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 Senators' Martin made tactical error
Posted: Wednesday April 28, 1999 07:49 AM
Ottawa's Jacques Martin should win coach of the year for the Senators' 103-point season. But he made a tactical error in the first two games of the series against Buffalo by not trying to get Alexei Yashin away from the checking of the Sabres' Michael Peca. At 5-11, 180 pounds, Peca is, pound-for-pound, one of the NHL's biggest hitters, and his constant harassment of the Senators' captain has badly eroded Yashin's confidence. Indeed, one Ottawa columnist suggested the "C" on Yashin's sweater stood for "choker." Martin shouldn't have hidden Yashin but with the last line change that goes with home ice, he could have changed on the fly more often. Vanbiesbrouck's inconsistency raises questionsThe Philadelphia Flyers saved $1.5 million a year by signing goalie John Vanbiesbrouck instead of Curtis Joseph, the Toronto Maple Leafs netminder who currently is bedeviling the Flyers in the playoffs. But for once, money had nothing to do with it. The Flyers simply thought Vanbiesbrouck was more technically sound than Joseph and Mike Richter, the other premier free-agent goalies last summer. There was also a comfort level with Vanbiesbrouck, who had played for GM Bob Clarke in Florida and Coach Roger Neilson in Florida and with the NY Rangers. Vanbiesbrouck shut out Toronto in Game 1, but his meltdown in the dying moments of Game 2 and a pair of soft goals in a 2-1 loss in Game 3 has put the spotlight on Clarke's judgment. Two-referee system draws early criticismThe two-referee system, mostly well received during the regular season, has had less than favorable reviews early in the playoffs. Many players have expressed frustration at the seeming lack of consistency and cohesion, leading one prominent general manager to loudly upbraid NHL senior vice-president Colin Campbell. The problem, primarily, is this: with 16 referees working the first round, a pair is only as strong as its weaker ref. As the pool of teams, and referees, narrows as the playoffs continue, the system should work better.
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