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Martin Lapointe’s days of maddeningly consistent mediocrity may be over.After being a prolific junior and minor league sniper, Lapointe has been slow to emerge as an NHL scorer, averaging 16 goals the past four seasons.
But on Nov. 1, in his hometown of Montreal, Lapointe scored his team-leading eighth of the season. He had goals in four straight games and five of his past six.
Much of his success is being attributed to improved conditioning.After he finished the 1998-99 season with 19 per-cent body fat, GM Ken Holland paid for him to work with a personal trainer.
Lapointe showed up for training camp last season with 8.6 per-cent body fat and reported this season at 8.1.
“I’ve got some good legs and that’s the main thing,” Lapointe said.
ROOKIE REPORT Maxim Kuznetsov, 23, D. A big blueliner (6-foot-5,198 pounds), Kuznetsov was scratched more often than not during the season’s first month. When he did play, he was solid if unspectacular, but needs to work on his puck-moving skills and decision-making.
Career Projection: No. 5 or 6 defenseman.
DEFENSE The Wings had tightened up, allowing just one goal in successive games against Columbus, Tampa Bay and Columbus, again. But they came unravelled in a 6-2 loss at Washington Oct. 31.
Goalie Chris Osgood and left winger Brendan Shanahan both labeled it one of the Wings’ worst performances in years.
”We were confused, disorganized, out-hustled,” Shanahan said.
“I wouldn’t want to be the owner tonight, signing those checks,” said Detroit coach Scotty Bowman.
