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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Bowman Needs One Win To Hit 1,000 Plateau

Associated Press

Do your own thing. That was the crux of Toe Blake’s advice to Scotty Bowman a quarter-century ago. It worked pretty well, too.

Bowman is poised to become the first NHL coach to win 1,000 regular-season games. He has 999 as he leads the Detroit Red Wings into tonight’s game against the St. Louis Blues.

“You can never fool yourself,” Bowman said. “Your job is always in the standings.”

That’s why Bowman is almost in a class by himself. No one is close to his record. Only five coaches have reached 500 victories. His nearest competitor, Al Arbour, retired with 781 wins.

The 63-year-old Bowman hasn’t done too poorly in postseason play, either. His six Stanley Cup championships rank second only to Blake’s eight.

Bowman coached his first NHL game in 1967, taking over the Blues from Lynn Patrick.

Lemieux nears own milestone

Mario Lemieux needs one goal to become the seventh player in NHL history to score 600.

Lemieux hopes to score the historic goal tonight at home against Vancouver, rather than waiting until the Pittsburgh Penguins play Wednesday in his hometown of Montreal.

LaFontaine resumes skating

Pat LaFontaine has been skating on his own but is still uncertain if his career with the Buffalo Sabres will resume.

The 14-year veteran, sidelined since Nov. 7 because of complications related to a concussion, started skating drills and riding a stationary bicycle last week. He still is not ready to rejoin the team. LaFontaine has appointments scheduled for Feb. 13-14 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Nedved cleared

A sexual assault charge against Pittsburgh forward Peter Nedved has been dropped. “Additional information came to light” in the case that resulted in a stay of proceedings, regional Crown counsel Austin Cullen said. A stay means the charge is dropped if it is not reactivated within 12 months.

Nedved was charged after a woman from the Vancouver suburb of Coquitlam said she was assaulted in her home in 1994. Nedved’s agent said his client wasn’t even in the Vancouver area at the time of the alleged attack.

On the ice

Alexei Yashin continued his superb play with a goal and two assists Monday night as Ottawa defeated Vancouver 6-4 in Kanata, Ontario.