The Winnipeg Jets have asked the National Hockey League to review tape of Jeremy Roenick’s slash Tuesday night against defenseman Phil Housley and to suspend Roenick for the play.
“I hope to give Roenick a day off,” Jets coach John Paddock said, alluding to NHL suspensions now counting only as missed days of practice when a player forfeits his salary. “He might appreciate it.
“I don’t like sending tapes, but I think the league should be aware of the way Chicago plays.”
Housley’s wrist was bruised in the incident, and he is expected to miss two games with the injury. “I don’t know if there was an intent to injure,” he said, “but it was a good chop.”
Backed up: Coach Darryl Sutter didn’t fault goalie Jimmy Waite for his 5-2 loss Tuesday night in Winnipeg, but Sutter believed Waite should have stopped Alexei Zhamnov’s goal late in the first period that allowed the Jets to snap a 2-2 tie and helped sway the momentum.
Waite is in a personal slump that isn’t receiving much attention because he plays so seldom as Ed Belfour’s backup. Waite’s record is 0-3 in his last three starts and 1-4 in the last five.
Those five games go back to Dec. 1. The Hawks have scored just eight goals in these games.
“I know the fact he isn’t playing a lot has something to do with it,” Sutter acknowledged after Waite started out with a 4-2 record and is now 5-6. “But he can’t use that as excuse, because that’s just the way it’s going to be.”
On the run: Jason Muzzatti could turn Indianapolis into even more of a winner. Since the Hawks temporarily picked up the goalie Jan. 11 on loan from Calgary’s minor-league club in Salt Lake City, Muzzatti is 3-0 for the Ice in the International League. Defenseman Rod Buskas went from Indy to Salt Lake in the transfer of players. The Hawks might consider a deal with the Flames so that Muzzatti, a free agent at the end of this season, can remain in the Chicago farm system.
Playoff preview: Sunday at the Stadium might be a look ahead to the matchup in this spring’s Campbell Conference finals. The Smythe Division’s Vancouver Canucks will come to town with one of the best records in the NHL and one of the top young stars in Pavel Bure.