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convert to MP3 formatNovember 02, 2005
11/2
CBC: It took Martin Havlat less than 14 minutes to regain his scoring touch, hurt Martin Biron's trade value and give the Ottawa Senators an insurmountable lead.
"I wanted to play a hard game tonight," Havlat said. "They just kept going in and I was pretty happy with that."
Bruce Garrioch: After leading the Czech Republic to a title in 1998 at the Nagano Winter Games, Senators goalie Dominik Hasek is on the preliminary roster of 66 players released yesterday, along with Ottawa wingers Martin Havlat and Vaclav Varada.
Havlat, who was left off the world championship roster last spring by ex-coach Vladimir Ruzicka, said he wants the chance to play.
"I really enjoyed the Olympics in Salt Lake City. I would love to get back there," said Havlat.
Bruce Garrioch: While winger Martin Havlat -- returning from a five-game suspension -- was skating in Bochenski's spot with Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza, that's not where he's going to start tonight against the Sabres.
Instead, Murray wanted to experiment to see what the fit would look like. Captain Daniel Alfredsson will play with the dynamic duo, while Havlat is going to start the night with Peter Schaefer and Antoine Vermette.
Murray said he wasn't teasing Havlat by having him practise with Spezza and Heatley all morning. He wanted to get a look at the trio, but isn't sure if he played them in a game who would play defence.
"(Playing them together) may happen," said Murray. "This was just a practice. (Sabres coach) Lindy Ruff doesn't need to know everything about what we're doing with our lineup, but I guess he's going to find out now.
"You try a lot of different people in different situations. Havlat may go there at some point. But I told Daniel Alfredsson before practice he was going to go there. I didn't think he needed to practise with those guys. He knows what they can do. If you put Havlat with Heatley and Spezza, you just wonder who is going to do the bulk of the work defensively."
Bruce Garrioch: Martin Havlat says he'll try not to be so "stupid" in the future.
The Senators winger, who will return to the lineup tonight against the Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena, says he's learned his lesson after serving a five-game suspension for kicking Boston defenceman Hal Gill.
"It was a stupid thing to do," Havlat told the Sun. "I don't disagree with anybody who says that. There is no place for kicking in hockey.
"I hope I will never do that again. I have to make sure I make better decisions right away (on the ice). I can't react so stupidly right away."
Coach Bryan Murray said Havlat's absence hurt the Senators.
"I guess he's found out kicking doesn't pay," said Murray. "It costs the team and people get hurt because of it.
"If you get suspended, it can hurt everybody. We lost two games while he was out.
"I know he may have made a difference in one of them (the 3-2 loss to Carolina last Monday).
"It hurts your reputation as a player. Some people have been saying some things that weren't complimentary towards him and rightfully so.
"What he has to realize is if situations like this arise, he can't take matters into his own hands, or in this case his feet, and he has to let somebody else settle it. That being said, he is a highly skilled player who adds speed to our lineup. We need him out on the ice."
Havlat said watching was tough.
"It was painful. That's for sure," he said. "You want to be on the ice playing and helping the team to win. You don't want to be watching from the stands."
Murray said he will likely start Havlat on a line with winger Peter Schaefer and centre Antoine Vermette. Decisions on line combinations will be made this morning after the skate.
Havlat needs to start capitalizing on scoring chances, with just one goal and two assists in five games.
"I missed five games. I just want to get back to playing," said Havlat. "I'm just happy to be back on the ice. This was a long two weeks sitting and watching."
Posted by jz at November 2, 2005 03:48 PM