The Prince George Citizen — Thursday, October 9,1986 — 13

MARK ALLAN S p o r t s Sports editor

O ilers looking to avenge defeat

by GRANT KERR traded to the Rangers. Canadian Press General manager C liff Fletcher of the Flames is It should be a year of redemption for the possibly NHL also-rans hoping to im proveconvinced the NHL is headed into a new era, but it humble Edmonton Oilers as the National Hockey might have been wishful thinking when he stated, League begins its 70th season tonight with nine “ The days of one team winning two, three or four games. Cups in a row are over.” The Oilers want to re-affirm their grip on the pro Fletcher made two key moves last season when he game after the infamous Flame-out last spring in the acquired wingers John Tonelli and Joe Mullen. They Stanley Cup playoffs. provided two ingredients — Tonelli’s determination Edmonton’s second-round playoff elimnination by and Mullen’s scoring touch — that allowed the Flames the rough-and-tumble Calgary Flames — a coaching to beat the Oilers. There will be more last-minute masterpiece by Bob Johnson in the area of technical additions this time around as Calgary closes the gap preparation — paved the road for the Montreal Cana­ on Edmonton. diens to eventually win the Stanley Cup. Now it’s up The rest of the division is a tossup: The Winnipg to the Oilers to establish themselves again as the Jets have a great offensive threat in Dale Hawerchuk, team of the decade. a new coach in Dan Maloney, but instability on de­ fence and in goal; the Vancouver Canucks have a res­ “ This is a team with a lot of talent and a lot of dedi­ first-place Quebec Nordiques from the last-place Buf­The Flyers should repeat as regular-season cham­ pected coach in Tom Watt, but poor drafting over the cation,” says Oiler coach-general manager Glen Sath­ falo Sabres. Montreal was second a year ago and the pions because they’re more talented than the system­ er. " I think they’re just waiting for the opportunity to years has left the shelves bare; the Los Angeles Kings Habs have a reserve of impressive young talent foratic Capitals. Philadelphia has a better power play redeem themselves.” have two potential stars in rookies Luc Robitallie and their defence of the Stanley Cup. with Tim Kerr’s scoring, a more mobile defence with Some observers believe the emergence of Montreal Jimmy Carson, but big problems with goaltending. Young forwards Claude Lemieux (four playoff Mwin­ ark Howe and a goaltender in Bob Froese who is and Calgary as Stanley Cup finalists was an indication ning goals), Stephane Richer, Kjell Dahlin, Shane Cor­ more reliable than tne Washington duo of Pete Peet­ of parity reaching the NHL. The more realistic analy­ ______Norris Division______son and Sergio Momesso blend nicely with seasoned ers and Al Jensen. sis indicates the Oilers weren’t prepared for the pros Mats Naslund, Bobby Smith and Guy Carbon- Washington lost a key centre when Bengt Gustafs- The Chicago Black Hawks, the Minnesota North tough, physical play of the Flames under the master­ neau. The defence is deep and brilliant Patrick Roy is son returned to his native Sweden. Young Czechoslo­Stars and St. Louis finished three points apart last ful choreography of Johnson. solid in goal. vakian defector Michal Pivonka will need a year of season. There’s no indication the division race w ill be Edmonton nad 119 regular-season points in 1985-86, Quebec has made no substantial change to the li­ seasoning before he can be expected to produce withany different this time. The most improvement proba­ nine more than the Philadelphia Flyers, and were neup of a year ago which folded in the first round ofthe consistency of Gustafsson. bly w ill come from the Toronto Maple Leafs, led by clearly the best team going into the playoffs, just as the playoffs against the upstart Hartford Whalers. The The Rangers have a determined coach in Ted Sator their hard-hitting young winger Wendel Clark. they had been in winning two straight Stanley Cups. Nordiques focus around gritty centre Peter Stastnyand a refreshing new general manager in Phil Esposi­ There are three new coaches in the division: Jac­ But, the playoffs are an entirely different situation and, when he falters, so do the Nords. to. What the Rangers don’t have is enough offence toques Demers jumped ship in going to the Detroit Red and Edmonton had difficulty with the physical mat­ Hartford had a sensational season in making the keep up with the Flyers and Caps. Vanbiesbrouck will Wings from St. Louis, with Jacques Martin taking chups against Calgary in a gruelling seven-game playoffs for the first time and could move up in keep the them close, but that’s about all. over the Blues while John Brophy guides the Leafs af­ Smythe Division final. standings. Centres Ron Francis, Ray Ferraro and The Pittsburgh Penguins have the games’s second- ter the resignation of Maloney. Sather will stress mental toughness this season in Dean Evason are talented offensive players, with the best player in centre Mario Lemieux and might edge Minnesota coach Lome Henning has enough talent putting the welfare of the team ahead of individual goaltending handled by dependable Mike Liut. into the playoffs ahead of the declining New York to win, but the North Stars often seem short on desire. accomplishments. The Oilers obviously have the talent The Boston Bruins and Buffalo are headed downhill. Islanders. The Isles have a new coach in Terry Simp­ Minnesota has the division’s best line with the under­ to bounce back, if the minds are willing. Boston traded away efficient centre Barry Pederson son, who follows in the footsteps of Al Arbour, rated the Neal Broten between snipers Scott Bjugstad and The playoff accomplishments of divisional winners and the goaltending may be handled by a rookie, Bill man who guided the Islanders to four straight Stanley Dino Ciccarelli. Montreal, Calgary, the New York Rangers and the St. Ranford. The Sabres missed the playoffs last season Cups in the early 1980s. The New Jersey Devils are a Chicago added toughness when free-agent defence­ Louis Blues were commendable last spring, but now after the stockpiling of high draft choices failed toyear away from being a playoff contender with their man Gary Nylund bolted from the Leafs, but the goal- comes the moment of truth for all — and the Oilers produce the young legs desperately needed in Buffalo.numerous high draft cnoices. tending is still suspect. St. Louis will miss Demers be­ still have the deepest talent pool in the NHL. hind the bench, Toronto will have an entertaining Only the Oilers can answer the lingering doubt team with the enthusiasm of Clark and Detroit will about their willingness to put the team ahead of the Smythe Division ______Patrick Division______finish last, even with Demers in charge. individual. It's an aspect of the game which was viv­ The Oilers will win again, but not 30 points ahead of Divisional playoff predictions: Adams — Montre­ idly evident by the success of others in the playoffs. Philadelphia and the Washington Capitals also had their problems in the playoffs as both lost to the de­Calgary. Edmonton has the game’s superstars in six­ al; Patrick — Philadelphia; Smythe — Edmonton: ______Adams Division______fensive-minded Rangers. The Flyers had 110 regular- tim e scoring champion Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey, Norris — Minnesota. season points and the Capitals 107, compared with 78Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson, Mark Messier and goal­ Conference playoffs: Wales — Philadelphia over The Canadiens do not have a lock on their division, for the Rangers, who rode the sensational goaltending tender Grant Fuhr. The defence is unsettled after Montreal; Campbell — Edmonton over Minnesota. an alignment in which only 12 points separated the of John Vanbiesbrouck to a divisional title. Randy Gregg retired and tough-guy Don Jackson was Stanley Cup final: Edmonton over Philadelphia. ONE RUN ALL ASTROS NEED Hot Scott mows down Mets

HOUSTON (AP) - Mike Scott five earned runs and struck out22 an NL playoff record, allowed fivesecond base in the sixth inning to and Glenn Davis followed a well- in 23% innings. hits and matched another playoff become the first Met baserunner in defined script en route to1-0 a vic­ “ It would be nice if we could mark by recording four strikeoutsscoring position. But he died there tory over the New York Mets in score a few runs for Scotty,” As­in a row. as Hernandez and Gary Carter the first game of their National tros second baseman Bill Doran Meanwhile, Davis made Mets struck out. League playoff series. said. “ He looked tonight like when starter Dwight Gooden pay for one Darryl Strawberry singled in the Scott, accustomed to throwinghe threw the no-hitter. of his few mistakes with a home ninth, stole second base and went low-hit games and getting no hit­ “ We know if we score one run run in his first playoff at-bat. to third on Wilson’s groundout to ting support from his teammates,for Mike we’ve got a chance. If we It was the first playoff home runDavis. He was the only Met to nursed Davis’s second-inning home score a few runs, our chances forever for an Astro player, and onlyreach third base, but could only run through nine gruelling innings victory go way up.” Joe Morgan and Rick Sutcliffe watch as Scott fanned Ray Knight Wednesday night and made it The Astros made up for theirhave hit homers in their first to end the game. stand up, putting the Astros up 1-0lack of hitting with several key playoff at bat. Scott left two key Mets, Carter in the best-of-seven series. fielding gems. Davis was pleased to get the and Hernandez, fuming. The Astros had their chances, B illy Hatcher and Jose Cruz game-winner o ff the 1985 Cy Young Carter drew boos from the sel­ but failed to score twice after load­made running catches in the sec­ Award winner. lout crowd of 44,131 when he asked ing the bases with one out and left ond and sixth innings to preserve Davis drove a 1-0 pitch over thehome plate umpire Doug Harvey to a total of eight runners stranded. the shutout. left-centre field fence. check for illegal scuff marks on But that was nothing new for Davis made an even bigger play Scott, who threw his first career the ball in the first inning. Scott, who suffered all season from— a diving stab of Mookie Wilson’s no-hitter Sept. 25 to clinch the NL Hernandez and Carter each a lack of hitting support by his hot grounder that he flipped toWestern Division title for the As­ struck out three times. Hernandez teammates. At one point, Scott had Scott for the second out in thetros, didn’t allow a hit until Keith was irate after being called out on a three-game losing streak during ninth inning. Hernandez singled in the fourth . strikes in the sixth on a 3-2 pitch a span in which he gave up only Scott finished 14 strikeouts to tie Len Dykstra walked and stole he thought was outside. Tonight’s game is scheduled to begin at 5:20 on BCTV (channel 12, cable 11) and KOMO (cable Sox stop spastic A n g e l s 8 ).

BOSTON (AP) — It was a beau­ and took second on a two-out walkroutine play, but lost the ball in the tiful day at Fenway Park — sunny to Don Baylor, who had two hits sun. Barrett followed with a single with a wind that cooled the early and walked three times. to make the score2-0 . autumn air. Dwight Evans hit a high popup “ I don’t ever remember seeing a The weather, however, was just behind second base. Second base­ pitcher lose a ball in the sun,” said the start of the California Angels’ man Bobby Grich and shortstop McCaskill, born in Kapuskasing, problems Wednesday. Dick Schofield looked at each Ont. “ I guess you could call it a The Angels, a veteran team other, then up in the air, at each ground up.” which led the league in defence, other again and upward again. The Angels pulled within 2-1 in committed three errors in one in­ At the last moment, Grich the fourth when Schofield got an ning, lost two balls in the sun — lunged, but the ball dropped safely RBI single on a grounder that one a grounder — and had prob­ for a double, scoring Buckner. shortstop Spike Owen couldn’t get lems running the bases as the Bos­ “ It was not one of my better out of his glove.______ton Red Sox posted a 9-2 win to games,” Grich said. “ I’ve played The Red Sox visit the Angels even the best-of-seven American here for 15 years and have played at 5:20 p.m. Friday on BCTV League playoff at one victoryin tough sun fields. I misjudged the (ch a n n e l 12 , cable 11 ) and apiece. wind and the sun on the same The teams were scheduled for play.” KOMO (cable 8 ). workouts today at Anaheim Sta­ Grich was not the only player to dium, the site of the next three have problems Wednesday. games. Boston’s Dennis (Oil Can) Wade Boggs led off the Boston WANTED Boyd is slated to face California’s first with a triple on a ball off the John Candelaria in Game 3 on Fri* wall misplayed by centre fielder day night. Gary Pettis. Boggs then scored on The Angels’ bad day Wednesday M arty Barrett’s opposite field dou­ ^PROPANE CUSTOMERS— was summed up in Game 2’s fifth- ble to right. inning key play. In the Boston second, with run­ After Wally Joyner pulled Cali- ners on first and second, Boggs hit fornia into a 2-2 tie with a solo a high chopper just to the left of WHY? Dwight Gooden is a pitcher o f dejection after giving up a home run homer in the top of the fifth the inning, mound. Starter and loser Kirk to Glenn Davis o f the Astros. Bill Buckner singled with one outMcCaskill appeared set to make a BECAUSE, We Are New to You! BECAUSE, We Offer Home Delivery BECAUSE, We Are Competitive Tim e running short for veterans BECAUSE, Of Same Day Delivery ANAHEIM. Calif. (AP) - Win or Club officials say future con­ "They give you the feeling that if fying to win it all this year, “ . . . BECAUSE, You Deserve Good, Reliable lose in the post-season. 1986 may­tracts won't be discussed until the you help us win this thing, then since there’s a bunch of us here be the last hurrah for baseball’s season ends, and have refused to we'll bring you back,” Downing who’ve worked very hard over the Service aging California Angels. comment on who might be staying said. “ Well. I guess we'll see.” last few years to make this team a As the club prepares for the ★ Automotive Fuel★ Forklifts or leaving. Although the success of the ALwinner.” third game of the American ★ Cylinder Refills Jackson apparently is the only West-winning Angels would appear Manager Gene Mauch doesn’t be­ ★ Motor Homes League Championship Series to­ one who has been told anything; he to make it untimely for the club’s lieve there’ll be a dramatic sha- ★ Bulk Filling ★ Radio Dispatched night against the Boston Red Sox. recently said the club informed brass to break up the team, gener­ keup. the future of nine Angel veterans him he wouldn't be back next year. al manager Mike Port tends to “ I'm not looking at it that way. remains uncertain. lean toward youth and away from I ’m sure they’re not either. Why Playing out the final year of “ I want to get in the World Se­ y------^ ______the club’s past policy of signing would you want to assume some­ their contracts, with no assurances ries. that’s what’s important,” said high-priced, older stars. thing like that? Sutton has won 15 "Big or Small - We fill em ell" for 1987, are pitchers Don Sutton,Jackson, who has made a career of games this year. Why would any­ 41. and Doug Corbett. 33; outfield­ outstanding play in the post-seaon. This year, for example, the body say he can’t do it anymore? ers Reggie Jackson. 40. Brian “ Then you never know what can Angels did not renew the contract “ For the average person, yeah, HI-WAY (PROPANE Downing, 35, and Ruppert Jones, happen. We might get lucky and of first baseman Rod Carew and you start slowing down when 31; infielders Doug DeCinces. 36. win and I can tell them, ‘Bring me w'ent with rookie Wally Joyner at you’re 40," Mauch said. “ But with 5 6 h l 7 7 5 first. Bobby Grich. 37. and Rick Burle­ back and let me help win another these guys, you’re not talking aver­ son. 35, and catcher Bob Boone. 38. one next year.’” DeCinces said it would be grati­ age people.” EZTX ------Z Z Z 3 1