Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - May 18, 1997, Winnipeg, Manitoba A10 sunday free press Winnipeg May 18, 1997 rockets Matt Maloney right finds sonics Gary Payton a Tough defender yesterday. Houston slips by Seattle into Aba Western final rockets sink sonic Assoc am kicks have Battle faces on goalies win playoff games puck stoppers count the most the adage a the team with the Best goal ending always wins in the playoffs a is As old As the British North America act. Its hockey a unwritten Law. And Ever since Georges Vezina stood on his head to Lead the Montreal canadians to the 1916 Stanley cup stories of magnificent playoff goal ending have become As common As the next Stephen King novel. This year with the National hockey leagues four most intriguing teams still battling for the cup it has already become evident that goal ending will determine almost every remaining outcome. Last night in Denver for instance the steadiness of Mike Vernon outlasted the brilliance of Patrick Roy and As a result the Colorado Avalanche Detroit red wings Western final is tied 1-1. Vernon Wasny to special. After All the wings out shot the avs by a wide margin it was 30-11 after two periods and Detroit had full control throughout their 4-2 Victory. However after falling behind 2-0, Vernon Hung Tough barred the door for almost a period and a half and the wings escaped Denver with a split. The fact is goal ending has been the difference in every game of the conference finals thus far. Thursday night Mike Ricci scored the winning goal for the Avalanche and then summed up his teams 2-1 Victory with a Stab at the obvious. A Patty Patrick Roy stood on his head and gave us a Chance to win a Ricci said. A if your goalie keeps you in the game on the nights when you done to play your Best you can go a Long Way in the no kidding. Thursday the Avalanche was out shot 35-19 by Detroit and yet Roy was magnificent. Meanwhile on Friday night the Philadelphia flyers came out hard and fast. But after taking a 2-0 Lead before the five minute Mark of the first period Philly fell into a defensive Shell and ultimately left the Victory up to goalie Garth Snow. The flyers were out shot 25-21, but Snow was almost flawless and Philly won it 3-1. Had Luc Robitaille not scored with 9.7 seconds left Snow would have had his first playoff shutout. Not bad for a Guy considered to be the second Best american born goalie new Yorkus Mike Richter gets most of the attention in the Eastern final. A when you lose you always say you wished you a scored More a said new Yorkus Wayne Gretzky via Telephone yesterday. A Garth did a great Job for them. We fell behind Early against a team that for checked us a Little tougher than either Florida or new Jersey did but i thought we picked it up later in the hockey game. Still it was Garth a in the first three games of this years conference finals neither Winner would have emerged without a solid goal ending performance. However in one sense there was a huge Surprise. In the East Mike Richter was supposed to provide the winning difference for the rangers just As he did against new Jersey and Florida. In both those series new York was the underdog but Richter a brilliance a 1.31 goals against average and a save percentage of .959 got the rangers a pair of 4-1 series victories. This afternoon the goaltender for the world cup champions team Usa will get a Chance to redeem himself. And As Vernon did last night he just might. After All the rangers Haven to won a series opening game in the playoffs since 1993 a nine rounds ago a so Why panic now however if Snow does another number on the rangers today it just might be a the other Guy a who keeps the goal ending legend alive. Of course it matters Little who does the Job. The fact remains without great goal ending you can to possibly win in the playoffs. Its still hockey a most obvious a and most important a unwritten Law. associated press Houston a the Houston rockets found their Comfort zone a facing playoff elimination. And it meant they finally beat the Seattle 96 sonics 91____ Houston improved to 11-2 in playoff elimination games under coach Rudy Tomjanovich with a 96-91 Victory Over Seattle yesterday in game 7 of their Aba Western conference semifinals. It was the rockets first playoff Success against the supersonics in six series. A we played Well today but we tried to give it away at the end a rockets Forward Charles Barkley said. A but we held on. It was an emotional game. I done to look at Seattle As a physical team i look at them As a finesse the rockets who were led by Clyde Drexler a 24 Points including two free throws in the final 20 seconds will open the conference finals against Utah on monday night in Salt Lake City. Seattle was trying to become the sixth team in Aba history to rally from a 3-1 deficit in a playoff series. A that was As Cool As it gets a said pitching coach finds out Success exacts a great�?T96 hard act to follow by Dave sup eve sports reporter _ oddly enough Success and failure create the same monster for a pitching coach in the Northern league. A Lousy staff Means an overhaul is in order. A great staff like the one the Winnipeg Gold eyes had in 1996, also Means an overhaul is in order. Success As Bob Kipper is finding out Means paying a Price not reaping a Reward. Gone from kippers staff the envy of the Northern league in �?T96 a Are two aces Jamie Ybarra and Matt Jarvis. The message for Kipper is Clear great Job Bob now do it again. A if you do your Job Well that a what is going to happen a Kipper said yesterday after the Gold eyes soggy two hour workout at Winnipeg stadium. A you Hope Guys do Well so they can get an Opportunity with an major league associated press Purchase . A with a Grunt from Patrick Ewing and a Gripe from Jeff Van Gundy the new York kicks got ready yesterday for the biggest game of their season. A everything in be got to say ill say tomorrow. The Only other thing in be got to say is see you in Chicago Quot were Patrick Ewing a Only comments As he exited what May have been the a Nicks final practice. Game 7 is this afternoon at Miami Barkley who had 20 Points and 14 rebounds. A we did no to blow a 3-1 Lead they re just a Good team. You always want the last game at and Utah a i told our Guys to enjoy this Day a Barkley said. A a it a going to be a the rockets 17-0 when they win the first game of a series led 88-74 with 3 58 to play As the sonics missed 12 straight shots and went 6 14 without a Field goal. The sonics Only Points during that Span which started with 3 02 to play in the third Quarter was a free throw Ybarra and Jarvis both won la games for the eyes in 1996. Ybarra was plucked away by the Tampa Bay Devil rays. Jarvis is throwing for the St. Louis cardinals a affiliate in Little Rock. Their departures leave Kipper with just one regular starter from a year ago 10-game Winner Mike Bailey. Rod Pedraza and Jeff Zimmerman both no newcomers Are the top candidates to replace the All Star tandem of Ybarra and Jarvis. Andy Wise who still Hasni to reported to Spring training split time Between the starting rotation and the bullpen. He and Larry Williams should Duel to be the Gold eyes fourth starter. Kipper and his pitchers were magical in �?T96, succeeding in a Ballpark with a left Field Fence just 295 feet from Home plate. That a reason enough to explain Why the Gold eyes have just one left handed Pitcher Pete Mchugh in Camp. The Winnipeg staff held opposing Arena and new York will once again have to overcome the fallout from their behaviour in game 5 when a Bench Clearing Melee led to the suspension of five kicks. Ewing was one of those punished and had to sit at Home watching Friday nights game on television. Also sitting out was Allan Houston who also stayed on his sofa while his teammates were getting beaten 95-90. Houston Ewing and Charlie Ward will be from their one game suspensions today but Larry Johnson and John Starks will be serving theirs. By Shawn Kemp with 9 11 left in the game. A we just got our Guys to pick them up in the backcourt a Tomjanovich said. A we made it a War. We did no to let them get in their Comfort zone. Defence is always the key. Right from the first jump Ball we were very the sonics the defending Western conference champions and the team that swept the two time defending Aba Champion rockets in this same round last season weren to ready for a vacation. Teams to a 4.68 Era in 1996, the ski Piest in the Northern league. In the second half of the season the clubs Era was 3.60, More than two runs below its Mark for the seasons first 42 games. A a it a very easy for a Pitcher to come in Here and for their impression to be one of intimidation a said Kipper now in his second season in charge of the Gold eyes pitchers. A you can understand that its human nature. A what we be got to do is change that approach. If we re going to get our Butts kicked lets do it being aggressive and going after hitters. We re not going to get our Butts kicked being timid afraid and scared. A it was a Nice turnaround in the second half. All it was was a Frame of extra Points third baseman Wade Forster the top player in the Manitoba Junior league last season checked into Camp yesterday. Sports Parade obscure players Rise to fore at Lyga he Leader Board at the Lyga championship usually reads like the who a who of women a Golf. The question yesterday was who a that Leta Lindley and Chris Johnson both shot 2-under-Par 69s yesterday and were tied at 210 after three rounds two strokes ahead of Sherri Steinhauer and Kim Saiki. Lindley now in her third season has never finished higher than third place on the tour. But the 24-year-old californian started yesterdays round with two birdies and at 3-under was one of Only four players under Par after 54 holes on the Dupont country club course in Rockland Del. Dawn Coe Jones of Lake cow Chan . Was the top Canadian after carding a Par-71, putting her six strokes behind Lindley at 216. Other canadians Jennifer Wyatt of Vancouver 71 a 219 Gail Graham of Kelowna ., 71 a 219 and Lisa Walters of Prince Rupert ., 75 a 225. Defending Champion Laura Davies the opening round Leader followed her second round 75 with a 74 and is at 216.boat comes at indy Billy boat the Only Driver bumped from the Indianapolis 500 lineup a year ago was the fastest among eight qualifiers yesterday and gave the hard Luck a j. Foyt team two cars solidly in the race. A week earlier Scott Sharp crashed for the second time and was hospitalized with a head injury. Then on Friday Johnny of Connell subbing for Sharp dislocated the Arch of his left foot in another crash. The Only Foyt Driver who Hasni to crashed this month is Davey Hamilton who qualified last week for a spot in the Middle of the third Row. Because boats attempt came on the third of the four Days of qualifications he will Start no higher than the outside of the eighth Row May 25. Ane Luyendyk won the pole position last week at 218.263. Yesterdays qualifiers left Only two of the 33 spots to be filled women lose the Canadian women a basketball team lost 69-63 to Italy in its second game at a four country tournament in Cosenza Italy yesterday despite an 18-Point contribution from Shawna Molchak of Lethbridge Alta. On Friday Canada lost 83-63 to Spain and has increased its wingless record in 1997 to 0-5. Terri Lee Johannesson of Winnipeg also scored eight Points for Canada. Canada plays France advances in open Mary Pierce of France seeking her second straight title beat South african Amanda Roetzer yesterday 6-4,64 to Advance to the finals of the German open and a meeting with american Mary Joe Fernandez. Fernandez reached her first final of the year with a 6-3,6-1 upset of second seeded Jana Novotna of the czech in doubles final Daniel Nestor of Toronto and Mark Knowles of the Bahamas advanced to the doubles final of the italian open beating the unseeded team of Sandon Stolle and Cyril silk 7-6 8-67-6 7-1 yesterday. Nestor and Knowles face no. 5 seed Byron Black and Alex of Brien a who beat the no. 7 american pair of Rick Leach and Jonathan Stark 7-5,6-2 a in today a final. In singles play yesterday in Rome Alex Corretta Defeated Goran Ivanisevic in straight sets to move into his fourth Clay court final of the season. Corretta will face Chile a Marcelo Rios today in a rematch of the final at Monte Carlo three weeks ago. Rios took that title in straight sets. Rios the no. 7 seed got past unseeded Alberto Berasategui 6-3,3-6,6-1 in the other May need surgery Cleveland indians Pitcher Jack Mcdowell May need arthroscopic surgery on his pitching Elbow. A piece of skin or cartilage was found Between one of the joints in his right Elbow during testing at lutheran Hospital last week. Mcdowell received two cortisone shots to try to shrink the object. Mcdowell will try to play catch today or tomorrow and if his Elbow still hurts he will undergo surgery. A it be anything major a Mcdowell said. A i had an Fri and the Elbow is sound. There a no damage to the joint ligaments or tendons. If i had the surgery id be out two or three hopeful in seclusion the Man who wants to become the tallest player in Aba history will have to live with just being the tallest Man in Ottawa for the next few weeks. I Myong Hun who bolted his native North Korea earlier this week for a Longshot Chance at Aba riches remains in seclusion at a downtown Ottawa hotel while his personal entourage All Canadian allows him time to Deal with what they describe As a a extreme culture Shock. The 27-year-old i is seven feet nine inches tall and has been a dominant player in North Korea for years. Now his handlers led by former Canadian National team coach Jack Donohue have to assess whether rims talents Are Good enough for the Aba. Workouts for i could begin late next week initially Only with Donohue in attendance. If they go Well and Donohue sees enough potential there Are plans to have i practise with some of Canadas Best players. Joe Bryksa Winnipeg free press Gold eyes Kipper left chats with head coach Hal Lanier yesterday ;