Muckler: 'What Hitchcock is saying is false'


By BRUCE GARRIOCH -- Ottawa Sun

PHILADELPHIA -- Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock's "dirty" business is a pile of baloney says Senators GM John Muckler.

Muckler told reporters prior to last night's Game 3 at the First Union Center that the Senators are not a bunch of thugs who carry their sticks too high, an accusation made by Hitchcock Sunday night.

"Look, everybody knows what Hitchcock is saying is false," said Muckler. "He's just trying to motivate his team and coaches do this stuff all the time.

"The series is moving back here and he's trying to alleviate some of the pressure because there's going to be lots on his team.

"The sad thing is we're all sitting here talking about it when there's really no point."

Really, the Senators were trying not to laugh out loud at Hitchcock's remarks. A player pointed out Hitchcock often likes to put himself above the game and he'll use any tactic to try to get his players motivated.

Hitchcock made it clear the Flyers plan to target Martin Havlat, who high-sticked defenceman Kim Johnsson near the eye (resulting in 25 stitches). No penalty was called.

Captain Keith Primeau also claimed he was cut.

"I can't worry about what they're going to do or if they're going to come after me," said Havlat. "I just have to go out there and do my job. I have to make sure that I don't take any dumb penalties. They can say what they want."

But Senators winger Vaclav Varada fired back.

"It's a stupid comment," said Varada. "It doesn't make any sense. He's trying to get his team going. People say stuff all the time in a playoff series. Whatever (Hitchcock) says doesn't matter because we're ready to play."

Hitchcock wasn't quite as relentless in his attack yesterday, but he warned his players to keep their heads up.

"(The message to the players is) protect themselves. Just in general," said Hitchcock. "Keep your wits about you. If something is going on, you need to be aware of it. We're aware of it now. Just beware of the carless stuff. We won't be surprised any more."

Philadelphia — The Ottawa Senators' Martin Havlat (the Horrible) was standing in front of a group of reporters, a goofy grin on his face, firing off one-liners as fast the questions came.

This was Tuesday morning of the third game of the Eastern Conference semi-final between the Senators and the Philadelphia Flyers. In the eyes of Flyers' coach Ken Hitchcock, Havlat was Evil Incarnate, the lightning rod for the war of words that erupted between the two teams after Havlat's stick sliced open defenceman Kim Johnsson for 25 stitches in Sunday's second game, a 2-0 Philadelphia win.

Havlat protested his innocence on the play; the Flyers begged to differ, Hitchcock advising him to keep his stick or there'd be consequences.

According to Senators' general manager John Muckler, this was all an eloborate ploy to get Havlat - and by extension, his Senators' teammates - off his game.

"This whole thing was done by design," said Muckler. "It was done with a lot of thought behind it by Hitchcock. He knows it's not true. He's trying to get the other side motivated because he's coming home and trying to get a rise out of his team. To me, it's very simple.

"The sad thing is, we're standing here, talking about it today."

For the third day, actually.

Havlat at 22, is in his third NHL season. A talented player with five points in seven games thus far in the playoffs, it is understandable why Hitchcock might want to get into his head. But will he?

"No," replied Muckler, "because Martin's a good competitor. I've seen him compete in different situations and I don't think this will bother him. He'll go about his business in the same way the rest of the team will go about their business. We've always been a business-like team and we'll continue to be a business-like team. We're here for one reason, to win. We don't want to start any feuds, we just want to play our best hockey and walk out of here with a win."

For his part, Havlat shrugged off the controversy, smiling all the while as he answered questions.

"I'm not going to change anything," he said. "It's just another game, which we're going to try to win."

Will Havlat keep his head up more tonight?

"I always do," he answered. "I'm not worrying about anything. I'm a very strong guy. I'm the strongest from the team. So no, I'm not surprised. They can say what they want to."

Did Havlat ever come across something like this gamesmanship at any point in his career?

"It's the first time," he said. "It's something new for me."

Stick-y situation
Flyers coach still steamed at Sens' Havlat

By BRUCE GARRIOCH -- Ottawa Sun

PHILADELPHIA -- To hear Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock tell it, the Broad Street Bullies will be wearing visitors' jerseys tonight at the First Union Center.

Hitchcock called the Senators a "dirty" team after Philadelphia's 2-0 victory Sunday night at the Corel Centre, which tied the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-final 1-1.

Back on home ground, Hitchcock went back on the offensive on the eve of tonight's Game 3 (7 p.m., CBC). He pointed his guns again at Martin Havlat yesterday, accusing the Senators winger of carrying his stick too high when he cut Philly defenceman Kim Johnsson for 25 stitches Sunday night, and in separate incidents with Chris Therien and Claude Lapointe.

"The physical play doesn't bother me. The thing that bothers me is the careless use of the sticks," fumed Hitchcock. "We almost lost a guy for the series because of it and Claude Lapointe got cross-checked right over the back of the head on a breakaway. It's the same player (Havlat), so either put your stick down or deal with the consequences.

"I don't care if you're the world's greatest hockey player, put your bloody stick down and play the game the right way ... Havlat has to play the game by the same rules as everyone else."

Havlat laughed off the accusations.

"I don't care what (Hitchcock) says," said Havlat. "He can say what he wants to say. It's funny. It was an accident. My stick kind of got up and caught (Johnsson) in the head. I was just lucky that the referee wasn't able to see it."

Hitchcock claimed his team "got mad" after the play and threatened to play tough guy Todd Fedoruk tonight.

"I never heard that said about us before," said Ottawa winger Magnus Arvedson. "If anything, people are always saying that we're too nice and we had to get some tougher players to win in the playoffs."

The Flyers were upset because Hitchcock claimed four of his players -- including Johnsson and captain Keith Primeau -- were cut by Ottawa high sticks. The Senators don't remember the incidents and don't exactly have that kind of reputation. Though the Flyers would have you believe so.

"There's no question. If you look at the type (of incidents), we were lucky we didn't have more guys getting stitched," said Primeau, who was cut by a Daniel Alfredsson high stick early in the game.

"It gets to be dangerous when it's close to people's eyes. If you look at their past series, they've sent guys for stitches. Maybe it's gone by the wayside because they have so many skilled guys and skilled guys are the ones who get their sticks up. I don't know if it was intentional by Daniel, but nonetheless, it was careless."

The Senators hope the Flyers do try to toughen up a bit by putting a couple of heavyweights in the lineup. That often leads to undisciplined play and penalties, and Ottawa certainly needs to improve its work on the power play.

"If they want to play that style, I'm sure that we'd welcome that sort of thing," said Senators assistant captain Curtis Leschyshyn.

"We've been successful all year by being a skating team and we're going to use our speed. I don't think whatever they do is going to affect what we're trying to do."

(re: prior year's playoffs against Philly; went on to score GWG in OT, eliminating Philly)

"Midway through the third period, Ottawa's Martin Havlat was wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, running a finger along two teeth that were no longer whole. He'd taken a stick across the face from Flyers defenseman Luke Richardson, but Havlat's appeal for a penalty fell on deaf ears."

Q&A with Martin Havlat
Martin Havlat grew up idolizing Czech countryman Jaromir Jagr. Now the senators' superstar-in-the-making winger takes some time to sit down and chat with the sun's Don Brennan

By DON BRENNAN -- Ottawa Sun

Early into a promising career, Martin Havlat is developing a killer instinct.

The tricky, third-year winger from Mlada Boleslav in the Czech Republic has now held prominent roles in the Senators' last two series-clinching victories -- scoring the overtime winner to oust the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 5 last spring and picking up a goal and assist in Thursday's 4-1 triumph to eliminate the New York Islanders in five games.

Havlat finished the first-round series tied for the team lead in points, at four, with Radek Bonk and Marian Hossa.

Today, we go In Your Face with one of the most exciting 1-on-1 players in hockey ... Martin Havlat.

IYF: Hey, happy birthday (yesterday). How does one celebrate turning 22, anyway? We've forgotten.

MH: I'll go out with my girlfriend, my friends, have a good dinner, and then a nice day off (today). I'll just take it easy.

IYF: Did you enjoy the Bruce Springsteen concert Friday?

MH: I did. It was great.

IYF: What was your favourite part?

MH: I really don't know the songs, but I was with my agent, and he has seen like 50 concerts before, and he told me it was great. I heard some good songs from (Springsteen) ... I thought it was a great performance.

IYF: Did you go backstage?

MH: I did before (the concert), but I didn't meet anybody from the group. I met the wife of the drummer (Max Weinberg) and his family. They are a hockey family.

IYF: What's your favourite band?

MH: I like all kinds of music .... except country. I don't like country that much. I love U2 ... light music ... a lot of stuff. It just depends on what kind of a mood I'm in.

IYF: What's the best concert you've ever been to?

MH: Springsteen. I haven't seen that many concerts.

IYF: What was the last concert you were at before Friday?

MH: Backstreet Boys. Two years ago, I think. When they were here.

IYF: What are you going to do when your playing days are over?

MH: I'll probably stay in hockey. But we'll see. I just started.

IYF: You're going to play until what, you're 40?

MH: That would be nice. I think 35 would be great, too.

IYF: What's your favourite TV show?

MH: Right now I'm watching 24. With, oh, what's his name ... Kiefer Sutherland? I love that show. It's great.

IYF: Your favourite movie?

MH: Braveheart. There's a lot of great movies. I like Mel Gibson, and Robert DeNiro is great.

IYF: What magazine do you read most?

MH: When I'm at home, there's a favourite one I get called Spy. Here, it doesn't matter.

IYF: Favourite video game?

MH: Soccer. FIFA 2003.

IYF: If you weren't a hockey player, you'd be playing soccer.

MH: I love soccer. Or a tennis player.

IYF: What's your least favourite food?

MH: I'd like to tell you, but I don't know the word in English. What do I hate? I don't know. I love food.

IYF: What's your favourite?

MH: All kinds of chicken. Salmon. And some different kinds of Czech food. It doesn't matter. I can eat everything, except two or three things.

IYF: Do you have a particular pre-game meal you always eat?

MH: Yes. On the road, it's salmon and rice, with Alfredo sauce. At home, sometimes I change it up a bit.

IYF: Do you miss the Czech winter?

MH: Yes, it's too cold here. Much colder than back home.

IYF: You bought a new house for your dad when you signed your first contract. Have you done anything like that for anybody else?

MH: I bought him a car, too. I bought a car for my brother. And a car for my sister's son. So yeah, some similar things.

IYF: How many siblings do you have?

MH: One and one. My brother's name is Slava, like my father. He's 50. He's got a different mother. And my sister is Lenka. She's 38.

IYF: What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought for yourself, excluding vehicles?

MH: I just got an apartment, my first one, back home.

IYF: What's the first thing you're going to do when the season ends?

MH: I'm going to do a little travelling this year. I haven't decided where, yet. But I want to go for a week somewhere. Just forget about everything and lie on the beach.

IYF: Do you cook?

MH: No.

IYF: Anything?

MH: No. I'm lazy. I'm friends with Richard, from Fratelli's. So that's my second home. That's my kitchen.

IYF: So you don't do any grocery shopping?

MH: I do, I do. But I'm not cooking.

IYF: Do you have any hobbies?

MH: This year especially, we don't have any time. I like movies and music, and my other hobby is sleep.

IYF: Name one player in the NHL who really ticks you off.

MH: Somebody I don't like? On each team there's somebody like that ... who works to get other players mad. One guy? I don't know. Last year, it was Luke Richardson in Philly, but now he's in Columbus. I don't know. On every team, there's one guy.

IYF: What's the biggest lesson you've learned in the NHL so far?

MH: There are so many games ... you're going to have great games and bad games. You should forget about the game you just played an hour after it's over, then just try and get ready for the next one. It doesn't matter if you played a great game or bad game ... that's what I'm still trying to do, to not think about the game too much.

IYF: Who was your favourite player as a kid?

MH: (Jaromir) Jagr. Everybody loved Jagr. He's a great player. Maybe the best. And I really liked (Wayne) Gretzky.

IYF: What about now? Senators excluded.

MH: There are so many great players in the league. (Peter) Forsberg is great. And (Patrik) Elias ... there are so many skilled players. And Jagr, too.

IYF: At what point of your life did you discover you could stickhandle like you do?

MH: I don't know ... I just started trying to make moves, trying to beat guys. It's nice to beat somebody 1-on-1. If you do, you've got an opportunity to score.

IYF: Do you spend a lot of time practising puck-handling?

MH: It's important when you're young, just to play. To get the puck on your stick and do whatever you want to with it. Then you get the feeling.

IYF: Do you ever surprise yourself?

MH: If you're lucky, you get some good bounces. You know, if you've lost the puck and then you can just kick it to your stick ... that's surprising. I try to do some things, you know what you can do and what you shouldn't do, and if you've got time. A lot depends on the situation.

IYF: Who's the fastest player on your team, from the centre red line to the net?

MH: Which net?

IYF: In the offensive zone.

MH: I think if anybody has a chance to go score a goal, they are very quick.

IYF: Any visitors from home here for the playoffs?

MH: No, not yet. But my parents will be here for the finals. The Stanley Cup finals.

IYF: Have you booked their tickets yet?

MH: No, but it won't be a problem.

IYF: You mean getting them here, right? Getting you and your teammates there should be a little more challenging.

MH: Right.

Hey, c'mon, Radek Bonk scored the goal. Havlat only intercepted the clearing pass, made the phenomenal deke, fought through the slot and laid the perfect pass back through the flow to his centre for an open net

Havlat's magic a winning act


By CHRIS STEVENSON -- Ottawa Sun

He can steal your eyeballs with his quick hands, but Martin Havlat's best move last night was doing practically nothing.

Late in the second period, the Senators were nursing a one-goal lead in a game that was crying out for somebody to reach out and grab it.

The New York Islanders, who were facing elimination, looked like they were playing with their backs to the beach, not the wall.

The Senators were doing just enough to be ahead by a goal.

After a dump-in by the Senators, Islanders goaltender Garth Snow went behind the net, stopped the puck and wound it around the boards.

Havlat pinned himself against the glass and knocked the puck down. It fell at his feet and he looked at Islanders defenceman Radek Martinek coming at him.

In a move brilliant in its simplicity, Havlat beat Martinek by not moving the puck at all, by leaving it sit there and simply waving his stick and his shoulders.

"I wanted to go to the right, but he started to turn ... I was just waiting to see what would happen," said Havlat, shaking and dipping his head in demonstration in the Senators' dressing room afterwards.

Martinek turned and Havlat then gathered the stationary puck and broke the other way toward the middle of the ice.

He is one of those players who seems to gather speed even when he is gliding and his growing reputation as one of the shiftiest players in the National Hockey League is endorsed by the attention the Islanders paid him as he went across the ice.

"It's like a panic breaks out," said Senators forward Shaun Van Allen. "I can't imagine being a defenceman."

KILLER GOAL

Three Islanders followed Havlat across the slot, opening the back door for linemate Radek Bonk to go to the blue paint.

Havlat turned and strung a pass onto Bonk's tape. He needed only to tap it into the open side to make it 3-1 with just under two minutes to go in the second period.

It was a killer goal in what turned out to be the Senators' 4-1 triumph last night, eliminating the Islanders in five games in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarter-final.

After a shaky start in losing Game 1 3-0, the Senators rebounded to win four straight. They were the better team heading into this series and proved it as the series progressed.

"I think the turning point was our win in overtime (in Game 3) in New York," said Havlat, whose goal and three assists tied Bonk (two goals, two assists) for the Senators' scoring lead in the series.

"They played just four defencemen and three lines, and I think they were a little tired. Playing back-to-back games was an advantage to us."

BIG-GAME PLAYER

At this time of year, teams are still playing because they are committed, industrious and carry few passengers.

There are times when the difference in games is skill and a moment of creativity, moments in which Havlat can shine.

He was credited with the Senators' first goal on a lucky play.

After beating an Islander coming out of the corner on the power play, his attempted pass to Marian Hossa at the far post was tipped into the net by Islanders forward Shawn Bates.

Havlat, who has the gifts to be a big-game player, provided that presence last night.

You want that in players, guys who can step up and help cultivate a killer instinct. A reminder: he scored the goal that eliminated the Philadelphia Flyers in overtime last year at this time.

Havlat's also got a little jam.

He engaged in a subtle bit of gamesmanship with Islanders defenceman Kenny Jonsson after setting up Bonk for his goal.

As the play ended, Havlat quietly skated up behind Jonsson and pushed the Islander's helmet up from behind, dropping the front of it down over Jonsson's eyes.

Havlat just might be getting good at turning the lights out on the opposition.

Ottawa 3, Boston 2
Posted: Wednesday April 02, 2003 01:54 AM

OTTAWA (Ticker) -- On Fan Appreciation Night at the Corel Centre, Marian Hossa delighted the crowd by removing Alexei Yashin from the Ottawa Senators' record book.

Hossa scored his 44th and 45th goals to break Yashin's team record and Martin Havlat got the go-ahead tally on one of the Senators' 13 power plays in a bruising 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins.

Yashin had 44 goals in 1998-99 but drew the wrath of Ottawa fans by sitting out the entire 1999-2000 season due to a contract dispute. He was traded to the New York Islanders in June 2001.

Hossa tied Yashin's record with a power-play goal midway through the first period, then broke it and forged a 2-2 tie 89 seconds before intermission.

"It's definitely a great feeling," Hossa said. "The special thing is we won the game. My teammates were trying to find me and I was pushing hard to get it in. I usually have to play more relaxed to be successful."

The Senators failed to convert during a lengthy two-man advantage but were still on the power play at 3:28 of the second when Havlat redirected Radek Bonk's centering pass for his 24th goal.

"I knew they were getting a penalty, so I tried to stand in front of the net," Havlat said. "It was a great pass from Bonk and I was able to get my stick on the puck."

The 13 power plays tied a team mark for the Senators, who inched closer to clinching the Presidents' Trophy and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. They reached 50 wins for the first time in team history and moved two points ahead of Dallas with two games to play.

"It was an intense, physical game," Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson said. "It's important to establish momentum on home ice in the playoffs. We've had a good record here all year."

Martin Lapointe and Glen Murray scored for Boston, which is winless in its last four games (0-2-2).

"We definitely need more discipline," Bruins defenseman Sean O'Donnell said. "It seemed that everyone had a burr under their saddle. It's OK to play with emotion, but we have to harness it a little more before the playoffs."

Lapointe gave Boston a 1-0 lead just 2:34 into the game when he warded off defenseman Shane Hnidy with one hand and used the other to power a shot past goaltender Patrick Lalime and inside the far goalpost.

But Hossa tied it at 9:55. Havlat's centering attempt from the right side hit Tim Thomas and deflected to Hossa, who backhanded it under the goalie.

Murray put the Bruins back in front just 36 seconds later, finishing off a cross-ice pass from Joe Thornton on a 2-on-1 for his 42nd goal.

Hossa's record-breaker came off a spectacular backhanded pass by Vaclav Varada, who sent the puck between his legs and those of O'Donnell. Hossa got it in the slot and whipped a one-timer past Thomas.

"It was a great pass from Varada," Hossa said. "I screamed at him, but I think he already knew I was there. When I got the puck, I had an empty net to shoot at."

The game featured just one fight, but the Bruins took 14 minor penalties, two for having too many men on the ice.

"Obviously, being on the short end of several 5-on-3s made it a tough game," Thornton said. "We played well to have them only score three goals after so many power plays. It was a good game for us in getting ready for the playoffs. We played aggressive, knowing we may have to come back here."

That possibility was not lost on the Senators.

"Everyone is focused," Varada said. "We're not scared of the rough stuff. We've just got to go through our name game plan for the rest of the season."

Senators edge Bruins, step closer to Presidents' trophy

April 1, 2003
SportsLine.com wire reports

OTTAWA -- Marian Hossa values team achievements more than individual records. Playing for the league-leading Ottawa Senators allows him to celebrate both.

Hossa scored twice to set an Ottawa record with 45 goals and Martin Havlat had a goal and an assist, carrying the Senators to a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.

Hossa scored his 44th goal midway through the first period to tie Alexei Yashin's 1998-99 team record. He broke the mark with his second goal of the game late in the period to draw Ottawa even for the second time.

"It definitely feels good," Hossa said. "The main thing is we won, and that feels even better."

Radek Bonk assisted on all three goals for the Senators, who converted two of 13 power-play opportunities to become the first Canadian team to reach 50 wins since Calgary and Montreal in 1988-89.

Ottawa, which ended its home schedule by tying a team record with its 109th point, leads Dallas by two points for first overall. The Senators can clinch their first Presidents' Trophy -- and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs -- with wins in their final two games.

"It doesn't matter if you finish first or eighth in the regular season," Havlat said. "Everybody's going from zero in the playoffs, so we'll see what's going to happen. But it would be really nice to start every series at home. It would be a very good advantage."

Martin Lapointe got his eighth goal and Glen Murray scored his team-leading 42nd for Boston, which is seventh in the East with 84 points.

"It was a good game for us in getting ready for the playoffs," Bruins captain Joe Thornton. "We played aggressive knowing we may have to come back here."

Thornton got his 98th point with his 63rd assist on Murray's goal, which gave Boston a 2-1 lead 10:31 into the game. Then Hossa broke Yashin's record as he took Vaclav Varada's no-look, through-the-legs backhand pass and fired a quick shot to beat goalie Tim Thomas.

"I screamed at him and he probably heard me; maybe he knew I was there, open," Hossa said. "That was an excellent pass."

Havlat broke the 2-2 tie in the second period with a power-play goal just three seconds after Boston killed a two-minute five-on-three disadvantage.

Bruins defenseman Sean O'Donnell put his team in a deep hole early in the middle period when he was assessed minors for cross-checking and roughing 1:25 into the period as Boston was being called for having too many men on the ice.

Ottawa pinned the Bruins in their end throughout the two-minute advantage and finally got the go-ahead goal from Havlat during a delayed penalty to Boston defenseman Nick Boynton.

"I'm sure both teams knew that this was one of the last games before the playoffs, so you need to kind of make sure you get all your licks in, because we definitely can't be doing that next week," O'Donnell said.

Lapointe opened the scoring 2:34 into the game when he beat goalie Patrick Lalime with a one-handed shot despite having Ottawa defenseman Shane Hnidy draped all over him.

Bonk and Havlat combined to set up Hossa's power-play goal, but Boston regained its one-goal lead just 36 seconds later when defenseman Bryan Berard's pass sent Thornton and Murray away on a two-on-one. Murray one-timed Thornton's cross-ice pass to beat Lalime.

Hossa drew the Senators even again with his 10th multigoal game of the season.

Senators owner Rod Bryden was given a standing ovation before he addressed the sold-out Corel Centre crowd of 18,500 on hand for "Fan Appreciation Night."

"It has been a great decade," said Bryden, who will lose control of the financially troubled team once bankruptcy proceedings are completed. "From the worst team in the National Hockey League to fighting to the last day to be the best. A great team for a great city."