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By SCOTT REINARDY sreinardy@leader.net
Sunday, January 30, 2000 Page: 9C
Mark Murphy might not impress you with nifty stickhandling or exceptional
playmaking ability, but he’ll still grab your attention.
Signed from Trenton, N.J., of the East Coast Hockey League a week ago,
Murphy has been a pleasant surprise in his first five AHL games with the
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He already has six points (two goals, four
assists) while playing an end-to-end brand of hockey similar to Tom
Kostopoulos.
Against Hartford on Friday, Murphy scored his first and second AHL goals.
The first-period tallies came 2:31 apart and deadlocked the game at 2. It was
the fastest a Penguins’ player has scored back-to-back goals.
As if that wasn’t enough, Murphy then assisted on Kostopoulos’ third period
power-play goal, although Kostopoulos clearly made that score possible with
his own grit.
“He played great,” Penguins coach Glenn Patrick said after the Hartford
game. “I started putting him in good situations because he’s starting to show
he’ll do the responsible thing. He’s a good learner.”
Unfortunately, the Penguins couldn’t capitalize on Murphy’s outstanding
performance, losing 5-3.
Murphy’s approach is simple constantly hustle, beat the other guy to the
puck, and make a play, either a pass or shot. It’s not fancy, but effective.
“I’m starting to feel a little bit more comfortable,” Murphy said. “I
still have to do a better job of taking care of my end of the ice. I’m just
going to keep working hard and stay with it.”
Murphy has been playing on a line with Robert Dome and Alexandre Mathieu.
Since Murphy’s arrival, Dome also has benefitted with a four-game points
streak before Saturday. He has had six points (three goals, three assists)
during the streak.
“We’re starting to work well together and feeding off each other,” Murphy
said. “Obviously, it takes some time to get to know your linemates. The more
you play with each other the easier it is to play with them.”
Actually, it appears Murphy doesn’t alter his play regardless of who’s on
his line.
SEEING STARS: Forward Casey Harris did not even see the hit that knocked
him out of Friday’s game.
“It was the first time I’ve never seen a guy come and hit me,” Harris
said Saturday. “He must have caught me in the right spot.”
At 5:04 of the second period, Harris was attempting to gather the puck on
the right boards. Hartford defenseman Drew Bannister collapsed down the boards
to stop Harris and they collided. Harris went down immediately.
“I looked up, got the puck and the next thing I know (trainer) Pat
(Steidle) is standing over me,” Harris said. “I don’t remember anything.”
Harris did not return to the game and was diagnosed with a mild concussion.
He did not play Saturday, but said he expects to return today.
“I worked out twice (Saturday) and I passed all the tests they wanted me
to pass,” Harris said.
Saturday was only the second game Harris has missed all season. He was a
healthy scratch at Louisville on Oct. 22.
Only J.P. Tessier and Josef Melichar have played all 47 games this season.
ICE CHIPS: With an assist on J.P. Tessier’s first-period goal Saturday,
Greg Crozier extended his points streak to 12 games. He missed five games
during that stretch with a broken cheek bone. … Before Saturday, the
Penguins had scored at least one power-play goal in their last six games,
going 9-for-31 (29 percent). … Dylan Gyori was a healthy scratch Saturday.
Meanwhile, after missing Friday’s game because of illness, Valentin Morozov
returned to the lineup against St. John’s.