Sharks’ Hrudey Shows Resiliency And Brilliance

Around the NHL

The way Kelly Hrudey fared in his first two outings for the San Jose Sharks, it appeared the Los Angeles Kings were correct in casting him adrift.

Hrudey faced his former team in his San Jose debut on October 6. Sure, the Sharks won in overtime, but Hrudey saw six pucks go past him. Two days later in Denver, he was buried under a Colorado avalanche of five first-period goals before being mercifully yanked from the premises. His goals-against average looked like the numbers on one of Mario Lemieux’s paychecks.

Since then, Hrudey has been solid, and at times, brilliant. He has turned in a string of strong games, becoming the main man in goal while Chris Terreri recovers from a hand injury. Hrudey may no longer be asked to carry a 60-70 game load, but he is proving that at age 35, he is still a viable goaltender, when many thought he’d had it.

“Oh man, he’s looked great,” said Sharks center Bernie Nicholls, a teammate of Hrudey’s in Los Angeles. “When Chris got hurt, Kelly really knew he had to come up big. He’s playing really well - as good as I’ve ever seen him play. He’s playing super.”

After the Sharks signed him as an unrestricted free agent last summer, Hrudey was eager to show he had plenty of puck-stopping left in his system.

“I have lots to prove,” said Hrudey, in his 14th NHL season. “Every game I go out there. That’s why older guys like myself continue to play.”

On the ice

Jamie Baker scored his first goal for Toronto, and the Maple Leafs beat St. Louis 6-3 Tuesday night for their sixth win in seven games. Baker, traded from San Jose to Toronto in the off-season, combined with Todd Warriner and Mike Craig for three goals and four assists.

Off the ice

The Washington Capitals signed newly acquired left wing Chris Simon to a two-year contract. The Capitals acquired Simon from the Colorado Avalanche Saturday. Simon and defenseman Curtis Leschushyn were traded to Washington for Keith Jones and two draft picks.

Defenseman Stan Neckar of the Ottawa Senators will have reconstructive knee surgery Friday and will be out until April. The Senators have also lost defenseman Sean Hill for the season with a knee injury.