The Big Push

Poor Gary Bettman. If he didn't have bad luck he'd have no luck at all. Sure, his "new" NHL is a hit. Fans are back in record numbers and the rules changes have worked their magic (scoring is up nearly a goal a game and the shootout rocks). Plus, there's a rookie class for the ages (Crosby! Ovechkin! Phaneuf!) and a timely Olympics to show off the league's elite. It's a commissioner's dream come true, right?

Well, except for that nasty stink coming out of Phoenix, the one that reeks of point spreads and the mob and threatens to foul the reputation of the most beloved figure in hockey. The mess, most likely, will play out in legal arenas, which means hockey fans will just have to try harder to focus on the final 50 days of the season, which begins Feb. 28. From where we sit, it seems like there's more than enough action to keep everyone riveted.

The commish can only hope it's the on-ice action that makes this a season to remember.

BINGE SKATING

The condensed schedule following the Olympic break will make the last seven weeks of the regular season more of a grind than it usually is. "It's going to be a test," says Stars winger Bill Guerin. That test will provide a chance for some clubs to get promoted to the next level.

In the East, the Canadiens should benefit from playing 14 of their last 20 games at home, where they were an impressive 16-7-3 in their first 26 games at the Bell Centre. The Bruins, meanwhile, will play their final 24 games in just 46 days. They may be too pooped for a final push.

Out West, the Central Division-leading Wings close their campaign with eight of their last 12 away from Detroit. If they should lose the division (and home-ice advantage) to Steve Sullivan and the Predators (who play seven of their last 10 at home), there may not be much joy in Hockeytown come late spring. The Preds enjoy playing to their Music City crowd, going 21-5-1 in their first 27 games on home ice.

Among bubble teams, the Ducks may face the toughest finish. On April 8, they embark on a killer five-game road trip: LA, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and San Jose. If they still have a pulse when they return to the Pond, they might have to beat the gritty Flames on closing night to get into the playoffs. OC fans hope their Ducks aren't already burnt to a crisp by then.

FABULOUS AT FIFTY

The last time we had a hockey season (2003-'04), the NHL didn't have a 50-goal scorer-the first time that had happened since the 1998-'99 season.

Now, with less hooking and holding, we should see a whole bunch of nifty 50s. The group of likelies includes Rangers RW Jaromir Jagr (40 goals), Thrashers LW Ilya Kovalchuk (37), Flyers LW Simon Gagne (37), Caps rookie LW Alexander Ovechkin (36), Hurricanes C Eric Staal (36), Senators RW Daniel Alfredsson (34), Senators LW Dany Heatley (34) and Sharks RW Jonathan Cheechoo (34). If all eight hit the half-century mark, it will be the first time since the 1995-'96 campaign that this elite club had so many members. That's not only exciting for hockey folk, it's fortunate. Scoring races, after all, tend to take the spotlight off other troubles. Bet on it.

MOVING DAY

In seasons past, the trade deadline was 26 days before the end of the regular season. By that point, many bubble teams had figured out their playoff fate, allowing them to buy or sell at the deadline. Under the new CBA, the deadline has been moved back to March 9, 40 days from season's end. That puts extra pressure on GMs, who might be less inclined to deal away key players with so much time left on the schedule. Combine an earlier deadline with the new, restrictive salary cap and what do you get? Fewer deals.

Of course, some top players may move. The Blues' Keith Tkachuk could have a huge impact in the right city (Toronto? Boston?). Tkachuk's $7.6M salary will be paid down substantially by the deadline, but he does have a no-trade clause in his contract. He's indicated he'd like to stay in St. Louis, despite the fact that the team is being sold. To get him to waive his no-trade, an interested team might have to agree to exercise a $3.8M option on Tkachuk next season.

Teams looking for help in goal (Oilers? Canucks?) will likely be talking with the Sabres about Martin Biron or the Wild about Dwayne Roloson. Either would be an experienced crease upgrade. An especially bold GM might make a serious offer for the Panthers' Roberto Luongo, who has turned down a couple of long-term offers from Florida and is an unrestricted free agent in 2007. But any interested team had better shop quickly. They'll have only 10 days from the end of the Olympic break until the clock strikes 12 and the market closes down for the season.

PICK-ME UPS

Coming down the fantasy stretch, these under-the-radar picks could turn your team into a juggernaut. Andy McDonald, Ducks, C. This slick playmaker, who centers Anaheim's top line, is a plus-21. With the Ducks fighting for the eighth spot in the West, he'll see more minutes in every key offensive situation. Ray Whitney, Hurricanes, LW. The one-time Oilers stick boy will be skating alongside the club's latest acquisition, passing whiz Doug Weight. Translation: more quality scoring chances down the stretch. Keith Tkachuk, Blues, RW. He was scoring at will before breaking a hand. May go to a contender or stay put. Either way, he'll put up points. Joe Corvo, Kings, D. The hard-shooting Corvo will get more minutes on the power play (he's already got seven PP goals) as LA fights for a higher playoff seed. Chris Campoli, Islanders, D. The talented rook will get more ice (and PP) time as NY fades. A cheap addition who could pay fat dividends. Cristobal Huet, Canadiens, G. With Jose Theodore in a funk, Bob Gainey turned to Huet, who's responded by giving up just eight goals in five games. Meet the Habs' new No. 1.

A HEALTHY SCRATCH

The Olympic break will be just what the doctor ordered for some NHLers. Literally. In Calgary, for example, top stopper Miikka Kiprusoff opted to skip the Games to rest an ailing hip. The Flames' Cup chances ride on the shoulders (and, clearly, the hips) of Kiprusoff, who's played in 51 of the club's first 56 games. "It's disappointing," Kiprusoff says, "but I just felt it was in the best interest of the Flames to make sure I'm ready for the playoff drive." That's music to Darryl Sutter's ears.

Another Finnish goalie, the Thrashers' Kari Lehtonen, opted to rest a groin injury that sidelined him for the first three months of the season. Lehtonen is as vital to his NHL club as Kiprusoff is to his-maybe more so, given that GM Don Waddell has publicly guaranteed Atlanta will make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

Some players, of course, just need a blow. Hurricanes captain Rod Brind'Amour has been a workhorse for coach Peter Laviolette. The pivot leads all forwards with 24:34 mpg-two full minutes more than any other center or winger. The break will allow the 35-year-old vet-and the rest of the league's thirtysomethings-a rare chance to freshen up for the tough skate ahead.

LIGHTNING START

After a slow start, the defending champion Lightning have bolted back into the playoff picture. Coach John Tortorella, who says he's "scared to death" of the Olympic break, isn't letting fear stop him from plotting a different kind of practice for Bolts who aren't in Torino. "You can't run a regular-type practice with just 13 or 14 guys," says Tortorella, who has seven regulars in Italy, "so we're going to be working on a lot of one-on-one stuff. Drills that will force the guys to battle in those situations. That's really what we have to be about down the stretch, winning those battles."

Asked when NHL clubs can officially begin practice again, the ultraintense coach fairly shouted the answer ("Feb. 22, 2 o'clock"). He's especially looking forward to working with some players on individual skills, like skating, shooting and passing. "With a smaller group," he says, "I think we can help some of the guys get better."

With so few points separating the Cup champs from an early vacation, they'd better.

OLYMPIC-SIZE HANGOVER

Hockey fans will watch the Olympics intently, for the quality of the play. Hockey owners will watch to see if their top stars make it through unscathed. "It will be great to be a part of it, but it does take a toll on you," says Lightning/Team Canada C Brad Richards. The stress of travel and playing for country will make a return to a compressed NHL schedule that much tougher. It makes all teams with an abundance of Olympians candidates for a late-season fade.

In that case, the Avs, who sent nine men to Italy (including Canada's C Joe Sakic and workhorse D Rob Blake, both 36), the Rangers (also with nine) and the Red Wings (ditto) have the most to worry about. Among the Rangers making the trip are the league's top scorer, F Jaromir Jagr (Czech Republic) and rookie goaltending surprise Henrik Lundqvist (Sweden). Their coach, Tom Renney, just hopes his players come back healthy and ready to compete. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't concerned,"
Renney says.

On the flip side, the surprising Sabres have just five skaters who made the trip. Top goalie Ryan Miller was named to Team USA's taxi squad, but he doesn't have to leave the States unless an injury rushes him into duty. That well-rested roster in Buffalo, which is fourth in the East, should have the legs to make a move down the stretch.

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