CONNECTICUT XLVI PREVIEW NHL ROUNDUP

BUFFALO, N.Y. Miller a win short of catching Hasek During a season in which very little as gone right for READY FOR Ryan Miller and the Buffalo Sabres, the goalie prefers hedging his bets on when — or even whether — he’ll catch Dominik Hasek in the franchise record book. And it makes no difference that Miller’s 234 career wins have him only one A REMATCH away from breaking The Dominator’s mark, or that it could happen as early as Saturday, when the Sabres travel to play the New York Islanders. “Just hoping to get it,” he said. “One game at a time.” Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun shouts to a PITTSBURGH player during the second half of Connecticut’s Penguins sign Vitale 78-66 victory over Wag- for 2 more years ner on Nov. 14, 2011 in Storrs, Conn. AP FILE PHOTO The Pittsburgh Penguins signed center Joe Vitale to a two-year, $1.1 million contract extension on Fri- day, locking up a 26-year- UConn’s old who has earned a regular spot in the lineup this season. Vitale has Calhoun three goals and seven as- sists while dressing for 44 of Pittsburgh’s 51 games, goes on filling a third- or fourth-line role and serving on the Penguins’ fourth-ranked medical penalty-killing unit. Vitale, who made his NHL debut for Pittsburgh last season, leads the team in faceoff leave percentage (55.9 percent) and has 24 blocked shots. By Jim O’Connell ’ (right) is congratulated by ’ after The 5-foot-11, 205-pound and Pat Eaton-Robb the Giants’ 24-20 win in Nov. 6, 2011 in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots face the Giants in Super St. Louis native would The Associated Press Bowl XLVI on Sunday, in . AP FILE PHOTO have been a restricted free agent this offseason. STORRS, Conn. — TORONTO University of Connecti- Manning, Brady make for a highly anticipated game cut basketball coach Jim Sittler marvels Calhoun, who missed By Barry Wilner Super Bowl facts and figures To get it, the Patri- three games earlier this The Associated Press ots (15-3) must protect at Gagner’s game season because of NCAA At Stake: Championship their crown jewel. Four Darryl Sittler knows ex- sanctions, is taking an in- INDIANAPOLIS — for the Trophy. years ago, Brady was actly how Sam Gagner definite medical leave of MVP on Participants: New England Patriots (AFC) and New banged around so much felt. “Everything falls into absence because of back marquee franchises. A York Giants. This the seventh appearance for the Patri- by New York that it place,” he said. “Every problems. rematch of a nail-biter ots (3-3) and the fifth appearance for the Giants (3-1). turned the Super Bowl shot you take pretty well The Hall of Fame coach from four years ago, Site: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis. This is the in the Giants’ favor. goes in or you make a pass of the defending national featuring many of the first Super Bowl played in Indianapolis. Yes, they needed and the guy completes it. ’s miracle It’s magical those types champions, who turns 70 same key characters. Seating capacity: 63,000 of nights. They don’t hap- pin-the--against- in May, has been suffering Madonna and plenty When: 6:30 p.m. EST., Sunday pen very often.” Gagner for several months from of Manning — Eli, and the-, then finished with eight points Trophy: The winning team receives permanent pos- spinal stenosis, a spinal Peyton, too. ’ touch- — four goals, four as- session of the Vince Lombardi Trophy, a sterling condition that causes him This Super Bowl cer- down reception to sists — in Edmonton’s 8-4 silver trophy created by Tiffany & Company and pre- shatter New England’s victory over Chicago on severe pain and hampers tainly has all the mak- sented annually to the winner of the Super Bowl. The Thursday night. The Oilers’ mobility. ings of another thriller, trophy was named after the late coach Vince Lom- . But that forward became just the “I had back pain like the perfect finish to a bardi of the two-time Super Bowl champion Green victory was built on the 12th NHL player to total at never before last sum- season that began in Bay Packers before the 1971 Super Bowl. relentless pressure ap- least that many points in a mer, thought it was back turmoil and wound up The Associated Press plied to Brady. The formula hasn’t game — and the first since spasms,” he told The As- the most successful in Mario Lemieux on Dec. 31, sociated Press on Friday. league history. changed. 1988. Sittler, the former “I saw a neurologist and The NFL couldn’t have championship overshad- which New York (12-7) “We feel that we captain of the Toronto he told me about scoliosis, planned it any better. owed by big brother. is a 3-point underdog. certainly have a very Maple Leafs, has held the stenosis and other things “It’s actually been a The most popular “I’m proud of Pey- strong group of men in NHL record since Feb. 7, and that there could be very fun week here,” storyline this week has ton. I’ve talked to him the front,” Giants coach 1976. His landmark game things like a bone spur said Patriots quarter- been Peyton’s pain in this week. None of that said. “It’s against Boston featured and that I could probably back Tom Brady, seek- his neck. Or, rather, his comes up,” Eli said. just the way we play and six goals and four assists. need something done at ing his fourth Super status following three “When I talk to Peyton, prefer to play. “ It remains an evening he some point. I went for Bowl ring in 11 seasons, neck surgeries in 19 he does a great job of Brady certainly re- still can’t explain. “I would months; whether the trying to keep me re- members the pain, never have thought that in the physical therapy and and doing it in the city my wildest dreams that I it worked, but it started where archrival Peyton Colts will keep him laxed. (We) talk a little physically and emotion- would be the one to score to lock up sometimes re- Manning has worked around, at the cost of football and talk about ally, from the beating he 10 points in a game, but it cently and it was worse.” for 13 years — if not for a $28 million roster New England some. took on the field and the happened,” Sittler told The George Blaney, the much longer, given his bonus due in March; He’s supported me this scoreboard. Canadian Press on Friday. team’s associate head health issues and dis- and whether he’s truly week.” “Any time you lose, it’s All of Gagner’s goals and coach, said Calhoun be- agreements with Colts feuding with owner Jim While Eli would own a tough thing,” Brady assists came in the final 40 gan feeling pain in his management. “It’s a bit Irsay’s rebuilding orga- two championships said. “We’ve lost one minutes. legs and rear end during surreal to be playing in nization. with a victory, to one for Super Bowl. I remem- NEW YORK this week’s road trip to Indy’s home stadium Eli, who will surpass Peyton, Brady could tie ber waking up in Ari- Georgetown. and to be practicing at his brother for NFL ti- his childhood quarter- zona the next morning NHL fines Elias “When we got off the their facility.” tles with a victory Sun- backing hero, Joe Mon- after an hour of sleep plane, he really had trou- It’s been even weirder day at Lucas Oil Sta- tana, and Terry Brad- thinking, ‘That was a for boarding ble getting in the car and for Eli Manning to have dium — yes, Peyton’s shaw with four. Coach nightmare, that didn’t New Jersey Devils forward going home,” he said. led the Giants here, only Place — claims his sib- would happen.’ After time, you Patrik Elias has been fined Blaney will lead the to find his superb season ling’s issues are irrel- equal Chuck Noll with learn to move on and $2,500, the maximum al- team in Calhoun’s ab- and chase for a second evant to this game, in the same number. get over it.” lowed under the Collective sence. Bargaining Agreement, for boarding Montreal Canadiens forward Mike SUPER BOWL XLVI WHO TO WATCH FOR Blunden during a 5-3 win on NCAA NOTES Thursday. The incident oc- 5 Players who will make a statement curred at 18:54 of the first FRANKFORT, KY. period. A minor penalty for boarding was assessed on The New England Patriots are squaring off against the New York Giants in the Super Bowl, sound familiar? Eli the play. The fine money 2 charged in KY. Manning vs. Tom Brady, still familiar? However, Victor Cruz vs. is entirely uncharted territory. will go to the Players’ Emer- state player Both of these teams have evolved over the past four years, and have new threats on both sides of the ball. Here gency Assistance Fund. are five new faces to watch on the big stage. Elias has 18 goals and 16 Two Kentucky State Uni- penalty minutes this sea- versity students have son, and leads New Jersey been charged with assault with 30 assists. The Devils in the shooting of a bas- meet the Flyers in Philadel- ketball player. Frankfort phia on Saturday. Police Maj. Fred Deaton says 20-year-old Garry ST. PAUL, MINN. Cooper of Chicago and 21-year-old Jarrell A. Wild trade Wellman Hightower of Frankfort are VICTOR CRUZ ROB GRONKOWSKI BENJARVUS also charged with three (WR, GIANTS) (TE, GIANTS) (TE, PATRIOTS) (WR/DB/PR, GREEN-ELLIS to Rangers counts of wanton endan- The Giants’ post- In 2007, Gronkowski PATRIOTS) (RB, PATRIOTS) The Minnesota Wild have germent. The charges season chances are replaced Jeremy has been a man A rare two-way BenJarvus Green- traded forward Casey stem from the Jan. 18 in Cruz control. The Shockey and played amongst boys this player, it’s difficult Ellis has never Wellman to the New York shooting of 22-year-old undrafted receiver a lead role in the season. Standing to conceive of a fumbled the ball Rangers for center Erik Kentucky State player out of UMass is one Giants’ Super Bowl tall at 6’6”, the for- way in which Julian in his four years in Christensen and a condi- Patrick Dawson as he sat of the year’s best victory. This season, mer second-round Edelman is not a the NFL. It will be tional seventh-round draft in his girlfriend’s apart- stories. Coming off Ballard has shown pick by New England factor against the Green-Ellis’ reliabil- choice. The 24-year-old ment in Frankfort. Cooper of a 10-reception, flashes of potential has been nothing Giants on Sunday. ity rather than his Wellman has two goals and and Hightower were being 142-yard perfor- in close games when short of stellar this The former sev- ability that get him five assists in 14 games held in the Franklin County mance against every play means season. Setting tight enth-round pick has the ball. Though he with the Wild this season. Regional Jail. Jail records the 49ers, Cruz is that much more. end records for both been a diamond in only averages 3.4 He has spent most of his did not list attorneys a threat on every Contributing with and the rough for the yards per carry this time this year with the on Friday. The shooting . Leading the solid games in the yardage, “Gronk” Pats this season. postseason, the Pa- AHL affiliate in Houston, prompted school officials Giants receiving mid-season, Ballard has been unstoppa- Though only catch- triots are a pass-first where he had 13 goals and to use metal detectors at corps, look for Cruz has been a bit of an ble. With 15 recep- ing four passes all offense and will only 11 assists in 25 games. the entrance to Kentucky as both a deep enigma for the past tions, 232 yards and season, Edelman be feeding “The Law Christensen should help State’s Jan. 20 game threat and slot re- several weeks as three touchdowns has been active on Firm” the ball for a the Wild’s depth at center. against Tuskegee Univer- ceiver when the Gi- he only has three this postseason, the defensive side change of pace and The 28-year-old has one sity. Deaton says the in- ants are backed up catches this post- look for Gronk to of the ball and on to potentially run the goal and four assists in 20 vestigation in ongoing. out of the red zone. season. make a big impact. special teams. clock out. games with the Rangers.