In The Crease

Director of officiating Andy Van Hellemond deserves credit for remaining vigilant about his anti-slashing campaign. Before last Saturday's Maple Leafs-Rangers game in Toronto, he showed referees Stephen Walkom and Don Van Massenhoven video replays of a slashing incident that hadn't been whistled in an Islanders-Devils match the previous night. (Those two were not the refs.) Through the first two months of last season seven players suffered hand injuries directly related to slashing, while none had over the same span this year....

One reason for the Canadiens' improved play (4-2-1) since general manager R�jean Houle and coach Alain Vigneault were fired two weeks ago is the addition of Rick Green as assistant coach. Green, an NHL defenseman for 15 years, has done a terrific job with Montreal's back line, giving the unit more direction than it had before....

With defenseman Derek Morris ending his holdout with the Flames, don't be surprised to see Stanley Cup-worthy teams trying to pry power-play specialist Phil Housley from Calgary....

As enforcers Stu Grimson of the Kings and Dale Purinton of the Rangers jostled for position before a face-off in a game last week, linesman Ray Scapinello told them, "I guess you boys are going to go." When the puck was dropped, Grimson and Purinton immediately fought. Proof that all hockey fights aren't spontaneous....

How tough is Toronto defenseman Dimitry Yushkevich? After having two toes broken on Nov. 29, when he blocked a slap shot by the Blues' Al MacInnis, he wanted to play in the Leafs' next game. Team doctors required him to sit out because they were concerned that his toes would get infected—a bone in one of them had popped through the skin. Yushkevich, however, played in the following match three days later....

Coyotes general manager Bobby Smith, who was expected to be fired when Wayne Gretzky's ownership group officially took control of the team, looks as if he'll survive, in part because of Phoenix's 13-8-6 start.