Varada was not seriously injured, but the Sabres, who have been on the short side of penalty calls through the first two games in Dallas, were furious. "That was a terrible call," Varada said. "It was a cheap shot. The referee, [Bill] McCreary, looked at him then right at my eyes. He told me there was nothing. I couldn't believe it ... They have a very old team. When you're older than 35, you can get way with anything." The penalty for head butting is usually a five-minute major and can go as high as a game misconduct and a suspension. That seems to have opened a door for a death match, WWF style. In Game 2, Skrudland ran Sabres goalie Dominik Hasek from behind. Normally that too is punishable by anything from a two-minute minor to a five-minute major to a game misconduct. Skrudland, who plays about six minutes a game, clearly targeted Hasek for the hit, which is illegal in a variety of ways. Players are not allowed to hit other players from behind and goaltenders are not allowed to be hit at any time. Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said he didn't care, and if Hasek continued to play like a third defenseman (handling the puck outside his crease), his team would play him as such. The Stars also railed about a hit Sabres defenseman Jay McKee put on their scoring star, Mike Modano. Modano is said to have suffered a wrist injury (there's also some speculation that he has a damaged shoulder). Hitchcock then said if the Sabres feel they can hurt the Stars' best player, they have no alternative than to hit the Sabres' best player, which Hitchcock then announced was Hasek. All this is as much a mind exercise as it is a war game, but it's certainly raised the stakes in a series that is really just getting started. "We're talking about the big prize here," said Sabres coach Lindy Ruff. "There's nothing fair right now. I want to do anything to win. Hitch is going to be the same way." Despite subplots, Hasek says he's fine
Hasek has been playing down the lingering effects of a groin strain that has bothered him for much of the second half of the regular season and caused him to miss the first two games in the Eastern Conference finals against Toronto. Hasek played more than 75 minutes, kept the Sabres in the game early and finished with 35 saves. He was slow getting to his feet in overtime because his body was cramping, and did not join his teammates in the post-game celebration. The Dominator said he gulped down several bottles of water before and during the game, but it was not enough to overcome the heat in stuffy Reunion Arena. "There is only a certain amount you can drink," Hasek said. "If your stomach starts to feel upset after you drink two bottles of water, then you can't drink anymore. I don't plan to do anything differently." Hasek said he had the jitters all day and after the opening faceoff, a sign that everything was fine. He was unsettled early in the game before turning in one of his best performances in weeks. "It is good to be nervous," Hasek said. "It keeps you more focused, more concentrated. The pressure, I believe, is what helps me to play better. I was pretty nervous, but I played pretty well." He played almost as well in Game 2 and did not appear to have any dehydration problems. Grosek battling more than back spasmsSabres winger Michal Grosek is having back spasms again but also appears to be in Ruff's doghouse. Grosek played just 21 seconds before he slammed into the boards in Game One and did not return. He has had back problems for the last several weeks and was sidelined for three games in the playoffs, partly because he played poorly. Grosek was replaced by Paul Kruse in Game Two. He later said he was fit to play, but Ruff did not seem interested in accommodating him. Family historyStars coach Ken Hitchcock had a good laugh at Dixon Ward's expense after the Sabres winger accused Dallas of embellishing a few calls. Hitchcock coached against Ward when he was growing up in Leduc, Alberta, and has known Ward's family for years. "I've heard that from Dixon since he was 10 years old, so it doesn't surprise me," Hitchcock said. "As a matter of fact I heard it from his father before Dixon was born. Dixon was great at it when he was in minor hockey in Leduc. He must be teaching some of our players." Ward said he expected his father was laughing out loud when he read of the remarks. Jim Kelley covers the NHL -- and the Sabres -- for the Buffalo News. His Sabres Report on the Stanley Cup finals appears regularly on CNNSI.com. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer.
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