Thursday, September 30, 1993
by Greg Kristen
Cathesigue Sat
As the 1993-94 National
Hockey League season nears,
there's one thing that is different
this year. Divisional play has
been given a facelift and this
year it is ring out the old, and
bring in the new.
The NHL's new realignment
has created four new divisions:
the Atlantic, Northeast, Central,
and Pacific. Formerly, they
were known as the Patrick,
Adams, Norris, and Smythe
divisions.
The new realignment is to
make competition in divisions
more fair and to accomodate the
cities and teams within each
division to be lined up more
geographically.
The Atlantic division will
consist of the Florida Panthers,
New Jersey Devils, New York
Islanders, New York Rangers,
Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay
Lightning and Washington
Capitals.
As the division goes, the
Islanders will be trying to build
off of last year's major playoff
by Matthew D.
Co-adioor
Phillies 4, Pirates 4. Top of
the seventh inning, the bases
were loaded for the Phils' second
baseman Mariano Duncan.
Duncan stepped up to the plate,
stared down the pitcher, and
belted a grand slam into the red
seats in left field.
At that moment, I was finally
able to convince myself that the
Phillies' dream season was more
than a dream, and that they really
were 9 outs away from winning
the National League East crown.
1964 would be forgotten. This
season was die best of times.
Wire to wile..
Wont on
I watt down to Pittsburgh on
Tuesday night - ID watch the
Phillies clinch the National
League East dtle -what the
Pintos. , Nalfway , down to
Pillebelth, I starlit
about bow unbellinsbic the
Phillip? nelson hati beak and
ho* exhilinaing the ride hid
hem' -
The - span* I- river the Akita
play every National kappa tam
except fords cledgeierantths
Reds, and on most • occiudons I
saw them win.
VA Phillips' fist start in
The puck
upset, when they beat the then
defending Stanley Cup
Champion Pittsburgh Penguins.
The division looks wide open
this year as opposed to the last
couple of years.
The Rangers will be looking
to get back on the winning track
with their new head coach Mike
Keenan, formerly with the
Chicago Blackhawks. The
Flyers with their great young
talent like Eric Lindros, Mark
Recchi and goalie Tommy
Soderstrom look to make a huge
impact.
The Devils and Capitals look
to be in transition because of
having the same teams for the
last couple of years without any
major impact players to catapult
them into the elite of the NHL.
Finally, the expansion teams
of Florida and Tampa Bay look
to just stay alive in the division
with all of the powerhouse
teams of the old Patrick
division.
The Northeast division seems
to be the most competitive this
year with teams consisting of
the Boston Bruins, Buffalo
Sabres, Hartford Whalers,
finally!
was incredible, but their early
spring maelstrom of wins was
almost unfathomable.
Cissne
On Mother's Day, I went to
my rust game of the year and saw
Mariano Duncan hit a grand slam
off of Lee Smith. What a
coincidence that he hit a grand
slam in the last game I saw.
This season more than erased
the memories of stiffs like John
Wockenfuss, overrated stars like
Juan Samuel, and ruined players
like Jeff Cowan.
This season we actually got rid
of players. Just talk to the
Milwaukee Brewer's shortstop
Juan Bell.
Even if the Phillies lose to the
San Rancho) Giants (who will
faith first in the National
Loom west), this season will be
a molormieemo
The excitement I felt on
TioNdly;iight*liiwesomo.
Alhw *o misery I have gone
didn't think dm
Phin* would ever have a
wins* imam spin.
MilyaC the win'was sweeter
because ,of the pest trials and
'tribideliolis of the Phik.
But either way, it was
defmitcly swear, and the first
playoff win wilt be even sweeter.
1964? •
ti:WIN= Ow beck was diet?
Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa
Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins,
and Quebec Nonliques. It looks
as though one of these talent
laiden teams in this division will
be bringing home the Cup this
Yaw•
For Montreal, the Stanley
Cup Champions, it looks as
though the road to the Cup will
be much harder this year.
Not only do they have to get
by their division rivals, but now
they have to contend with the
Pittsburgh Penguins, Stanley
Cup Champions in 1991 and
1992.
As for the Penguins, arguably
the most talented team in the
league, they want to reach the
Stanley Cup Finals again this
year, but the question is will the
team be healthy enough? Mario
Lemieux and Kevin Stevens are
both coming off of off-season
surgery.
For Quebec, the young talent
made big strides by making the
playoffs and scaring the
Montreal Canadiens. But, are
they ready to make the next
step?
Penn State at Maryland
Pregame: 5:30 Kickoff: 7:00
Next Week
Major League Baseball Playoffs!
drops
For Buffalo and Boston, the
question is do they have the
defense and offense to contend?
Buffalo definitely has the offense
with Pat Lafontaine and
Alexander Mogilny, but the
main reason they did not advance
in the playoffs was the lack of a
solid defense.
For Boston it has always
been offense. With Ray Bourque
on defense they are always solid.
Finally, Hartford and Ottawa
have good young talent, but the
fact is, with the division they are
in they will be lucky to survive.
The experience of playing these
teams will help their future and
ensure them that good times
always come to those who wait.
The most intriguing division
will be the Central division. All
the teams in this division will
be looking to win it. The teams
are: the Chicago Blackhawks,
Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings,
St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple
Leafs and Winnipeg Jets. Who
wants it this year?
The Chicago Blackhawks are
coming off a disappointing year
in which they lost four straight
games to St. Louis in the
wpse
am 1450
Business News .and Sports
Call JOPA Tonight I
The Lion Hotline
Tonight at 6:05
Monday Night Football
Washington at Miami
Game time:
Beginning Tuesday Night!
Saturday
7:00 p.m.
playoffs. This year they have
the same team and all the awards
in the off-season don't mean
anything if you can't win in the
playoffs.
For Dallas, it is a new year, a
new city, and a new lease on
hockey life for them. They
moved to get a fresh and fast
start, and make the first season
in Dallas a memorable one.
For Detroit, they have a new
coach, Scotty Bowman (ex-
Penguins coach). They have
just as much talent as the
Penguins, and look to use their
new coach as the inspiration for
getting to the Stanley Cup.
As for St. Louis, they still
have Brett Hull and Curtis
Joseph to spark their team. To
prove they're a legitimate
contender, defense will be their
big concern.
Finally, Toronto and
Winnipeg will have to do more
travelling this year, but that
should not be a bit of a concern.
For Toronto, just missing the
Stanley Cup Finals is going to
be their incentive to get back.
See page 13
Page 1