Hungry Bruins Clip Red W Ings

The Prince George Citizen — Wednesday, November 22, 1989 — 15 Don Schaffer S p o r t s Sports editor M i t c h e l l Canucks fall to O ilers' new star EDMONTON (CP) - Mark Mes j o i n s N L sier has replaced his friend and former teammate Wayne Gretzky as the dominant force for the Edmonton Oilers. h i s t o r y A talent in his own right, Messier SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - In was content to play second fiddle runaway voting Kevin Mitchell for nine NHL seasons as Gretzky joined Willie Mays and Willie weaved his offensive magic and McCovey on Tuesday as the only led the Oilers to four Stanley Cups. San Francisco Giants player ever It now appears Messier has ta to win the National League most ken it upon himself to lift the valuable player award. Oilers out of the turmoil the club Teammate Will has been in since Gretzky was Clark was the traded to the Los Angeles Kings 15 * runnerup in vot- months ago. ‘n§ by the Base- Messier scored three goals Tues ball Writers day night, including the winner at f ‘ Association of 15:51 of the third period, as the ^ .% . / America. Oilers beat the Vancouver Canucks \ # Now the 27- 4-3. Messier had two goals Sunday year-old Mitchell night and two assists — including would like to fol the winner eight seconds into over low in the foot- time — in a 5-4 victory over the MITCHELL ste p s of such Chicago Blackhawks. fleet sluggers as Mays and Bobby Bonds. Mitchell has begun a The seven points pushed Messier, a centre who has gained more rec weight loss program designed to ognition for toughness than scor add speed, although he stops short ing, into second place in the NHL of predicting he’ll match Jose Can scoring race with 38 points — four seco’s 40-40 feat in home runs and behind Gretzky. stolen bases in 1988. “Every year I come out and I Messier has 16 goa’s, second only feel I have to improve on some to the 17 scored by Joe Nieuwen thing,” Mitchell told reporters dyk of the Calgary Flames. from San Diego. ‘‘This time it’s my “Mess has been super from Day running. I know I can steal more One,” said Edmonton coach John bases than what I have (three in Muckier. “I don’t think he’s ever 1989).” played better.” Mitchell, whose previous high That’s quite a statement, con was 22 home runs, led the majors sidering that in 10 previous seasons last season with 47 and 125 runs Messier collected more than 100 batted in while hitting a career- points on four different occasions. high .291. He led the Giants to their “Messier was the story,” said first pennant since 1962, when Canucks coach Bob McCammon. Mays and McCovey played. “When he’s going, he’s a force. The BBWAA panel cast 20 of 24 He’s a guy you’ve got to take phy first-place votes for Mitchell, three sically and we didn’t do it. We nev for Clark and one for Pedro Guer er laid a glove on him.” rero of St. Louis. Messier, like Gretzky, is humble Clark batted .333 with 27 homers about his personal accomplish and 111 RBIs in front of Mitchell. ments. He prefers to stress the Mitchell will collect on an unspe needs of the team. cified bonus clause in his contract It should be taken for granted, for being named MVP. But he said he said, that the veterans of the the real benefit is the status the Oilers’ glory years share their award gives him in his native San experiences with the new players Diego. on the team. Quebec Nordiques Jeff Jackson (25) falls on his side Tuesday in Quebec after he was accidentally hit by team mate Steven Finn (29) “I’m very happy about it; it “I think as a team we’ve got to means a lot,” he said. “I can walk start talking about winning, we’ve around with my head up, especial got to start talking about the ly in my home town. playoffs, we’ve got to start talking “I can walk around and people about the Stanley Cup. will say, ‘There’s Kevin Mitchell. “The only way to be successful Hungry Bruins clip Red Wings He’s the MVP.’ It’s a great honor.” and become a great team is to Not since Brooklyn’s Dolph Ca- play together. Everything else falls by Canadian Press and they’ve played five fewer winner increased the Bruins’ snapped a three-game losing games. streak but retained the league’s milli in 1941 had a player been into place.” Their top scorer is a defence unbeaten streak to eight games (7- Goaltenders Rejean Lemelin and 0-1). The Red Wings, who snapped worst record. traded twice before becoming Although Messier was the indi man, Ray Bourque. They haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 1972. Ca Andy Moog anchor a gritty defence a 12-game winless streak Saturday Al Maclnnis, Paul Ranheim and MVP. Mitchell was traded by the vidual standout, the Oilers slipped sual fans would be sorely tested to that becomes even tougher when at Quebec, fell to 5-14-3. Brad McCrimmon scored for the New York Mets to San Diego in past the Canucks with a team name five players on their roster. opponents are greeted on the small Gerard Gallant scored for De Flames within 81 seconds in the December 1986 and to the Giants effort. And yet the Boston Bruins are on ice surface of Boston Garden. The troit 31 seconds into the game. first period. Joe Cirella, Sakic and as almost an afterthought in a sev Esa Tikkanen contributed a key the edge again. Bruins are 7-1-1 at home, while Cam Neely pulled Boston even in Michel Goulet responded before en-player deal on July 4, 1987. goal early in the game. Bill Ran- While Buffalo receives the early Tuesday’s win in Detroit pushed the second period. Sergei Makarov gave the Flames a ford made some key saves after season hype and all eyes look to their road record to an even .500 at 4-3 lead midway through the third coming off the bench four minutes ward Montreal, Boston is quietly 5-5-1. Jets 4 Islanders 3 period. into the second period when start striving to leapfrog to the top of To get the winner in Detroit, Surging Winnipeg finished a road Blues 7 North Stars 4 Perez signs ing goaltender Grant Fuhr was the Adams Division. Sweeney carried the puck into the trip with a 3-1-1 record when Doug St. Louis ended a scoreless Bob Sweeney’s overtime goal Detroit zone and went around for Smail scored with 2:28 left, giving streak that had reached 2Vi games dazed in a goal-mouth collision. the Jets a comeback victory. It In their usual close-to-the-vest gave Boston a 2-1 decision over De mer Toronto defenceman “Borje against Minnesota goaltender Jon troit, the Bruins’ sixth straight Salming. When goalie Greg Stefan was the second time in two nights Casey, scoring on three of their to Yankees style, the Canucks stayed close — that the Jets had erased a two-goal overcoming 2-0 and 3-2 deficits on win. skated out to challenge him, Swee first four shots. After having noth NEW YORK (AP-CP) — The In other NHL games Tuesday it ney circled the net and dumped the deficit in the final period. Monday ing to show for 60 shots on goal in goals by Greg Adams, Brian Brad night, they scored twice to tie the New York Yankees, hurt by the was: Winnipeg 4, New York Island puck into the open side, for his sec two games against Casey this sea second-worst pitching staff in base ley and Petri Skriko. ond overtime winner of the season New York Rangers 3-3. ers 3; Calgary 4, Quebec 4; St. son, Peter Zezel, Steve Tuttle and ball last season, signed right-hand But the Oilers increased the tem and ninth goal of the year. Brind’Amour scored in the first Louis 7, Minnesota 4. Flames 4 Nordiques 4 er Pascual Perez away from the po late in the third period and Breaking off the starting line to “It was a classic Bob Sweeney 10:56 to chase Casey. Quebec recovered from a 3-0 def Montreal Expos on Tuesday for came up with the winning goal — a ward a 23rd consecutive season type of goal,” said coach Mike Mil- icit to tie floundering Calgary, Casey’s shutout streak against $5.7 million over three years. shot by defenceman Charlie Huddy with a .500 record or better, the bury. “When he’s skating, he’s which suffered a seventh straight the Blues dating to last season end The 32-year-old that bounced into the Vancouver team with the blue-collar image is strong enough to keep the puck game without a win. Joe Sakic’s ed at 150 minutes 13 seconds. Rick net off Messier’s leg. tied for third overall in the league. away from the defence.” second goal of the game with less Meagher and Adam Oates added free agent, who The win extended the Oilers With a 12-6-2 record, the Bruins sit Stefan and Lemelin matched per than two minutes remaining result first-period goals against Kari Tak- : - started spring undefeated string to four games.

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