CALGARY, Alberta
Calgary Flames left wing Perry Berezan made his first appearance of the Smythe Division finals against the Oilers in Game 5. Berezan is a native of Edmonton, having played all his minor hockey there. His uncle plays the organ at Oilers' home games. ... Oilers defenseman Lee Fogolin is doubtful for Game 6 in Calgary, having suffered a hip-pointer in the second period in Game 5 from checking Flames' defenseman Gary Suter. ... Both the Oilers and Flames are using hometown goalies in the series. Mike Vernon is from Calgary while Grant Fuhr is a native of Spruce Grove, Alberta, a suburb just west of Edmonton. ... Flames rugged right wing Tim Hunter dressed for Game 5 but did not play. Calgary coach Bob Johnson said, 'I wanted to win a hockey game. I did not want to start a war.'
Lanny McDonald of the Calgary Flames has seen 13 years tick away in the NHL without him getting close to wearing a Stanley Cup ring.
'The key is that there are not that many chances to have that grab at it and the years pass by pretty quickly. I think we've got the kind of character in here that wants it and it's a matter of finishing things off,' he said after the Flames took a 3-2 lead over the Edmonton Oilers in the best-of-seven Smythe Division final.
TORONTO
The Toronto Maples Leafs, who have shown character in advancing this far in the playoffs, must show more if they are to survive. Trailing the St. Louis Blues 3-2 in the Norris Division finals, the Maple Leafs face Game 6 with various injuries.
Defenseman Bill Root still has a knee problem, center Dan Daoust had his nose broken by Greg Paslawski's high stick, and Rick Vaive was whacked by Jim Pavese and his right forearm went numb.
Toronto finished the season with 57 points, the fewest of any playoff qualifier, but swept Chicago in the opening round.
St. Louis coach Jacques Demers is enjoying the Norris Division final against the Toronto Maple Leafs, even though it is not a marketing executive's dream.
'I know we don't have the talent of Minnesota or Chicago but you have two teams that are playing gutsy and playing very hard,' Demers said. 'People may not think so, but the Blues against Toronto is a good series. We played some fine hockey out there.'
Chicago and Minnesota finished 1-2 in the Norris during the regular season, but were upset by the Maple Leafs and Blues, respectively.
NEW YORK
The New York Rangers' remarkable playoff run is coinciding with related news in Manhattan these days. Plans call for construction of a new Madison Square Garden, two blocks west of the current site. The projected finish of the new building is 1990, a year that would also mark the 50th anniversary of the Rangers' last Stanley Cup.
