Turning point: Vancouver was a Manson last season on his road to the All- Star Game, and he is looking for a game in Pacific Coliseum to get him going again in the right direction.
It was after a postgame fight with David Bruce in Vancouver Oct. 28 last year, that Manson gained more control over his emotions and played the rest of the season with improved discipline. His 10-game suspension from that incident later was revoked, but in retrospect it may have been best for Manson the altercation occurred. He learned from it.
This season, he remains in an offensive slump with just one goal and four assists. But he feels his performance is gelling.
”I`m looking to carry the puck more than I have,” Manson said. ”I carried it more last year, and that led to some of my (18) goals. This year, teams are taking the angles on me and not giving me that extra step to get going.”
– Trust or bust: The line of Denis Savard, Steve Larmer and Greg Gilbert has been a strong producer in recent games. Larmer, with five goals in his last three games, believes he knows why.
”We`re trusting each other a lot more,” Larmer said. ”That takes time to develop, to get to know one another and what we each do on the ice. We`re not taking stupid chances.”
– Down on farm: Jimmy Waite`s goaltending career is coming along nicely in the International League. He was the league`s Player of the Week last week when he went 2-0 for the Indianapolis Ice with a 2.00 goals-against average. He stopped 44 of 48 shots in those two games for a 92 percent save percentage. Three future Hawks are playing well in the Ontario League. Winger Trevor Dam is ninth in the OHL in scoring with seven goals, 21 assists. Defenseman Adam Bennett, the No. 1 pick last June, is 10th in scoring with 9 goals, 18 assists. And defenseman Mike Speer, No. 2 pick in the last draft, has four goals, 16 assists with Guelph.
