ESPN.com - Lindros: A matter of survival or discipline?

ESPN.com: NHL

Friday, November 1, 2002
Updated: November 4, 5:13 PM ET
Lindros: A matter of survival or discipline?

By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell
Special to ESPN.com

I haven't noticed that it's been asked of him yet but does anyone else wonder what's on Eric Lindros' mind when he's taking so many dopey penalties? Could it be a knee jerk reaction because of his history of concussions?

CHIRPIN'

"I don't think we were ever really inspired to win the game."

-- Devils' coach Pat Burns on his club's 2-1 loss to Carolina Tuesday. The team's only two defeats in their first eight games were to the Hurricanes, the club that ousted them in the first round of the playoffs last spring.

THE NUMBER

27.9

The percent success rate through 10 games of the Penguins' league-leading power play.

WHO'S HOT

Pittsburgh's big three -- Mario Lemieux, Alexei Kovalev and Aleksey Morozov -- have combined for 53 points through the first 10 games.

WHO'S NOT

Despite averaging 17:27 of ice time in the first nine games, Buffalo forward Curtis Brown had no goals and one assist.

THIS WEEK'S SIGN ...

... the Earth is off its axis: It's not as if Atlanta is an Original Six franchise, so their failure to win in their first 10 games isn't the end of the universe as we know it. However, Montreal's 3-3-3-0 start apparently is. Mariusz Czerkawski was upset over being scratched last Saturday. Then Donald Audette mouthed off after being scratched against Anaheim, going so far as to scrap with teammate Craig Rivet at practice. This doesn't even address the goaltending "crisis" as Jose Theodore, last year's Hart and Vezina winner, has stumbled out of the gate. Along with those wonderful old photos of ex-Hab greats, how about installing a few more mirrors in the dressing room?

It'd be hard to blame him if he was being subconsciously protective of himself. This is a guy who's been hacked, slashed, hooked and speared since his early teens. However, because of his size -- 6-foot-4, 240 pounds -- that's the only way some teams can contain him.

Rangers' coach Bryan Trottier expressed his displeasure with several of his top players after a 3-0 loss to Tampa Bay on Wednesday because of their lack of discipline. In statistics through that game, Lindros has nine minor penalties, five in the offensive zone. One of his worst occurred four seconds into the Lightning game when he dumped Lightning center Tim Taylor on the opening faceoff.

"That's extremely disappointing," said Trottier.

Disappointing is one word for it. But maybe Lindros is feeling the need for a "hit them before they hit me" response. If that's the case, discipline has nothing at all to do with it.

What, no flowers?
Penguins forward Alexandre Daigle, who's on the comeback trail after a two year hiatus, was booed when he returned to Ottawa, the team that drafted him first overall and gave him an obscene contract as a rookie back in 1993. Those ragging on Daigle should realize how badly set up for failure he was. He played for a lousy team, he was expected to be superman because of a contract the Senators freely gave him and he was vilified when he wasn't.

Asked about Daigle's reception, Penguins' coach Rick Kehoe said: "Hey, we had a guy in our building in Pittsburgh the other night who got booed and he played there 11 years, won five scoring titles and two Stanley Cups. It happens."

Where have all the fans gone?
Stop me if you've heard this before, but attendance is a problem in more than a few buildings this year. The Bruins, who were riding an eight-game unbeaten streak, drew just 9,491 for their game against the Mighty Ducks on Thursday. It was the worst crowd ever for the building. Imagine if the team was losing. The Devils drew an announced crowd of 10,328 for their game against Carolina, although some in attendance felt it was closer to 9,000. Then there's Ottawa, who is having players on the team talking about a season-ticket buying campaign among themselves. It's unsettling to more than few players.

"When we play in Minnesota and San Jose, you go out for the warm-ups, see the crowd and know this is going to be a good game," said Devils' goaltender Martin Brodeur. "When the building is empty, you don't get that. I hate to complain about it, but it's fun when there are a lot of people. Fun for us and fun for them. The last game was disappointing."

Depth chart

I know it's cold for most of the year in Buffalo, but nothing is as frigid as the Sabres' offense. Through 11 games, they were averaging 2.56 goals per game, a somewhat inflated figure. If you took out 11 goals scored over a two-game period, they were down to an average of just 1.71. Think that's bad? That was before they were shut out by Calgary, 3-0 on Thursday.

If Mats Sundin finishes with the most points on Toronto again this year, it will be the first time that a single player has led the Maple Leafs in points for nine consecutive seasons.

Bruins' forward P.J. Stock joked that he and defenseman Sean O'Donnell had a bit of a side wager going with regard to scoring. Entering Wednesday's game in Washington, they were the only two Bruins regulars without a point. Stock picked up two assists for the first multipoint game of his career and O'Donnell added a helper to get on the board. Stock also fought the much bigger Stephen Peat, making him a goal shy of a Gordie Howe hat trick.

Carolina goalie Kevin Weekes may be getting inside the heads of the Devils, who have lost to him in two tries this season, but Weekes doesn't think it's a big deal. Try telling that to Devils' forward Jeff Friesen. "So much of this game is in your head," said Friesen. "I watched the playoffs and he was incredible. And these first two games, how do you explain it?" Weekes had 27 saves against the Devils on Oct. 19 and stopped 34 shots on Tuesday in a 2-1 win. The Devils outshot Carolina, 35-11, in the second game, during which the 'Canes went the entire third period without a shot on net.

The Penguins finished October with an impressive record of 6-2-2, the third best in franchise history for the month.

Note to Islanders' center Shawn Bates: Your penalties against the Hurricanes were ridiculous. You're better than that, so stop it or coach Peter Laviolette is going to take out to the woodshed.

The Hurricanes announced they won't host any more games during the State Fair. Their two Saturday night contests, which conflicted with the event, created a traffic nightmare. One season ticket holder said he sat in traffic for an hour and 40 minutes and didn't make it to the game until the start of the second period. Reportedly, the club received many complaints, prompting it to make the announcement. How about just going on the road while the fair is in progress? Many other teams leave town when the circus or Disney on Ice are using their buildings? Why not Carolina?

As talented as they are, the Capitals are one confusing team. Through the 7-2 rout by Boston on Wednesday night, the Caps have been outscored 13-3 in the first period. Of the 23 skaters used, 15 haven't scored despite playing 105 man games. The team failed to score more than two goals for the ninth straight contest, tying a franchise record set in 1977-78.

Nancy Marrapese-Burrell of the Boston Globe is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.