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Thursday, October 21, 1999
Model of consistency
Hard work has been paying off for Van Allen this season
He's manufactured an excellent start through the first seven games, digging away at centre on each shift of the third line.
As a reward, the veteran Senators centre will likely play on the team's top line with wingers Shawn McEachern and Daniel Alfredsson tonight when it hosts the Colorado Avalanche at the Corel Centre.
Van Allen has been practising with McEachern and Alfredsson this week and the move is seen as a plumb to Van Allen's hard work, and as an effort to spur McEachern's production.
McEachern hasn't scored yet this season despite his status as one of the team's top shooters. He's been getting his chances, but he simply hasn't been able to bury any of his 19 shots.
"He's got so much talent. It's just a matter of time before he scores a goal," said Van Allen after yesterday's practice.
McEachern is expected to score because of his past success in the goals category. Last season, he scored a career high 31 goals, many of which came while playing with linemates Alexei Yashin and Andreas Dackell.
Growing concern
But with Yashin in Switzerland refusing to play the third year of his three-year contract unless the Senators renegotiate, McEachern and Dackell are still trying to find the mark. Neither have scored.
That's an issue which has become a minor concern for the Senators' brass. This is where Van Allen enters the picture. So far, he's done a great job playing mostly on a line with rookie Andre Roy and veteran Kevin Dineen.
Now his task is to deliver the puck to McEachern and Alfredsson.
"They're definitely the scorers," said Van Allen. "If they keep shooting, one of those shots is going to go in. A lot of times with a goal scorer, they just need one to get kick-started and to get it going on a roll."
That's what the Senators are hoping Van Allen will do for McEachern.
He seems to be a good candidate for the job. Eight years ago when he was toiling in the Edmonton farm system, Van Allen led the American Hockey League in assists with 84 helpers for the Cape Breton Oilers.
He's never been a big point-getter in the NHL, but Van Allen is getting a chance at some points with McEachern and Alfredsson.
"I don't know if you change your style a whole bunch," he said about playing with his new linemates. "I'm just going to go out there and try to play the same way I've been playing the last (seven) games."
Centre Bruce Gardiner has a strained MCL in his left knee and won't be in the lineup tonight and is doubtful for Saturday's home game against Buffalo.
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