2 Castlegar News May 11, 1988 SPORTS By JOHN KOROBANIK Canadian Press EDMONTON — Until last week the biggest news about Bob Probert’s young National Hockey League career was the well-publi drinking pi that had threatened to make his NHL career a short one. Today, the 22-year-old native of Windsor, Ont., is the talk of the Campbell Conference final even though his team, the Detroit Red Wings, trails the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 and could be eliminated in Game 5 tonight. Both teams took charter flights to Edmonton after Monday's game in Detroit and held optional practices Tuesday afternoon. Tonight's game will be televised across Canada by a group of independent stations and Ontario's Global Television Network, beginning at 9:30 p.m. EDT. It'll also be televised by CBC in northern Alberta and some other locations not served by the independent network. Whatever happens tonight Probert has established himself as a legitimate talent. He scored twice Monday. in Detroit's heart-breaking 4-3 overtime loss to give him 21 points and break the team's single-season playoff record set by the legendary Gordie Howe in 1955. And he’s become a major problem for the Oilers. CREATES PROBLEMS At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, and considered one of the toughest fighters in hockey, Probert has created mammoth problems in front of Edmonton's net, especially on power plays. “That's my job on power play,” Probert said quietly and modestly Tuesday. “I'm surprised they don’t try to tie me up as much as they should. They have some big defencemen back there. They're the same size as I am.” Probert's play has forced the Oilers to make adjustments in their penalty killing strategy “He's really become effective on the power play in front,” said Edmonton defenceman Randy Gregg. “Not necessarily just creating commotion and getting tip-ins Probert hot stuff and screens, but he's moving back and forth into openings, getting effective passes , . . and sticking the puck in the net.” Probert has set up four game-winning goals ion the playoffs, scored the game winner against Edmonton in Game 3 and scored twice to erase a 3-1 deficit and force overtime in Game 4. Despite his 398 penalty minutes in 74 regular-season games, Probert hasn't fought in this series. Coach Jacques Demers had instructed him not to fight. Probert has taken only two minor penalties in the last three games while emerging as Detroit's biggest offensive threat. LOVES HIM “I know the other teams are always mad at him but I know the other 20 teams would make a heck of a pitch if Bob Probert. was available,” Demers said after a brief team meeting Tuesday. “I know Glen Sather would give us a lot of hockey players for Bob Probert . . . I know Wayne Gretzky would love to have him on his wing right now.” Probert credited his improved play partly to increased ice time, due in part to injuries to Peter, Klima and Steve Yzerman. “Last year (when Detroit lost the conference final 4-1 to Edmonton) I just started to play good hockey. Thi: year I'm more comfortable and I feel real confident in this series. Demers stuck by Probert when he ran into his drinking problems last season — in December he was suspended by Detroit-after being charged with impaired "eM rae ‘2 fs m Me a % driving and in that decision. “He's the talk of the series because of his aggressive, clean play,” said Demers. “I think he loves to play the game and score goals rather than fight, which certainly didn’t use to be the case. February he was rehabilitation centre — and is now reaping the rewards of admitted to a SPRING BEAR sPee39 Never any extra charge for required skinning “WANTED” . . . Bear Gall Bladders, will pay up to $100 each. PHONE 365-6327 Castlegar Aquanauts License No 62514 Sat., May 14 Arena Complex Early Bird 6 p.m. Regular 7 p.m. SAME PAYOUTS AS PREVIOUS BINGOS! 60% Payout Early Birds 60% Payout Specialty Games PACKAGES AVAILABLE Next Bingo — The Big One — June 4! oe = NHE resembles Wrestlemania The Canadian Press Surely it's no coincidence that only a few months after an impostor referee cost Hulk Hogan his World Wres- tling Federation title, the National Hockey League bor. rowed from the script. You remember the clever touch used by the wrestling choreographers. The Hulk ster was beating up Andre the Giant, when suddenly one of his shoulders was pinned and a quick count caused his defeat. But it turned out that the bad guys had brought in the identical twin of the “legitimate” referee and paid him to hush the Hulk. And there it was on the ice surface at Meadowlands Ar- ena on Sunday night: three volunteers selected to mas. querade as on-ice officials for a Stanley Cup playoff game between the New Jersey Devils and the Boston Bru. ins. It’s probably fitting that the plot which unfolded Sun day night resembled a Wres tlemania vignette because in recent years the NHL has frequently become a parody of the musclemen of the mat. The latest travesty predic tably produced an outcry from the four corners of the contenent, a lament for a sport that had seemingly shredded its last tissue of credibility. SAME LAST YEAR There was similar hand wringing last year when mayhem broke out in the warmup prior to a Stanley Cup playoff game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Montreal Canadiens. Ugly. Disgraceful. Disgust ing. They were a few of the words used by appalled ob servers to describe the inci dent. But rest assured a number of the same pepole lined up for tickets or tuned into telecasts this season — a record one for the NHL at the box office and on the tube. Hockey will always have a certain appeal, in the’ same way that a square-off be- tween two bullies on a sand. lot is bound to attract an audience. But as an authori. tative, credible sports organ ization, the NHL seems as chaotic as the bullies’ scuf- fling on the sandlot. DECIDED IN COURT While other major leagues allow the outcome of games to be decided by the athletes, the NHL, by its waffling, enabled the courts to inter. vene Sunday. FASTBALL ACTION . . . Terry Taranoff of Checkers pub takes a cut at a pitch throw n by the Hi Arrow hurler. Checkers went on to beat Hi Arrow 5-1 in Castlegar Commercial Fastball League action Tuesday night. CosNews photo by Cheryl Calderbank Pistons win 11 in row By The Canadian Press The Detroit Pistons won their 11th straight home playoff game and held Mi- chael Jordan in check Tues- day night. Adrian Dantley scored 18 of his 23 points in the first half and Detroit held Jordan to. seven points in the open ing 24 minutes‘en route to a 98-82 victory over the Chi- cago Bulls in the opener of their Eastern Conference NBA playoff series. Jordan finished with 29 points, 16 under his playoff average and ending his streak of consecutive games with 30 or more at eight. Bill Laimbeer had 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Pis- tons. Reserve forward Hor- ace Grant added 16 points for Chicago, who got no closer than six points in the second half. Game 2 is Thursday night, also at the Pontiac Silver- dome. In the other opening game, in the Western Conference, it “BIG DAVE’S GIGANTIC INVENTORY CLEARANCE For As Little As Excel, 3-Drs., Stk. 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Mark Aguirre helped get the Mavericks within eight points in the final period, but Denver withstood the rally and wound up shooting 58 per cent for the game. Alex English added 22 points and Jay Vincent 17 for the Nuggets. Aguirre had 26 and Rolando Blackman 20 for the Mavericks. Jazz 101 Lakers 97 Karl Malone scored 18 of his 29 points in the second half for Utah, which will stage the next two games Friday and Sunday. Thurl Bailey added 20 points and John Stockton had 19 for the Jazz, who had lost 31 of their last 33 games at the Forum. But their harassing de. fence bothered the high-scor. ing Lakers, who made it close only because they hit four three-point shots in the final 1:10 of play. Byron Scott led the Lakers with 26 points, 13 in the fourth quarter. Magic John- son had 19 points and James Worthy 17 for the Lakers, who had a 13-game playff home-court winning streak ended. Mid-Week Wrap-up HOCKEY NHL playolt scoring leeders after Tuesdoy ‘Chicago Konsos City Texas 13 Baltimore 5 land 7 Calitornio } Henderson. New 365; Sought.” 363. — Henderson, New York 34; Conseco Qakiond, 32. aa nd. 48; Wintield, Colilornia, 13; Glodden, nolds, Seottle, 4; Wikon, Ken ied with 2 ‘anseco, Oakland, 9: Hrbek Calderon, Chicago, 8. Fisk — Henderson, New York, 32 — Dotson. New York ‘Ocklend, 8-0 Los Angeles 5 (14 Innings 2 St. Lovis 5 San Diego | OP 10 NATIONAL LEAGUE ABR Guerrero, tA on 345, Golarrga, Mon ' n, Chicago. .3 Runs — Bonillo. Pitisburgh. 25, Gibson, Los 25; Gelarroge, Montreal Pittsburgh. 11 eam, Pittsburgh 0. Pittsburgh. Dowson, Chicago. 9; Strawberry, New York Corter, New Houston, 20; Davis 58, Ryan jeves — Worrell, $1. Louis, 9: Smith Houston, 5: Gott, Pittsburgh. 5. TRANSACTIONS BASEBALL Americen Leogue Baltimore Orioles activate pitcher Don Aose trom 15-day disabled list; release ou! Helder Tito Londrum. New York Yonkees Neit Allen trom 21-day di ‘Chris Che on wav ‘of giving him his uncon. ‘Seottle Mariners call up infielder Edgor Mortiner from Calgary of the Pacific Coast League: place infielder Mario Dior on 15. day disabled list POOTBALL .C. Lions, sign defensive beck, Lorry Crowtord. linebackers John Uimer, Bernie 2, running back Tony fobinson, safety Todd mr Gerry. Hon nd querterbeck Hamilton Tiger-Cats sign quarterback Terry Andrysiok ond linebacker Tony Cot wockey no tight end Pout NHL suspends New Jersey cooch Jim Schoenteld for one gome and lines $