Prime Time Sports Summary - April 3, 2007

Here are the NHL Stories from Prime Time Sports last night (National Hour):

Host: Bob McCown
Guests: Jim Kelley from Rogers Sportsnet
Uplink: Al Morganti from Comcast Sports and Eric Duhatschek from the Globe & Mail

Main NHL Story: As it was Tuesday, McCowan dedicates a 20 minute segment to the NHL with the “Hockey Pucks” Morganti and Duhatschek. Today’s topic was extended from yesterday and McCowan got the opinions of Morganti and Duhatschek on the Claude Juilien firing.

Facts and Analysis:
- More discussion was made around the fact that the team had over 100 points, had clinched the playoffs and was seeing the return of key players to the line up.
- Both Morganti and Duhatschek had no clear answer for why Lou did what he did.
- Duhatschek speculated that with the new arena coming to New Jersey next season and the Devils being a strong team, Lou decided that putting himself being the bench would be the best chance for the team to raise a Stanley Cup banner in the new arena for the 2007-2008 season.
- McCowan suggested there may be a playoff impact with a new coach coming in so late in the season; however Morganti and Duhatschek both agreed that there would be no impact as the key Devil players (Brodeur, Elias, Gionta and Gomez) played for Lou last year and the young players will simply follow the veterans lead.

Conclusion:
It appears that the only person who knows why Julien got fired is Lou Lamoriello and he doesn’t seem to want to discuss the issue any further. We’ll see in the next months how well this move pays off for Big Lou.

Bullets:
With Tuesday being a big night in the NHL for the 7 through 11 teams in the east, do any coaches have their neck on the line tonight?
- Morganti discussed the situation in Carolina and felt that head coach, Peter Laviolette, has simply had a tough year. Morganti reiterated that Laviolette should have no problem being the behind the bench next season, however there may be the slight possibility that the Hurricanes may go out a look for a new coach in the off-season.
- Also discussed was the situation in New York with the Islanders; overall it was agreed that the injury, late in the season to Rick DiPietro will ultimately save Ted Nolan’s job and Nolan should have no worries if his team misses the playoffs.
- Finally, Duhatschek talked about the late Colorado surge and the fact that if this team doesn’t make the playoffs this year, they certainly will in 2008 and have a good shot at leading the west next season
- Who will get the 8^th and final spot in the East?

- Morganti – Leafs

- Duhatschek – Leafs

- Kelley – Leafs

- McCown – Not the Leafs