The Prince George Citizen - Thursday, May 9, 2002 - 9 H o c k e y

Koivu surprising himself Leafs regain respect MONTREAL (CP) — Only a few ease into remission, but to make a dra­ months ago, Saku Koivu wasn’t sure matic return to the ice with three (CP) — The Maple Leafs kept their emotions, if he would live to play hockey again. games left in the regular season. and the , in check Wednesday night and Now, he is not only back on ice for Some thought he w ouldn’t con­ that’s why they’re heading back to Toronto with their series the , but he’s the tribute much beyond the emotional tied 2-2. team’s scoring leader in a surprising boost his return brought to his team­ Alyn McCauley scored the tying and winning goals in the NHL playoff run. mates, but the gritty centre from second period as the Maple Leafs beat the Senators 2-1, “I’ve surprised myself,” Koivu said Tlirku, Finland, has been spectacular. their first road win of the post-season. Wednesday. “Even before the play­ In nine playoff games, he has four “We were smart aggressive, not too aggressive,” said Mc­ offs I had some doubts if I could play goals and six assists, tied for third Cauley. “We initiated a lot, we were there with our checks, and how I would react. After every place in post-season scoring going in­ we didn’t retaliate, we were patient, we were more reliable. game I evaluate myself and see how I to Wednesday night’s games. “It was just the kind of game we needed to play.” feel physically. I still don’t know how Til “Right now, he’s one of the best Game 5 of the best-of-seven series is Friday at Toronto. feel tomorrow or the next day.” players in the league,” coach Michel “It’s far from over,” said Leafs defenceman Bryan McCabe. The Canadiens captain has scored Therrien said. “It’s tough to describe “We’ve got home-ice advantage back.” the opening in each of the his performance.” Wade Redden scored early in the second period to give team’s last two games to help his club Koivu scored Montreal’s first goal of Ottawa a 1-0 lead, but the Senators couldn’t hold on and take a 2-1 lead in its best-of-seven the playoffs in a 5-2 victory over Boston suffered their first home loss of the playoffs. It was also their Eastern Conference semifinal series in Game 1 of an opening round, six- first regulation loss of the post-season. against the . game series win over the Bruins. “I didn’t think we had good focus,” said Ottawa coach Jacques Game 4 is set for tonight at the After the Canadiens listlessly Martin. “We have to play better than that if we want to win.” Molson Centre (PGTV, 4 p.m. PDT). dropped the opener of the Carolina Added Sens defenceman Curtis Leschyshyn: “We need to Koivu, 27, was diagnosed with non- series 2-0 last Friday night in execute with a little bit more passion.” Hodgkin’s lymphoma, just before Raleigh, N.C., it was Koivu who ral­ The Senators thought they had tied the game with 26 sec­ training camp in September and was lied the team with a crushing hit on onds left during a wild scramble in front of the Leafs net. As given only a 50-50 chance of survival. the Josef Vasicek of the Hurricanes in the Senators celebrated and the horn blew at the Corel Cen­ Eight intensive chemotherapy treat­ the first period of game two. tre, referee Kevin Pollock called for a video ruling when it ments, hours of rehab work and an im­ Moments later, he dug a rebound appeared that M arian Hossa may have jammed the puck measurable amount of determination out of Kevin Weekes’ pads past Curtis Joseph. allowed Koivu to not only send the dis­ and scored to start a 4-1 Habs win. The video ruling went against the Senators prompting some of the 18,500 fans to litter the ice with garbage, caus­ ing a brief delay. “It didn’t cross the line, so there is nothing (for Ottawa) to We’re in the get upset about,” said McCauley. Joseph made several excellent stops for the Leafs and fin­ Service Industry ished with 24 saves. But Toronto got the win thanks to Mc­ • S e a n M oldowan Cauley, the fourth-line centre during the regular season pressed into prime-time duty because of an injury to captain • Jacqu elin e Cane . McCauley has three goals and six assists in the • D ennis Sm ith playoffs after collecting just six goals and 10 assists in 82 • Mary MacDonald regular-season games. CP photo Stop by and check us out! “This is the first game in my NHL career with two goals, so Alyn McCauley celebrates one of his two goals, 5 6 4 -3 4 0 0 it was a good time for it,” said McCauley. “I wanted to be a scored Wednesday in a 2 -1 ’ win strong playoff contender in both ends but this has been be­ over the Ottawa Senators. yond my wildest expectations.” Ottawa council passes ‘Cujo Law’ OTTAWA (CP) — City council resolved duce a motion declaring the perimeter of the Wednesday that the Toronto Maple Leafs players hockey arena an official “no-cry” zone. and coaches no longer w ill be allowed to com­ “It’s called the Cujo Law,” after Toronto goal­ plain about bad officiating when inside or within tender Curtis Joseph, said Rick Chiarelli. “For the 500 metres of the Corel Centre. Leafs, there are two kinds of games: those they The mayor and all 21 councillors wore Ottawa lose because of the officiating and those they win Senators jerseys to their meeting to support the despite the officiating.” NHL team in its battle against their provincial rivals. Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman was not impressed As the meeting was called to order, Mayor Bob with the motion. Chiarelli suspended the normal rules of order — “Is this an amendment to the ‘no fun allowed in for which he cited “extraordinary circumstances” Ottawa’ bylaw?” asked Lastman, who went on to — in order to allow Coun. Rick Chiarelli to intro­ call Ottawa “the town that fun forgot.” Avs rebound against Sharks SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — There were no offensive fire­ blown for a Colorado several works or defensive blunders for the — seconds earlier, but wasn’t heard by just a workmanlike victory. Marleau or Roy above the crowd noise. Captain scored two goals, and Patrick Roy Colorado quickly added another stopped 19 shots as the Avalanche beat the score on Sakic’s fifth goal of the play­ 4-1 Wednesday night, tying their Western Conference semi­ offs. San Jose defenceman Scott Han­ final series at two games apiece. nan made critical errors on both goals, Rob Blake opened the scoring with his fifth goal in three w ith Blake streaking behind him and games for the Avalanche, who won with a defensive tenaci­ Sakic muscling past him for a quick ty lacking during San Jose’s two victories in the series. Roy between Nabokov’s pads. was rarely tested in winning his 143rd career playoff game. Selanne scored by redirecting cap­ Game 5 of the best-of-seven series is Friday night in Den­ tain ’s shot during a pow­ ver, with Game 6 Monday in San Jose. er play in the opening minute of the A sellout crowd at the Shark Tank never had the opportu­ second period, but Sakic put it out of nity to get excited during the Avalanche’s methodical win, reach early in the third period when which ended with 38 1/2 scoreless minutes before Milan Nabokov allowed Sakic’s fairly inno­ 890 Victoria Street locally owned & operated j * —4 PRINCE GtORGE Prince George, BC i Hejduk’s empty-net goal. cent shot to slide under him. C i t i z e n email: princegeorgenbOtelus.net56 2 ”1333 I The defending champions always seem to fix their problems just in time to avoid trouble, both in the regular season and the playoffs. The Avalanche’s defencemen, who LIGHT TRUCK ACCESSORY SALE provided so little support for Roy in Game 3, were rock-solid, BUCKET SEATS WITH REDUCES SWAY while their offensive stars got the big points expected of them. |T ir e s t o n e INCREASE SAFETY BETTERBUILT CONSOLE/3RD SEAT. Peter Forsberg, the playoffs’ leading scorer, had two as­ ^ RIDE*fliTE*Alr Helper Springs ADJUSTABLE. ALUMIUM TOOL A S LOW AS CHANGE THE PRES­ sists as Colorado won at the Shark Tank for the sixth time in BOXES. SURE, CHANGE THE $ 1 3 4 9 .0 0 RIDE. seven games since January 2000. YOUR CHOICE OF EITHER GREAT FOR PICKUPS Teemu Selanne scored his fourth goal in four games for SINGLE OR DUAL LID HAULING CAMPERS. the Sharks. A breakaway goal in the first period by Patrick CROSS BED TOOL BOXES ARIES "NO-DRILL" GRILL GUARDS. FROM Marleau was disallowed, and Colorado stopped Marleau’s OR JOCKEY BOX DESIGNS. ALL FEATURE BLACK OR STAINLESS eight-game points streak. $ 3 2 9 .0 0 LOCKING PADDLE HAN­ FINISH. In Game 3, Colorado blew a lead entering the third period DLES AND GAS PROPS per set for the first time all season, as San Jose scored three unan­ ON THE UD(S) 1 5 % OFF swered goals in its 6-4 victory. This time, the Avalanche fixed every problem that led to 29 combined goals in the PERFORMANCE BULBS EXTREME CATCHALL FLOOR LINERS first three games of the series. UPGRADE THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT AVAILABLE IN TAN, Roy improved to 8-0 in playoff games after allowing more SYSTEM ON YOUR CAR, VAN OR PICKUP. BLACK OR GREY. THE ORIGINAL HEADLIGHTS. SIMPLY FOR MOST LIGHT than six goals with the Avalanche. His counterpart, Evgeni PLUG IN A SET OF PIAA BULBS. TRUCKS, VANS AND NEW FOR 2002 Nabokov, stopped 21 shots but was left helpless by San • FACTORY WATTAGE. SUV'S. Jose’s defensive mistakes on Colorado’s first two goals. • INSTALLS IN MINUTES. SIMPLY DROPS IN STAMPEDE "CHROME SERIES" For the second straight game, Blake gave the Avalanche • LEGAL IN ALL PROVINCES/STATES. 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The Grrrowl lead the best-of-seven Kelly Cup final 3-0 INTERIOR OFFROAD EQUIPMENT LTD. heading into Game 4 on Friday at Dayton. 1594 NICHOLSON STREET, (JUST OFF 15TH AVENUE) PRINCE GEORGE Colin Pepperall of Niagara Falls, Ont., added a goal and 562-6760 OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK TO SERVE YOU. WE INSTALL WHAT WE SELL !! an assist for the Grrrowl. HELP US CELEBRATE NATIONAL PHYSIOTHERAPY MONTH April 20 to May 20, 2002 in t o

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