Chad Kilger and the Ten Foot Swath

Talk about your political spins!

Yes, damnit, I had to look up the word "swath" in the dictionary.

My 30 year old Funk and Wagnell's describes it as a "narrow belt, track, or strip".

This was made neccesary by comments made by Paul Maurice, coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

It seems Maurice was slightly pertubed after the Leafs shootout loss to the Habs last Saturday, upon noticing that the Zamboni had cleared a wider path for the habs shooters, than it did for the Leafs.

The National Hockey League has investigated the complaint from Maurice that his team's shooting end was not properly prepared for the shootout with the Canadiens. Maurice did offer that his team would have lost anyway, but he wasn't satisfied with the ice-scraping job performed after overtime, complaining the shooting lane was narrow for the Leafs.

Maurice asked referees Gord Dwyer and Kelly Sutherland for another go-round by the ice-surfacing machine. The referees, however, did not honour the request.

Mike Murphy, NHL's senior vice-president of hockey operations, confirmed that the league looked into the matter yesterday, but that no conclusions had been reached.

"We have already started to review the situation," Murphy said. "We need to be careful not to react to accusations by one team or organization against another.

"The video didn't show a poor scrape job, it just showed the cleaned ice to be narrower at the Montreal end
Three of the four Toronto-Montreal games this season have been decided by a shootout. Maurice indicated a narrower shooting lane was also left for the Leafs the previous time they were at the Bell Centre, on Oct. 28, when the Leafs won 5-4.

So, what's his point?

It hardly stopped Mats Sundin's shootout goal. It didn't look to hamper Kyle Wellwood's swift backhanded top corner effort that was stopped by Habs goaltender Cristobal Huet.

"I'm just saying the last time we were in here, there was a six-foot swath from the blueline to the crease," Maurice said.

"I asked the refs]to bring the Zamboni back out. Our shooting lane was narrower. Anyway, it didn't cost us the game."

Oh yeah, the shut to hell up, why don't you?

What cost the Leafs the game on Saturday was blowing a two-goal lead with less than nine minutes to go in the third period. That and Darcy Tucker's neaderthal reaction to a clean Francis Bouillon hit on Wellwood!

It's another symptom of the team's fragile confidence, as its losing string was extended to a season-worst four games.

(RC-Note: It's gotten worse!)

The following Sunday, the Leafs held an annual skills competition for charity.

The big news was hard nosed forward Chad Kilger blasted a 106.6 mile an hour slap shot to break Al Iafrate's record for shot velocity that was set in 1993.

"I wasn't sure what the record was, but the game has changed so much, Iafrate was using a wooden stick, and we use these one-piece composites," a gracious Kilger said. Kilger who is one of the most underrated forwards in the NHL was asked why he doesn't score more, with such a blistering shot. He replied that NHL defenses rarely allow for such a windup. "I don't get that many chances or that much time to take a shot."

He was also the winner of yesterday's fastest skating competition.

Kilger, whose father Bob will be sworn in as my city's mayor any day now, has always needed a lesson in intensity. Talented as he is, he has the nasty habit of coasting through games based on a previous nights output. He is satisfied with being a fringe NHler, comfortable away from pressures that would find him should he be more consistant.

It is what got him placed on waivers by the Canadiens, and what has plagued him his entire career. With the sklls he has displayed during the weekends event, he is obviouslycapable of more.

Trouble is, he is exactly like his old man - a politician of reputation and name only, well liked and approachable, who rarely delivers on promises.

Getting to Bob Kilger's office sometimes involves navigating your way past an inconsiquential ten foot swath of red tape.

And hey, I've been there!

BUTT ENDS # 3

Some interesting opinions courtesy of Stan Fischler's "Drop A Dime" column in the New England sports journal this week concerning the Habs and Canadiens.

First the Habs:

Last time we saw Robbie DiMaio he was traveling with the Tampa Bay Lightning with no idea whether he’d ever play again.

The former Boston Bruins forward is still suffering post-concussion syndrome from the pre-season from-behind hit delivered by Guillaume Latendresse. The Habs rookie never bothered to phone with apologies and that still irks Robbie.

"A phone call," DiMaio told the St. Petersburg Times Damian Cristodero, "He could say, ‘I didn’t mean for it to happen’ and it’s over. If it had been me, I would have tried to make some kind of contact."

(RC Note - The Montreal media reported weeks back that Latendresse had attempted calls and could not reach the player. When Tampa played the Canadiens a little over a week ago, Latendresse was told by Lightening players upon inquiry that Di Maio holds no ill will for the hit. Guillaume apparently told players he felt badly about the injury, explained himself and offered his words of encouragement. He has yet to get to speak to DiMaio by phone.)

On Leafs coaching and management, Fischler had these to say:

John Ferguson’s contract re-up proves that the Leafs’ ownership is wise not to heed media advice. Fergie took an unconscionable, unfair – and just plain wrong – beating from Toronto columnists since his hiring in August 2003. In another town, ownership might have read that crap and dumped the GM. Fortunately, it didn’t happen with the Leafs brass. The renaissance of Ferguson’s Blue-and-Whiters is one of the season’s best tales. A story that should be told in the T.O. papers is the classy manner in which Fergie turned the cheek on his tormentors. Or, as the song goes, "Who’s Got The Last Laugh Now?" .

(RC Note - What Fischler fails to detail here is that the Leafs simply took the option on the contract. It is not the vote of confidence that a new prolonged deal would have suggested. Point blank - the jury is still sitting on Ferguson. That is what is wise about the move!)

There’s a lot to like about the Paul Maurice regime but one of the least-mentioned sidebars happens to be the availability of previously-unavailable Leaf players after practices or games. Our man in T.O., Rob Del Mundo, writes:

"Under the Pat Quinn era, players were often withheld from reporters, or delayed from speaking to the media by as much as 30 or 40 minutes after a game. Last season, when Mats Sundin played his first game after returning from his orbital bone injury (Nov. 12, 2005 vs. Montreal), several reporters attended the game-day skate, only to be left hanging when it was discovered that the captain had been permitted to leave the dressing room via a back-door entrance without speaking to the media. Players now are generally immediately available to the media, following games and morning skates. This past Saturday, Sundin did not leave by the back door following the morning skate for his game-day return. This is a strong measurement of how the player accessibility has vastly improved."

(RC Note - It should also be mentioned that the Leafs were mired in a losing streak at that point last season. This year things are slightly different.)

Enough with Fischler's spins! Check him out at his site, and read between the lines for yourself.

Why isn't Cristobal Huet on the All-Star ballot? After posting great numbers last season, why were M.A. Fleury and Andrew Raycroft preferred? Prediction, he'll get there on write- ins!... The rot at the core of the Black Hawks woes goes by the name of Wirtz. When will Chicago go out and get a proven GM or coach with a track record of success and stop retreating unsuitable candidates from their own organization. I like Denis Savard, but with the behind the scenes buffoons, he's as doomed as perdecessors....About Savard and numbers. It was surely not his # 18 he wore in Montreal that was retired last week, but a funny coincidence nonetheless. While playing hockey at the age of 8 Savard formed a line with two players also named Denis, Cyr and Tremblay. They remained together until their final year of junior, a good ten years! They all were from the same neighbourhood streets, and here's the topper: all three were born on Febuary 2, 1961. Cyr was drafted by Buffalo, and received a tryout with Chicago at one point. Tremblay went undrafted, but was also sent a ticket for the Windy City....Brendan Shanahan was offered a million more, 5 that is, over two years and not one, to sign with the Canadiens. Given a helicopter ride over the city with Habs GM Gainey, Shanahan was ready to ink the deal and conferred with his wife. Shanny admitted she chose New York. He left it in her hands due to family raising responsabilities. His better half felt there would be a rough adjustment in school systems for the kids. That tilted the deal. A shame!....Darcy Tucker, also off the All-Star ballot, is on target for a 50 goal season. Can Toronto afford 6 players near the 5 million tag?... Hey did I predict that Habs loss to the Flyers or what? It was a given as soon as Aebischer was named the starter. Players on the team lack confidence in him and play on the their heels....Another ten day slice of comparing back to back games is coming soon. I should do the whole damn season and mail it to the NHL offices to make my point!....If Hitchcock had waited a week, could he be in Chicago? Did he pass, or was it even offered?....Talk of changes have somewhat subsided in Ottawa. Only in a government city do troubles get swept under the rug so quickly. Nice move by Murray in one game, he benched Spezza for all but two minutes of the 3rd period to help preserves the win!.... A local scribe in town came up with a new angle solving the Sens issues. Switch Muckler and Murray's positions. Each has clearly had more success in the opposite roles. Funny when you think about it?

SIDELINE SCRIBBLES

Has the NHL ever thought of polling fans, writers, and broadcasters, on what areas of the game need the most fixing? There are dozens of issues ostriches named Bettman, Campbell, and Daly seem to shrug off at every suggestion. The fact they keep coming up ought to be a clue. Along with that brutal schedule of back to backs, issues such as imbalanced meetings, inconsistant calls, crashing goalies at will, mounting injuries, and immovable roster players, are frustrating fans league wide. Get on it guys! Fans in certain cities are missing in droves!

PARTING SHOT

Why on God's Earth doesn't the NHL expand the 5 minute sudden death OT to 10 minutes. Contrary to the shootout, this IS the most exciting hockey played. Several games I have seen lately have been total thrillers and I was completely let down when the shootouts began. I still say, settle the game in ten, then live with the few ties remaining. Presently, out of 30 teams, 22 have a .500 record - which is nuts! Three other teams are one game under. The five remaining are virtually eliminated from the playoffs before December - how smart is that. Blame it all on those extra shootout and overtime points handed out like candy. It's a mess!