KINGS NOTEBOOK: POTVIN WON'T GET DOWN.Byline: Karen Crouse Staff Writer Felix Potvin Félix "The Cat" Potvin (born June 23, 1971 in Anjou, Quebec, Canada) is currently a free-agent professional NHL goaltender. Potvin currently lives with his family in Magog, Quebec. will make his 33rd consecutive start in goal for the Kings tonight in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal against Colorado. Two-plus months of continual pounding in the net can erode a player's skills like so much water pounding against a rock. Potvin, though, professes to feel fine. ``Once the game starts, the adrenaline kicks in and you feel great,'' Potvin said. He has stopped 77 of 86 shots in the best-of-seven series. The Avalanche has scored the majority of its goals on second and third shots. A glaring exception was Rob Blake's 75-foot slap shot slap shot n. A fast-moving shot made in hockey with a full swinging stroke. in Monday's 4-3 loss. ``Obviously it shouldn't have gone in,'' Potvin said of Blake's goal, the first score in Game 3. ``Those things happen. There's nothing you can do about it but forget it.'' --No stopping him: Colorado defenseman Ray Bourque Raymond Jean Bourque (born December 28, 1960 in Saint-Laurent, Quebec, now a district of Montreal) is a Hockey Hall of Famer who currently holds the records for most goals, assists and points by a defenseman in the National Hockey League (NHL) and has become near-synonymous with has nine shots, six hits and four blocked shots in the past two games, suggesting that rumors of his demise were greatly exaggerated. ``Forget about what he did in the past, he's still one of the best defensemen in the league,'' Kings forward Ian Laperriere Ian Laperrière (born January 19, 1974 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada) is an ice hockey player in the NHL. He played in the QMJHL 1990-1993 and was drafted by the St. Louis Blues of the NHL in the 7th round and pick number 158 in the 1992 draft. said of the 40- year-old Bourque. ``I respect him a lot. People expect him to do what he did in Boston, but he doesn't need to because he's surrounded by great players.'' Bourque's agelessness Agelessness See also Immortality. Aggressiveness (See CONQUEST.) Endymion man kept immortally youthful through eternal sleep. [Gk. Myth.: Howe, 91; Br. Lit. amazes Laperriere who quipped, ``If I'm 40 years old and near a rink, it's because I'm coaching.'' --Notes: Potvin's backup, Stephane Fiset Stephane Fiset (born June 17, 1970 in Montreal, Quebec) is an ice hockey goaltender who is retired. Playing career Fiset was drafted in the 2nd round 24th overall in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques. , was scratched from Monday's lineup after he became too ill to practice. ... Kelly Buchberger Kelly Buchberger (b. December 2, 1966 in Langenburg, Saskatchewan) is a retired professional Canadian hockey player and current coach. Buchberger played for the Edmonton Oilers, Atlanta Thrashers, Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. tried to convince Kings coach Andy Murray that he was good to go Monday even though he could barely get a boot on the left foot he injured blocking a shot by Blake in Game 2. He was scratched and his status remains day to day. ``Kelly's such a tough guy,'' Murray said. ``You could just see the disappointment on his face when he was taking his equipment off.'' CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: FELIX POTVIN Despite starting 32 games in a row, Kings goalie says he's OK. Box: AT A GLANCE: WESTERN SEMIFINALS, EASTERN SEMIFINALS |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion