In the Crease

Another example of the progressive coaching of the Red Wings'
Scotty Bowman: With center Sergei Fedorov distraught following
last week's announcement that his old girlfriend, tennis star
Anna Kournikova, was engaged to Panthers wing Pavel Bure, Bowman
told Fedorov to take a couple of days off to pull himself
together. Fedorov returned to the Wings last Friday in a 2-2 tie
with the Capitals. Although Fedorov didn't get a point, Detroit
insiders say he played his best all-around game in three
seasons....

The NHL Players' Association is so concerned with the possible
ramifications of an arbitration hearing involving Joe Murphy
that it plans to call five former players, including Bobby Orr,
to testify on Murphy's behalf. Last month Murphy, who's now with
the Capitals, was suspended without pay and then released by the
Bruins for mouthing off at coach Pat Burns. Should the Bruins
win the arbitration, the union fears that players who are
critical of their coach will be subject to loss of salary....

One instance of how fighting can change the tone of a game: With
the Canadiens down 4-2 against the Maple Leafs early in the
third period last Saturday, Montreal's Shayne Corson whipped Tie
Domi in a fight in front of the Canadiens' bench. After that,
Montreal dominated, outshooting Toronto 13-4 the rest of the
period but falling 4-3 because of the splendid play of Leafs
netminder Curtis Joseph....

How important was veteran goalie Mike Vernon to the Sharks? San
Jose was 19-17-4-2 before it traded him to the Panthers on Dec.
30, and, through Sunday, had gone 8-15-4-5 since. Vernon, who
was an outspoken leader in the dressing room, was beloved and
trusted by his Sharks teammates....

The Stars are pursuing a trade for the Hurricanes' 33-year-old
wing Gary Roberts, who's scheduled to become an unrestricted
free agent this summer.