Talk about a seven-year itch.
When the NHL yesterday named Mark Messier its Offensive Player of the Week for the period ending Jan. 4, it represented the sixth time the Captain had been so acknowledged, but the first time since Dec. 2, 1996, when he was midway through the final season of his first Broadway run. How time flies when you’re nearing 43.
Messier, who earned the designation by recording two goals – a pair of third-period tying tallies – and four assists on the four-game trip to Phoenix, Los Angeles, St. Louis and Pittsburgh, went into last night’s Garden match against the Flames as the club’s leading goal-scorer, with 13. With 23 points, he was tied with Eric Lindros for fourth on the club, trailing Alex Kovalev (29), Bobby Holik (27) and Martin Rucinsky (27).
Reunited on Saturday with Kovalev, Messier led Ranger forwards in ice-time in that afternoon’s 4-1 victory over the Penguins, getting 18:14 while Petr Nedved received 17:04, Lindros (the team’s best player the last three weeks) 16:24 and Holik 13:33.
The league’s press release announcing the citation began: “Two weeks shy of his 43d birthday. . .” Messier, who will celebrate his 43rd birthday Jan. 18, said last night that he does not consider age to be an issue.
“I don’t feel any different than I did a few years ago,” he said. “This birthday isn’t different than any of the others.”
*
While Messier was earning his designation, Brian Boucher was named as the league’s Defensive Player of the Week for posting three consecutive shutouts that extended his streak without surrendering a goal to 205:45. The success of the Phoenix backup – 4-0-3 in his last seven starts – reinforces league-wide belief that the Coyotes will seek to deal nominal No. 1 Sean Burke.
The Rangers, who gave Jussi Markkanen a second consecutive start last night, have interest in Burke, who will turn 37 on Jan. 29 and is on the final year of a $4.5 million contract.
But it’s believed that the Coyotes, in as desperate a fight for the playoffs in the West as are the Rangers in the East, would demand prospects and draft selections in return for Burke, assets the Blueshirts hardly can afford to yield.
*
Holik, meanwhile, Czech-born but a U.S. citizen as of December 1966, was claiming “victory,” in the aftermath of Team USA’s 4-3 win over Canada in the Gold Medal Game of the World Junior Championship played yesterday in Helsinki.
“I never cared much about the tournament until Canada lost so I could bug the Canadians about it,” Holik said prior to the match.
Dan LaCouture had played for the Team USA squad that was beaten 2-0 by Canada in the 1997 Gold Medal game. Yesterday marked the first time the U.S. had won the tournament, which next year will be played in North Dakota.
American Zach Parise, selected 17th overall by the Devils, was named MVP of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Canadian Press named the Team Canada squad that won last spring’s World Championship Tournament on an overtime goal by Anson Carter, Canada’s 2003 Team of the Year.
“It’s a pretty big deal at home,” Carter said last night. “It’s quite an honor.”
*
Blueshirts were seeking first three-game win streak of season . . . Tom Poti returned to the lineup after missing Saturday’s match with a sore hip.
