Enforcement Pays Off

Tue., March 3, 1998

From Wire Reports

Scoring is up 9.4 percent since the break for the Olympics, when the league said it would crack down on obstruction-type penalties.

A 42-year scoring low prompted the NHL to instruct its referees to more strictly enforce rules against clutching and grabbing when play resumed after the Olympics.

The change comes after several high-profile people, including recently retired Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Brett Hull of the St. Louis Blues, criticized the illegal hooking and interference that went uncalled.

“It’ll help the highly skilled players,” said Montreal forward Mark Recchi. “But I think most players are reserving judgment until we see if the league sticks with it.”

On the ice

Goaltender Dominik Hasek, who helped the Czech Republic win the Olympic Games gold medal, earned his second shutout in two days Monday as the Buffalo Sabres ran their unbeaten streak to 13 with a 1-0 victory over the New York Rangers.

Sergei Fedorov, in his second game after a long holdout, scored his first goal of the season as the Detroit Red Wings beat Phoenix 3-1.

Gary Roberts got two goals and an assist while former Spokane Chiefs goalie Trevor Kidd stopped 43 San Jose shots, lifting the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-1 victory.

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Enforcement Pays Off

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