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Friday, November 5, 1999
Bonk fills Sens' bill
And people wondered who'd step it up with Yashin out?
Are you surprised by Radek Bonk's new-found scoring prowess?
It sure doesn't look like he is.
Bonk's game-winner was his seventh goal of the season last night, moving him to within three of the NHL leaders and well along his way to the best year of his career, and he reacted with what has become a typically mild celebration. He matter-of-factly raised his arms, looked briefly into the crowd, gave and accepted congratulations from teammates and continued on his way.
All that was missing was a shrug and a yawn.
People around here wondered who would step in and be the team's No. 1 centre when Alexei Yashin decided to ruin, er, interrupt his career.
So far, Bonk has supplied the answer.
STOPS AND STARTS: Making his first appearance at the Corel Centre, Senators D Karel Rachunek made a blind, backhand pass in his own zone during the first period. No doubt Jacques Martin didn't wait until the intermission to remind him that won't be tolerated ... Joe Juneau played the part of quarterback from his wing position on Shawn McEachern's power-play goal. The Senators might want to look at Juneau as a point man in such situations once everyone is healthy ... Worst penalty call of the season came at the 7:07 mark of the third period when Wade Redden was sent off for interference when he stepped in Jaromir Jagr's path along the boards just as the puck rolled off the winger's stick. The fans responded by booing Jagr -- who was not called for his retaliatory swing at Redden -- every time he touched the puck thereafter ... From this vantage point, the best Senators defenceman last night was Janne Laukkanen. "He always plays good against Jagr," said Andreas Dackell. "He gets himself in the right position, he blocks shots ... it always seems like he's in the way."
BETWEEN PERIODS: Billy Patterson, the late CJOH sportscaster, would have turned 52 yesterday. His wife and daughters were at the game as they are for most, as Senators owner Rod Bryden has quietly given the Patterson family four season tickets ... The first period ended with Jagr falling to the ice and bringing his stick down on the head of Dackell. When Jagr got up, he skated over and tapped Dackell on the shin pads as a way of apologizing ... Upon reading that Igor Kravchuk might miss a month with a knee injury, a Kravchuk detractor suggested the Senators were trying to get a second opinion. "They want to find a doctor who says he'll be out for two," he smirked ... Bruce Gardiner will be kicking himself for taking a hooking penalty, behind the play, that killed what would have been a short-handed 2-on-1 by Shaun Van Allen and Wade Redden. Adding a pail of salt to the wound was Robert Lang scoring only seconds later, with the Penguins enjoying a 5-on-3 man advantage ... Patrick Lalime made a very big stop off a Jagr wrist shot with less than 45 seconds to go ... Andre Roy's road to becoming a fan favourite at the Corel Centre was thrown a detour as Martin used him for just one shift last night.
OFF THE POSTS: Senators game-day staff have put together a great new video clip to the music of Mambo No. 5. It debuted on the centre-ice scoreboard at 11:37 of the second period ... It wasn't until the 15:38 mark of the second period that one of the teams (Pittsburgh) put up double digits on the shots on goal clock ... Pens G Peter Skudra had Bonk checking the rafters with a save on a great chance by the Ottawa centre, which was set up by a Vinny Prospal pass from behind the net ... Skudra actually had Bonk's number on more than the one occasion, although Bonk won the war by scoring the winner ... The Pens have a future Hall of Famer in Jagr, but the only way any of the team's current crop of defencemen (Brad Werenka, Andrew Ference, Darius Kasparaitis, Ian Moran, Michael Rozsival, Peter Popovic and Jiri Slegr) will get into the shrine is by purchasing a ticket.
END TO END: Cheapseats gives as well as receives. I'll hand out a pair of tickets to tomorrow's tilt with the Montreal Canadiens to the first person who calls my voice mail (739-5120) at or after 10 a.m. with the correct answer to this one: Name the two former Senators who have at least practised with the Habs this season. Oh, and don't think you can just look at the Montreal scoring list to solve the problem, as heading into last night's action only one of the pair has played in a game ... In case you didn't realize, the Habs are now last overall in the NHL ... For the second night in a row, Redden (27:07) and Jason York (27:48) spent almost as much time on the ice as they did on the bench ... McEachern and Bonk weren't the only guys to score last night. My Nortel buddies, who moonlight at the Corel Centre, gave me a jersey and a souvenir golf ball commemorating next year's 100th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach ... Say happy birthday to Sens fan and budding prospect Tyler Cook, who turns eight today.
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