European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 14, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 30 b the stars and stripes thursday May 14, 1992 oilers capture division Crown playoffs Edmonton Alberta a the Edmonton oilers won the smythe Divi son championship for the eighth time in 10 years completing a six game upset of regular season Champion Vancouver by beating the canucks 3-0 on tuesday night. The Victory moved the oilers into the Campbell conference finals against the Chicago Black Hawks the Norris division champions beginning saturday night at Chicago stadium. The oilers beat the Blackhawk in the conference finals in 1983, 1985 and 1990, the Only three times they be met in the playoffs. Vancouver became the third regular season division Champion to be eliminated in this years upset studded playoffs. Montreal was earlier swept by Boston in the Adams final and Detroit dropped four straight to Chicago in the Norris. Vancouver which won the regular season title with a team record 96 Points 14 More than the oilers never recovered after being out shot 18-3 and outscored 2-0 in the first period. Bill Ranford finished with 26 saves for his second shutout of this years playoffs a the first came in a series clinching 3-0 win Over los Angeles. The oilers went ahead 1-0 at 8 58 of the opening period on a shorthanded goal by Craig Mactavish. He took the puck away from Igor Larionov in the canucks zone took two strides and wrist cd a 20-footer past Kirk Mclean from the right Circle for his first goal of the playoffs. Edmonton made it 2-0 at 16 2.9 when Vincent Damphousse broke around de Senseman Jyrki Lumc and Cut in on Mclean. The made the first Stop but Damphousse jabbed the rebound past him for his sixth goal. The rest of the night belonged to Ranford who excelled in the second period when the canucks out shot Edmonton 134. His Best Stop came with 2 seconds left in the period when he got his toe on a breakaway bid by Geoff Courtnell and covered up. Ranford again was Superb in the third period. He robbed Sergio Somesso at the 9-minute Mark getting a shoulder on his 10-footer after stopping Adrian Plavsic s 30-footer from the Slot then stopped Cliff Ronnings blast from the left Circle two minutes later. Esa Tikkanen clinched it for the oilers with an empty net goal at 18 58, his fifth of the playoffs. Oilers Greg Hawgood checks Petr Nedved of the canucks in Edmonton tuesday Fitch resigns As nets coach Newark . Apr the new Jersey nets had Only two questions to answer after wrapping up their first playoff season since 1986. When would Bill Fitch be removed As head coach of a team that did no to like listening to him and who would replace him Fitch answered the first one tuesday by resigning less than two weeks after the nets dropped their opening round playoff series with Cleveland. Willis Reed the nets vice president of basketball operations said he will try to answer the second one As soon As possible. The leading candidates for now Are former Hawks coach Mike Fratello former pistons coach Chuck Daly and nets assistant Tom Newell. Fitch who had one year remaining on a contract that will pay about $400,000, will remain with the nets As a consultant. A it was my decision a a Fitch said in a statement released by the team. A we have helped build an exciting team which has captured the imagination of the fans and has the potential for however the image most people remember Are players openly rebelling against Fitch. Derrick Coleman and Chris Morris refused to re enter games late in the season with the playoff berth still on the line and teammates said Drazen Petrovic did the same thin when the Cavaliers eliminated the nets in the fourth game of their opening round series. Not so open to Public scrutiny were the 57-year-old coaches run in with backup guard Tate George and his reluctance to use Kenny Anderson after the no. 1 draft Choice did no to sign until just before the season started. A it was a foregone conclusion a nets minority owner Bernie Mann said. A Bill is a great Guy. But How can you work in a place where you done to get along with the workers Bill is from the old school Mann added. Johnson named top Aba Rookie Charlotte . A Larry Johnson did no to plan on being the Aba Rookie of the year and when he was late for the Charlotte hornets training Camp most people Felt he have to worry about it anyway. A i downplayed it All year a said Johnson who on tuesday was named the leagues top first year player. A i did no to get serious until the last month when people started telling me 1 had a Chance to win it. That made me think about Johnson who averaged 19.2 Points and 11 rebounds a game got 90.5 of a possible 96 votes in a poll of sports writers and broadcasters to join such Aba greats As Michael Jordan Patrick Ewing and Larry Bird who also were named the leagues top Rookie. Denver a Dike be Mutombo an Early favorite for Rookie honors after a great Start and All Star recognition received 3.5 votes and Billy Owens of the Golden state warriors got two. Few people were thinking of Johnson As a contender for the title last november when he finally appeared in the Teal and White uniform As the hornets opened their season at Boston �?o1 Wasny to really thinking about Rookie. No i take that Back a he says. A every Guy thinks about Rookie. But when i missed training Camp a lot of you Guys reporters were writing me even when Mutombo played Well in the Early part of the season and made the ajl Star team Johnson said he did no to get discouraged. �?o1 just wanted to prove there Wasny to Only one Rookie in the Aba a he said. When Mutombo started to struggle with injuries Johnson began to pick up the Pace. Johnson who was named the a bad a Rookie of the month in december won it again in february and March. He finished 11th in the league in rebounding and 24th in scoring. Hornets Larry Johnson likes his trophy Drexler laettner added to olympic squad new Vnnie rap _ a lit a . A new York a with the additions of Clyde Drexler and Christian laettner the . Olympic team is Complete. Maybe Drexler the Star guard of the Portland Trail blazers became the 11th Aba player selected. Laettner the 6-foot-ll player of the year who led Duke to the last two National championships is the Only College player on the squad that will play in the tournament of the americas in Portland ore., where it must finish in the top four to qualify for Barcelona. Both were added tuesday. �?o1 think this team has unlimited potential a said Drexler who was miffed that he was not an original selection last year. A there is enormous Talent and flexibility on this to be the Only collegian on the team is just As special laettner said. A this is a very exciting Day for me a he said. A it is a tremendous Honor. In a looking Forward to the Challenge and the negating experience of playing alongside the greatest players in the world. 1 think this will help tremendously in my preparations for a professional some of those great players such As magic Johnson Larry Bird David Robinson Chris Mullin and even Michael Jor Dan could be questionable for the olympics. Bird has played Only one playoff game because of a sore Back and Johnson says he will play despite having testing positive for the aids virus. Robinson currently is recovering from hand surgery Jordan has been plagued by Back pain and Mullin was Hurt in the first round of the playoffs. The selection committee said u also will consider All pro and College players As alternates. Other members of the team Aie Karl Malone John Stockton. Charles Barkley Patrick Ewing and Scottie pippin a when they say dream team this Reali is what it is a said Drexler who average 25 Points and 6.7 assists this season i will be a pleasure to play with such Guys i Here were no gripes from the on other collegian seriously considered c the team 7-1 Center Shaquille o who has left As a Junior to turn pro naturally j am very disappoint about no playing m the Klyr Nix is i said but i truly wish All the team men Bers the very Best of Luck Csan Christian laettner i think that it Hristian Wall be an excellent addition to o team Quot
