European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 17, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 22 c the stars and stripes tuesday March 17, 1992 a Blackhawk goalie Dominik hasek repels a shot from Penguin Kevin Stevens on sunday during action in  Tocchet stitches up penguins win Over Chicagon olympians turn Gold for nil by Ken Rappoport a hockey writer on a scale of 10, olympic hero Ray Leblanc rated his first performance in the nil a an eight or a  so far Many other olympic players who have joined the nil have also received High Marks. A i am somewhat amazed that so Many Good players came out of the 1992 Winter olympics a Chicago Blacl Diaks coach Mike Keenan said. A it shows that International hockey is really big business and we can look for More and better players coming Here from  and from North America. Altogether 28 olympic players have signed with nil teams and 20 of them Are on nil rosters these Days according to a Survey by the league. Many More particularly from Europe Are expected to join the league in the near future. A record total of 71 nil players and prospects took part in the just concluded olympics. Americans Nad the most olympic players linked to nil teams with 19. Canada and the unified team were next with 13 each. With defens Emen Scott Lachance and Marty Mclnnis stepping right into the lineup the new York islanders have prospered Well from the olympic spillover. A a in a pleased with the Way they be handled themselves and pleased with the Progress of both a islander coach Al Arbour said. A both have done a Good Job in the games they be played. A a we re using both in critical situations late in the game. We re using both Marty and Scotty on penalty killing and on Power  Lachance the islanders first round pick at last summer s draft has so far signed the most lucrative contract known among the olympians with a four year Deal Worth $1.2 million including a $200,000 signing Bonus. That however could be peanuts when compared to what Eric Lindros gets. Lindros is the reluctant pro who did no to want to join the Quebec Nordques when they made him the Overall no. 1 pick in last Summers draft. He played on the Canadian olympic team and almost seems certain to play for Canada at the world championships in Prague at the end of april along with Sean Burke. Burke is another refugee from the Canadian olympic team but his Story is a Little different. Burke signed with the san Diego gulls of the International hockey league for $200,000, the same team that reportedly offered Lindros $500,000 to finish out the season. The new Jersey devils who own the rights to Burke have been trying to Trade the two time olympian since the Start of the season. Another Star player from the Canadian olympic team Joe Juneau has signed a two year Deal with the Boston Bruins for about $225,000 year. Juneau the top scorer for team Canada at Albertville was one of four olympians who have signed with the Bruins. The others forwards Ted Donato and Clark Donatelli from the . Team and defens Eman Gord Hynes from the Canadian team. They have All been playing with the Bruins. A i guess this was the first time Ever that so Many Usa olympic team players made it to the nil a said Leblanc. By United press International new York a Pittsburgh a Rick Tocchet declined a trip to the Hospital after having his jaw ripped open by a puck then came Back to make the Chicago Blackhawk take it on the Chin. Tocchet scored twice to spark a three goal third period Pittsburgh rally sunday night that lifted the penguins to a 4-3 Victory Over Chicago. Tocchet who has 17 Points in 12 games since being acquired from Philadelphia left the ice late in the second period after being struck in the face by a dump in shot from teammate Mario Lemieux. With blood on his Jersey he had the jaw stitched up and returned a few minutes into the third. Quot they said they wanted me to go to the Hospital right away a said Tocchet a and after five minutes talking to the doctor i said a can to i just play the third he did no to know what to say. He said it was my  a a in be got to get it a Rayed tomorrow. It does no to feel like its lined up right a he said. Larry Murphy scored the game Winner with 3 43 remaining on a Power play giving Pittsburgh its sixth win in its last eight games. The penguins also increased their Lead to six Points Over the new York islanders for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Patrick division. The Blackhawk lost their second straight game and snapped their 13-game Home unbeaten Streak 9-0-4. Chicago had not played since wednesday a 7-1 loss against the rangers for their worst defeat of the season. Chicago a Steve Larmer built the Lead to 3-1 at 6 53 of the third set up in front by Jeremy Roenick. But Tocchet donning a face shield for his return to the ice answered just 34 seconds later on a rebound then had a shot deflect in off his Back with 5 10 left to tie it 3-3, his 22nd goal of the year. In other late games sunday Bruins 5, Kings 1 at Boston Canadian olympic Star Joe Juneau scored his first nil goal and picked up three assists while Bobby Carpenter added two oals and two assists handing los Angeles its third straight loss. Steve Leach had a goal and two assists and Adam Oates added a Power play goal and an assist for the Bruins. Jets 1, red wings 1 at Winnipeg Manitoba Eddie Olczyk a Power play goal with 5 17 left lifted Winnipeg into the tie and an important Point in its Battle for the fourth and final playoff spot in the smythe division. The jets increased their Lead to five Points Over the Idle Calgary flames. The red wings took a 1-0 Lead 5 10 into the third period on a goal by Keith Primeau. Sabres 6, Nordques 4 at Buffalo new York Pat Lafontaine scored on a Power play with 2 41 left to snap a 4-4 tie part of a four goal third period for the sabres. The goal marked Lafontaine a 40th of the season and enabled Buffalo to Clinch the third playoff spot in the Adams division. Randy Wood had two goals and Alexander Mogiln a goal and two assists for the sabres. Owen Nolan scored his 37th for Quebec Connors Becker Mcenroe Edberg Advance key Biscayne Fla. A Jimmy Connors and Boris Becker rallied for victories sunday at the International players championships and John Mcenroe won his first singles match in South Florida since 1981. Connors 39, outlasted Tomas Carbon Ell of Spain 6-7 6-86-2, 7-6 7-0. Becker beat Arnaud Boetsch of France 3-6, 75, 6-3. Mcenroe had an easier time in his second round match sweeping Sandon Stolle of Australia 6-3, 6-4. Second ranked Stefan Edberg advanced when leg cramps forced qualifier Grant Stafford to retire leading 7-5, 1-6, 1-0. Fifth seeded Goran Ivanisevic eliminated Bernd Karbacher 6-4, 6-1. In women a play top ranked Monica Seles won the first five games and beat Camille Benjamin 6-1, 6-3. Fifth seeded Jennifer Capriati eliminated Kristin go Dridge 6-3, 7-5. All of the seeds had received first round byes. Connors twice lost games while serving for the match in the third set but car Bonell made unforced errors on the first five Points in the tiebreak. Connors then closed out the match with a pair of backhand winners. Becker seeded third recovered from a lethargic first set to beat Boetsch. In five previous appearances in the tournament Becker has never advanced beyond the third round he a that far now. Mcenroe a Only previous appearance at key Biscayne was in 1987, when he played doubles and lost in the first round. He otherwise skipped the tournament because he objected to its equal prize Money for men and women disliked the Windy weather and thought the old two week format was too Long. In recent years the menus purse has exceeded the women a and the schedule has been reduced to 10 Days