The pieces are there

All-Star Game gave Quinn a chance to experiment

Team Canada coach Pat Quinn used an Olympic line of Joe Sakic, Mario Lemieux and Paul Kariya at the All-Star Game last Saturday, but he also often included Olympians Rob Blake and Chris Pronger with them as a five-man unit.

Blake and Pronger are superb passers, especially with long breakouts, which could prove critical given the absence of a red line in the Olympic tournament. Sakic and Kariya have the speed to beat defenses and the smarts to use the open neutral zone. At the All-Star Game, the line proved dazzling but maybe a tad too cerebral. Instead of making the perfect last pass, these forwards will have to start taking shots when faced with the defensive pressure of actual Olympic competition.

Long-lost twins?

When the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim arrive at NHL arenas, autograph seekers are always yelling, "Paul, Paul." Maybe a third of the time they are screaming at Andy McDonald and not Paul Kariya.

The Ducks players call them The Twins because of their identical stature, even confusing the two from behind on occasions themselves. McDonald, a former Colgate All-American who was recalled from the minors two months into the season, does not have Kariya's skills but has been blessed with his rare work ethic. Listed at 5-foot-10, 173 pounds, McDonald is no one's ideal No. 1 center. But with Steve Rucchin's injuries, this buzzsaw has proved to be Anaheim's most effective.

B's ready to turn the corner

The Bruins have emerged as the top Eastern Conference challenger to Philadelphia, but they are two moves short from being co-favorites to reach the Stanley Cup final.

The first move will be internal when defenseman Kyle McLaren returns from an arm injury in mid-March, and the other could also come from within the team if general manager Mike O'Connell and coach Robbie Ftorek start trusting 21-year-old defenseman Jonathan Girard.

Boston needs another offensive-minded blueliner, something Girard brings with his skating and his shot, but his defensive lapses have had him bouncing back and forth between the lineup, the bench and now the minors. One of the key Bruins told me players are surprised that Boston hasn't given Girard more of a chance to fill an obvious need.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Michael Farber covers the NHL beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.

 

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