Hrivnak

The Skipjacks got bad news after yesterday's practice when goalie Jim Hrivnak was recalled by the Washington Capitals to replace ailing Mike Liut.Liut sustained a bruised ankle from a shot during the Caps' morning skate yesterday in Manhattan. Hrivnak boarded a plane in the afternoon and was on the bench at Madison Square Garden last night when the Caps lost 2-1 to the Rangers with Don Beaupre in goal.Coach Terry Murray said that Liut was expected to attempt practice this morning and, if he's available for tomorrow's second game with the Rangers, Hrivnak would meet the Jacks in Binghamton, where they will begin their first-round playoff series with the AHL Rangers tomorrow night.

About five years ago, when the Baltimore Skipjacks were a solid third-place finisher in the American Hockey League, Jim Hrivnak was in goal nearly every game and he was one of the main reasons for the team's success.A lot has changed in the ensuing years, but for one game, at least, it was like old times at the Baltimore Arena for Hrivnak last night as he led the Carolina Monarchs to a 2-1 victory over the Bandits.The home team hammered 30 shots the Carolina goalie's way and just one of them slipped by as the Bandits were failing in their quest to escape the Southern Division cellar for the first time.

The physically punishing Maine Mariners held the Baltimore Skipjacks to their lowest goal total of the season Friday night. However, goalie Jim Hrivnak, who made 32 saves, and a solid defense rose to the occasion and led the Skipjacks to a 2-1 American Hockey League victory before 3,034 at the Baltimore Arena.Hrivnak, who made several acrobatic saves in the third period, allowed only a power-play goal to the Mariners (3-3). The victory boosted Baltimore (4-1), which had been averaging five goals, into second place in the Southern Division of the AHL."

The deal that would bring a big scorer to the Washington Capitals before the end of the trading deadline yesterday never happened. Instead, Washington sent backup goalie Jim Hrivnak to the Winnipeg Jets for backup Rick Tabaracci.Capitals general manager David Poile kept his team intact, basically because the offensive player he had hoped to find just wasn't there."[The Hartford Whalers'] Murray Craven was the best one out there and I had lots of conversations with [Hartford GM] Brian Burke," Poile said.

Continuing their road assault last night in Newmarket, Ont., the Skipjacks are now not only looking like playoff shoo-ins, but a team that could make a run at the Calder Cup.Again it was the work of goalie Jim Hrivnak, who stopped 30 of 31 shots, that spurred the Jacks on to a 2-1 victory over the Saints."

For a while it appeared Jim Hrivnak was going to make his way into the NHL by default.The Skipjacks goalie, who was 5-5 with the Washington Capitals last season, came to camp last month and quietly did what he does best -- keep the puck in front of him.With veteran Mike Liut firmly entrenched as the organization's top man, Hrivnak was ready to settle for No. 2, as another veteran, Don Beaupre, couldn't come to contract terms with the Caps after his contract...

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- For Skipjacks goalie Jim Hrivnak, the difference between last night's 3-1 victory over Rochester and the 6-4 loss he suffered the previous week at the hands of the Americans was a matter of a bounce or two."I don't where I really played that much different tonight than last week," Hrivnak said after providing 36 saves, and 58 minutes of shutout goaltending, to give the Jacks their first victory since Dec. 13 and return them to sole possession of first place. "I saw the puck just as well last week, but the luck went our way this time."

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- The first period should have been an omen. Unable to solve Baltimore Skipjacks goalie Jim Hrivnak with 15 first-period shots, the Binghamton Rangers saw the tide turn against them and dropped a 6-2 American Hockey League decision."

The first week of training camp is no time to be making fina decisions, but Washington Capitals coach Terry Murray has made his intentions clear about the team's otherwise muddled -- and crowded -- goalie situation.If Jim Hrivnak's play during the four-week training camp merits an NHL jersey, Murray said he would have no qualms about keeping him along with Don Beaupre and Mike Liut to form a rare three-man platoon system for the Caps."I think Jim Hrivnak has his mind set on playing for the Capitals," Murray said this week during a break in workouts at Piney Orchard Ice Arena in Odenton.

The Washington Capitals yesterday recalled goalie Jim Hrivnak from the Baltimore Skipjacks to play a backup role."We have two of the best veteran goalies in the NHL in Don Beaupre and Mike Liut, and three of the best young goaltending prospects in the minor leagues in Hrivnak, Olaf Kolzig and Byron Dafoe," said Capitals general manager David Poile. "We wanted to give Jim experience on the NHL level, practicing with the team every day."The Capitals will have three goalies for the rest of the season, public relations director Lou Corletto said.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Flyers may be in last place in the Patrick Division, but don't mention that to the Washington Capitals.Last night, the Flyers played a high-powered physical game that seemed to baffle Washington in an 8-2 loss.The loss, which ended the Capitals' four-game unbeaten streak, was the team's worst of the season. The previous worst was 6-2 at Winnipeg on Oct. 26. But Washington remains in second place in the Patrick Division, as the New York Rangers had the night off."

Within the next week, the NHL board of governors likely will complete a set of ground rules for an expansion draft next summer to stock new teams in Miami and Anaheim, Calif.Among those rules is the prospect that the 24 existing teams will each be allowed to protect only one goaltender, five defensemen and nine forwards. Players with one year or less of pro experience would be exempt. And each team could lose a maximum of two players.Capitals general manager David Poile says the above outline is probably close to what the final version will be. Some GMs, such as Toronto's Cliff Fletcher, are lobbying to have the goaltender numbers changed, but Poile is not. That may be something of a surprise, given the reliability shown by Washington goalies Don Beaupre and Jim Hrivnak this season.

LANDOVER -- The Washington Capitals found out what it is like to go up against the No. 1 defense and the No. 1 goalie in the NHL yesterday.But then, the Chicago Blackhawks and goalie Ed Belfour found out what it is like to go up against Capitals goalie Jim Hrivnak, a last-minute starter.Washington and Chicago tied, 2-2 in overtime, as the Capitals extended their home unbeaten streak to eight."There was two minutes left in warm-ups when Donnie [Beaupre] stretched his groin and I found out I was going to start," said Hrivnak.

BOSTON -- Jim Hrivnak said the difference in the game was the goaltending, and he wasn't paying himself a compliment.Last night, the Boston Bruins out-dueled the Capitals, scoring two of their goals on the power play, and Washington lost, 4-3, at Boston Garden."

The Washington Capitals had gone on the ice at Piney Orchard for the morning workout yesterday, and, while the rest of the Caps loosened up by swatting the puck, goalies Don Beaupre and Jim Hrivnak skated side-by-side around the rink, discussing the art of tending goal."

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The game was over before it was nine minutes old.Staggered when goaltender Jim Hrivnak surrendered three goals in the game's opening eight minutes, the Washington Capitals never got back into the game and lost, 3-0, last night to the New Jersey Devils at the Meadowlands Arena."

The Washington Capitals had gone on the ice at Piney Orchard for the morning workout yesterday, and, while the rest of the Caps loosened up by swatting the puck, goalies Don Beaupre and Jim Hrivnak skated side-by-side around the rink, discussing the art of tending goal."

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The game was over before it was nine minutes old.Staggered when goaltender Jim Hrivnak surrendered three goals in the game's opening eight minutes, the Washington Capitals never got back into the game and lost, 3-0, last night to the New Jersey Devils at the Meadowlands Arena."

NEW YORK -- The Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers continued to skate in different directions last night.The Capitals, boosted by a four-goal third period, including two from recent call-ups Steve Konowalchuk and Keith Jones, edged closer to Patrick Division respectability with a 7-4 victory that extended their unbeaten streak to four.The Rangers' third-period collapse followed Monday's embarrassing home loss to the expansion Tampa Bay Lightning.Grumblings about the lack of morale and rumors of trades filled the locker room of the Rangers, who have won only two of their past seven.

NEW YORK -- The Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers continued to skate in different directions last night.The Capitals, boosted by a four-goal third period, including two from recent call-ups Steve Konowalchuk and Keith Jones, edged closer to Patrick Division respectability with a 7-4 victory that extended their unbeaten streak to four.The Rangers' third-period collapse followed Monday's embarrassing home loss to the expansion Tampa Bay Lightning.Grumblings about the lack of morale and rumors of trades filled the locker room of the Rangers, who have won only two of their past seven.