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Mellanby Hangs 'Em Up
by David Carty

Scott Mellanby was a trail blazer of sorts. The Montreal native probably never envisioned becoming an NHL star. Mellanby certainly never imagined becoming the face of two expansion teams, nearly losing an arm in a barroom brawl, or being dubbed “the rat guy” after an incident that probably resulted in a few nasty letters from PETA.

Yet this is the legacy Thrashers captain leaves behind after announcing his retirement on Tuesday.

Mellanby entered the league as the 27th overall selection in the 1984 NHL Draft. The Philadelphia Flyers second-round pick was selected higher than future stars Patrick Roy, Brett Hull, and Tom Glavine. Yes, that Tom Glavine.

It was during Mellanby’s tenure with the Flyers that the devastating and nearly deadly injury occurred. On August 20th, 1989, Mellanby and friend Jeff Frazier stopped for drinks at the Muskoska Sands north of Montreal. At some point in the night, 44-year-old Frank Chapple started a fight with Frazier and allegedly tried to cut his throat with a broken beer bottle. Chapple slashed Mellanby’s arm instead, severing five tendons in the process. Doctors almost had to amputate the arm, but instead Mellanby returned to action on November 22nd, three months after nearing having his arm sliced off.

It takes some time to heal, you know.

Mellanby was later traded Edmonton in a deal to bring hockey legend Jari Kurri to Philadelphia. After two decent seasons, he was left unprotected in the 1993 NHL expansion draft. At one time, Mellanby was considered a better prospect than guys like Roy, Hull, and Luc Robitalle. Now, he was considered the 30th best player amongst the league’s scrap heap.

Mellanby packed his bags to play hockey in Florida, and he never looked back.

The first goal in Florida Panthers history belongs to Scott Mellanby scored in the inaugural 1993-94 season. He’d score many more before the season was up. Thirty goals and thirty assists capped Mellanby’s career year. Still unfazed by pain, Mellanby broke his nose and orbital bone on as Larry Murphy cleared the puck on February 1st of that season against the Penguins. He was back on the ice a week-and-a-half later.

Despite the gritty play Mellanby become known for, his fandom reached its peak in the 1995-96 season. After finding a scurrying little creature in the Panthers locker room before the Panthers‘ home opener, Mellanby decided to get in some early practice for gametime. He one-timed the rat with his stick, saving exterminators a little extra work. Mellanby then proceeded to score two goals with the very same stick in what John Vanbiesbrouck dubbed a “rat trick”.

From then on, fans littered the ice with plastic rats in the midst of the Panthers Stanley Cup run. The Panthers’ miracle season was stopped just shy of a Stanley Cup after being swept by the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche goaltender is reported to have said, after allowing two goals in the first period of game three, that there would be “no more rats.” That prophecy proved to be true, and the Panthers were held scoreless for the rest of the series. Of course, that goaltender/fortune teller was none other than Patrick Roy, selected 24 picks after Scott Mellanby.

The NHL would ban rat-throwing the following year, saying that in caused too much of a delay on the ice. The Florida Panthers have only made the playoffs twice in the ten years since rat-mania, and they have not once gotten past the first round.

Mellanby ended his Panthers tenure after he was traded to the St. Louis Blues in February, 2001, but he still ranks first in Panthers history in goals and points scored. After a short revival with the Blues, Mellanby signed with the Atlanta Thrashers following the 2004 lockout. He was named team captain in his two seasons with Atlanta, and Mellanby’s third-seeded Thrashers fell in a sweep to the New York Rangers in what would be his last playoff series.

Only Phil Housley and Mike Gartner have played in more career games without hoisting the Stanley Cup, but Mellanby’s most dedicated efforts have actually come off the ice.

In honor of his autistic son Carter, he founded the Mellanby Autism Foundation in 1998 and co-founded Athletes Against Autism with Byron Dafoe and Olaf Kolzig. Mellanby’s foundation alone has raised and granted more than $300,000 dollars to autism related organizations.

While Scott has not yet decided where his life will go from here, one can be sure he’ll keep following the trail, living life the Mellanby way.

First Look: Devils-Senators
by David Carty

The Devils and Senators had similar roads to the postseason. Both teams pounded through the regular season finishing with over 100 points. (Only two points separate the teams.) Injuries stole ice time from each team’s top personnel: the entire EGG line of the Devils, and Jason Spezza and Mike Fisher of the Sens were just a few of the skating wounded. Each squad even had its own challenge in former #1 overall picks to square off against in the first round to reach this point.

Sidney Crosby and Vincent Lecavalier are stars of the game; they both provided strong offensive production against the Devils and Senators, respectively. While similarities between the two teams exist, their style of play couldn’t be more different. In what could be the best second-round match-up the NHL has to offer, it will be a classic battle of offense versus defense.

Forwards

When healthy, New Jersey’s EGG line of Patrick Elias, Scott Gomez, and Brian Gionta is a tactful well-oiled machine that can do as much damage as any line in the NHL. Just look at how they performed against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Gomez leads the NHL in postseason points heading into round two with nine. Elias and Gionta aren’t far behind with six apiece. Zach Parise’s breakthrough season featured the 22-year-old as a determined player with tremendous leadership skills. In other words, Parise was built for Lou Lamoriello’s system. Backed by specialists Jamie Langenbrunner (postseason wizard) and John Madden (perennial Selke contender), the Devils boast solid play up front that is not to be overlooked.

Yet the edge stays with the Sens. Dany Heatley is too skilled a player to fall into the trappings of the New Jersey defense and will make his presence known. Jason Spezza, paired with Heatley, has developed into one of the game’s better table-setters. Daniel Alfredsson still has some postseason demons to answer to, but no need to call an exorcist. Outstanding ability will always find its way.

Advantage: Senators

Defense

Richard Matvichuk missed 81 games during the NHL season with a back injury. But since his return he hasn’t missed a beat. In Sunday’s clinching Game Six, Matvichuk logged the second most ice-time on the team (22:34) and that was after being cross-checked by Vincent Lecavalier and missing the final minutes of the first period. Brian Rafalski has been as active on the offensive charge as any Devils player with seven postseason points. Paul Martin compliments Rafalski by logging a ton of minutes and playing a solid two-way game.

Anton Volchenkov has taken it upon himself to try to replace every inch of Zdeno Chara’s 6’ 9” frame. That’s mission impossible, though Volchenkov is effective in his role when staying disciplined and not getting behind the play. The yin to Volchenkov’s yang, Wade Redden, answers the call whenever needed. He possesses all the offensive ability Volchenkov lacks and the leadership abilities to command a blue line. In the end though, New Jersey has built its franchise on defense. This year’s Devils may not strike fear into opponents (that job was previously occupied by Scott Stevens); they still finished with the Eastern Conference’s best defense.

Advantage: Devils

Goaltending

Does the question need to be asked? Martin Brodeur’s accomplishments, postseason or otherwise can be rattled off by even the most casual Devils fan. If not for a kid named Sid, Martin Brodeur would be walking home with the Hart Trophy. Instead, Martin will have to settle for another Vezina trophy. If anyone was worried about Brodeur slowing down, setting the single-season record for wins with 48 did enough to silence the doubters.

After winning the starting job in November, Ray Emery has done more than a serviceable job in net for the Sens. His progression this season has reassured those who have said he could use more seasoning. But in the playoff season, Brodeur is about as close as you’ll get to perfection between the pipes.

Advantage: Devils

Special Teams

In the regular season, both squads finished in the middle of the pack on the power-play. Neither team was inspiring or disappointing, but the postseason has been a different story. The Devils and the Senators rank first and second respectively in power-play goals in round one. With the EGG line clicking on all cylinders, it appears that special teams will indeed be where the damage is done.

But not so fast; the Devils enjoyed the East’s best penalty kill unit and will not make things easy for Ottawa. The Senators themselves played strongly down a skater, but nobody can match the Devils’ ability to neutralize threats in their zone.

Advantage: Devils

Coaching

It’s the house that Lou Lamoriello built. The only problem has been trying to find a coach (not named Jacques) who he can trust behind the wheel. The other obvious solution is to handle it yourself. For the second time, Lamoriello fired his head coach with just weeks left in the regular season as he begins his second tenure as Devils coach. The players only had three days to work with Lamoriello, but the nucleus of the team is well familiar with his system and played for him in his first coaching stint.

Meanwhile Bryan Murray faces the challenge again. Murray is comparable to Marty Schottenheimer of the NFL, except that Schottenheimer has actually made it to the big dance before. With this talented a squad, pressure will be placed squarely on Murray’s shoulders to deliver results. Another second round postseason loss, albeit to the Devils, are not the kind of results Senators’ brass or fans will accept. And we know what happened to Marty Schottenheimer this off-season.

Advantage: Devils

Summary

An edge on defense means an edge on the tempo of a game. The New Jersey Devils have been reinventing the same formula for years under Lamoriello’s leadership and this year is no different. It’s hard to call Brodeur’s 2006-07 season a career year, but he set career highs in wins, games played, minutes, and shutouts; a scary thought. Heatley and company are plenty capable of squeaking a few past the stingy Devils defense. But when push comes to shove, the Devils resiliency and experience will win out in the end.

Prediction: Devils in five

Game Schedule
Thu, April 26 7:00 p.m. at New Jersey
Sat, April 28 8:00 p.m. at New Jersey
Mon, April 30 7:00 p.m. at Ottawa
Wed, May 2 7:00 p.m. at Ottawa
Sat, May 5 8:00 p.m. at New Jersey
Mon, May 7 7:00 p.m. at Ottawa
Wed, May 9 7:00 p.m. at New Jersey

Devils Dispose of the Lightning
by David Carty

In New Jersey, it has always been about the system. Lou Lamoriello is the longest-tenured NHL GM for good reason. Whether it was playing the trap in the pre-lockout, middle-aged time hockey, or simply controlling the pace of the game, the Devils never waver from the course Lamoriello sets.

Throughout all of the player retirement and turnover and coaches either quitting or getting the axe, there has always been Martin Brodeur. Largely overshadowed by Patrick Roy and Dominik Hasek for half of his NHL career, Brodeur is and has been the face (or the mask) of the New Jersey Devils since winning the Calder Trophy in 1994. And as he’s developed, he’s become the backbone in a Devils franchise predicated on defense.

Thirteen years later, Brodeur is as good as ever. Brodeur, who will turn 35 in two weeks, stopped 32 of 34 shots to win a deciding Game Five against the Tampa Bay Lightning, 3-2. Brian Rafalski netted his second power-play goal of the postseason and added an assist to bolster New Jersey’s strong special teams play.

But it was the Devils’ E-G-G line that amounted for most of the damage. Brian Gionta netted his fourth playoff goal on a short-side snapshot high over Johan Holmqvist’s glove. Gionta struck again in the second period beating Holmqvist with a hesitation wrist-shot from the left circle. Lightning defenseman Filip Kuba looked shaky on both scores. First, getting beat on Elias’s feed to Gionta while on the back-check; then, knocking over Holmqvist on Gionta’s second goal.

Patrick Elias assisted on all three Devils goals, controlling the offensive charge throughout the duration of the first two periods. And Scott Gomez added two assists of his own, as the Devils’ entire offensive production came down to the E-G-G line (plus Brian Rafalski, who also added an assist). All in all, New Jersey’s top line amounted for 14 of the team’s 26 shots and conspired to send the Lightning packing.

Brad Richards tallied Tampa Bay’s only two goals on the afternoon; both were on the power-play, and came within a span of six minutes. The Lightning entered Game Six with a pedestrian 2-for-20 success rate on the power-play against the Devils’ stingy penalty kill unit. Richards’ goals riled up the capacity crowd and served as a breath of fresh air for the struggling Lightning.

Unfortunately, it would be their last breath.

The same feisty play that marked (or marred) the Lightning’s first period effort was not evident in the third period. Brodeur played through screens and heavy traffic in the crease in the game’s first two periods and made the third period look no more difficult than a speed bump en route to the victory. On New Jersey’s rare defensive lapses, Brodeur was waiting to steer clear any offensive opportunity provided by the Lightning. In the third, Brodeur stopped the Lightning’s period-low ten shots on net and faced only a single unsuccessful power-play to begin the period.
Brodeur’s 93rd career postseason victory served to send home the league’s most dynamic duo, Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier. The duo’s frustrations were evident early in the first period. Lecavalier and St. Louis even spent a romantic two minutes in the penalty box together. The penalties occurred after Brodeur denied a Lecavalier offering on the doorstep. Lecavalier cross-checked Richard Matvichuk in the back after the play, sending Matvichuk to the locker room for the period. Matvichuk, who missed all but one game of the regular season after undergoing back surgery, returned for action in the second period. St. Louis argued with the officiating crew and received matching unsportsmanlike conduct penalties with Devils defensive specialist John Madden.

In the end, St. Louis and Lecavalier couldn’t crack the league’s likely Vezina trophy recipient. The duo combined for nine shots and only one point, an assist by Lecavalier on Richards’ second goal; the Lightning’s final goal of the 2006-07 campaign. The Devils will face the fourth seeded Ottawa Senators; Game One is reportedly set for Tuesday night.

Wings Dominate in Motown
by David Carty

The Calgary Flames knew they’d have to defy the odds to come away with a win Saturday afternoon. Riding high after evening the series at home 2-2, a first class ticket back to Hockeytown was the last thing the Flames wanted. With an abysmal thirteen road victories staring them in the face, the Flames resorted to what they know best. Being physical.

However, the pure talent of the Red Wings was not to be denied. The somewhat maligned Henrik Zetterberg found his stride to the tune of two goals and one assist. Captain Niklas Lidstrom added four assists on his own en route to a 5-1 stomping of the Flames.

Dion Phaneuf mixed things up early with Todd Bertuzzi, amongst others, in what was Bertuzzi’s first home playoff performance in Detroit. Bertuzzi looked sluggish at times, allowing a dangerous giveaway to Alex Tanguay in the Detroit zone two minutes into play. But luckily for the Red Wings, some of those old bones found a little extra spring in their stride.

Dominik Hasek’s stop on Tanguay was a sign of things to come. The Dominator played a near perfect game, and matched Miika Kiprusoff save-for-save early in the game. Later in the period, Hasek stymied Jeff Friesen on a 2-on-1 caused by an ill-advised hit by Danny Markov in the attacking zone. Hasek stopped all eight efforts on what was, at best, a spotty power play effort for the Flames.

Nevertheless, the Flames came out of the gate with a chip on their shoulder. Calgary’s eleven shots nearly matched Detroit’s fourteen as the two squads fought to a scoreless stalemate after one. Daymond Langkow played strong on the forecheck and helped to create several Flames opportunities. Langkow and Tony Amonte each contributed two shots on net and made Dominik Hasek work throughout the duration of the period.

And that’s when the wheels fell off the Flames' wagon.

After Tomas Holmstrom pushed Brad Stuart into Miikka Kiprusoff earlier in the game, the officials opted to crack down on goaltender interference. The Wings' first goal was waved off after tagging Kirk Maltby with a goaltender interference penalty. Maltby appeared to be led into the net by Mark Giordano, but instead Detroit got the goal waved off and Calgary went on the power play.

After more brilliance in net by Hasek, the Wings began the damage.

Dan Cleary beat Kiprusoff with a backhand on his first career penalty shot to break the scoreless tie. The shot came after Cleary was tripped up by Roman Hamrlik on a short-handed breakaway, and it was one of many opportunities the Red Wings created for themselves while on the penalty kill. The Red Wings went back to peppering a dazzling Kiprusoff, and held the Flames without a shot on net for the first ten minutes of the second period.

Five minutes later, Zetterberg lit the lamp, burying a feed from Lidstrom to put the Wings' lead at two.

The second period was also one of rejuvenation for Chris Chelios. After stopping two shots on one Calgary power play opportunity, Chelios netted his first goal of the 2006-07 campaign, putting Detroit up 3-0. Detroit capped an outstanding defensive effort by blanking the Flames on a late 5-on-3 and kept the three goal lead heading into the third.

The third period capped the Flames’ downward spiral. While the Wings added to their lead, Calgary continued the physical play, often after the whistle. Not surprisingly, the Flames were responsible for eleven of the fourteen penalties called in the third period.

Phaneuf and Bertuzzi dropped the gloves, and Phaneuf was slapped with the instigator penalty. Later, Stephane Yelle was slapped with a slashing penalty and a five minute major for attempt to injure.

The most notable offender was backup goaltender Jamie McLennan, who received a grand total of eighteen seconds of ice time in relief of Miikka Kiprusoff. His shift consisted of poking a battling Johan Franzen in front of his net, then hitting him with his stick after play had stopped. McLennan received a game misconduct and will face suspension from the NHL.

The Flames brutishly concluded the game using every opportunity at their disposal to throw in a little extra pain, including a double minor to Jerome Iginla that sent the captain to the shower before time expired.

Calgary's self-destruction now sends them back home trailing 3-2. Detroit simply manhandled the Flames, leaving them looking foolish and thuggish by the game’s finish. Calgary’s offense clicked in the first period, before degrading and collapsing as the game progressed. And in order for Calgary to extend their playoff life, they’ll have to control their emotion and play to their strengths.

Of course, that’s not quite so easy when you’re up against dominance and The Dominator.

Welcome to the Buehrlesque show
By: David Carty

Gas = success. The equation for success amongst many baseball scouts over the past century. Blow it by your opponent, rattle him a bit with a slight break, and then back for some more hot tamales. Anything less doesn't cut the mustard. It's not easy to deny their logic. All in one instant, a 90-MPH fastball is laughed at by hitters, measured up, and sent on a complimentary ride to the bleachers, where alcohol-fueled fisticuffs determine the rightfull owner of the doomed baseball. To succeed at this level among the world's best, you've gotta be able to put a little zip on the ball.

Luckily, Mark Buehrle doesn't buy into what scouts have to say.

A lowly 38th round selection out of lowly Jefferson College (located in Hillsboro, Missouri, in case you forgot), Buehrle's plane ticket would be much harder to earn than many of his cohorts. 38 rounds deep, for many players, is too far to see that light at the end of the tunnel.

But Buehrle and his 6'2", 200 pound frame were built for one thing. Speed.

Mark made 36 total minor league appearances, less than half of which were made above Class A, before making his Major League debut in relief in 2000. He was the league's third youngest player that year. Buehrle allowed one run in one inning in his first Major League appearance against the Milwaukee Brewers. Three days later, he made his first career start against the Minnesota Twins. He hasn't looked back.

Stop-watch enthusiasts would find a Buehrle pitched game to their liking. To the naked eye, it may seem as though Buerhle rushes from pitch-to-pitch. To the trained eye, however, it is easy to see that he works deliberately. Deliberately fast.

Ironic, isn't it? A pitcher who bears down for a low 90's heater is among baseball's quickest working hurlers. Just ask the 2005 Seattle Mariners, who wrapped up an afternoon at the ballpark in 1 hour and 39 minutes, just 63 minutes discounting the time filled by a lovely word from sponsors.

Of course, that was hardly the highlight of an action-packed 2005 White Sox season. Backed by Buehrle's career-best 3.12 earned run average, Chicago finished atop the baseball world, defeating the Houston Astros in a sweep for the World Series Championship. It would be their first Championship since 1917; 88 years of waiting, but who's in a rush?

The celebration stopped early in 2006 for Mark Buehrle as White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams ordered Buehrle to stop performing on the field. No, Buehrle was not restricted from pitching. He was forbidden from sliding on the tarp covering the field during rain delays. The lack of rain may have dried Buehrle's mojo. He finished with his first career losing season, 12-13 with a 4.99 ERA.

The team supported Buehrle in his other favorite past time. Pitching. Despite his losing effort the previous season, the White Sox exercised a $9.5 million option on him for 2007.

The southpaw would earn his paycheck.

Last night, Buehrle goose-egged the Texas Rangers in the White Sox' 16th career no-hitter. One walk to a soon-to-be hall of famer broke up Buehrle's bid for perfection, but Buehrle, all the wiser, didn't let it affect his game. In the next at-bat, Buehrle wound and delivered a strike...to first base, picking off Sammy Sosa, fresh off his not-so-retirement vacation.

But are the scouts correct? How can Mark Buehrle, who has been marred by inconsistency, blank a team that perennially rank amongst the league's best in offense?

In May 2006, Buehrle allowed seven runs in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins. Winning pitcher in that game, Mark Buehrle. He became the first pitcher to accomplish such a feat since 1900, the year the American League was founded.

Is the answer simply good support from his teammates?

Forget for a second that Buehrle got the win in Major League's Baseball's Futures game in the year 2000, started and won the 2005 All-Star game, and ranked first in innings pitched in 2004 and 2005. How does a pitcher who better fits in a wiffleball tournament stymie nine batters three times?

The answer, deception. Buehrle has been throwing those plus-plus changeups to baseball scouts for years.

After you get your fill of watching the Bobby Jenks' of the world, take a minute to watch the shear wizardry of Mark Buehrle.

He'll make sure you leave the stadium happily and quickly.