2008 Woodie Awards
Games of the Week
Sam Summers
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: Big Red Sports
Offensive Ottawa takes on defensive-minded New Jersey
On Saturday, Feb. 16 the Ottawa Senators host the New Jersey Devils. The game will pit the highest scoring team in the National Hockey League, Ottawa, against the Devil's number three ranked defense in goals allowed. The game will showcase Ottawa's points leader, Daniel Alfredsson, who has 34 goals and 39 assists against the Devils' goaltender Martin Brodeur. Brodeur has a save average of 91.7 percent and has 29 of New Jersey's 31 wins to his credit.
Ottawa's Alfredsson has five goals and eight assists during a three-game points streak. He will be assisted by Jason Spezza who leads Ottawa with 48 assists. Spezza has four goals and seven assists during a three-game points streak and goes into Saturday's contest two assists shy of the league leader. Goaltender Ray Emery has to improve upon his 89.3 percent save average for the Senators to challenge the Devils.
New Jersey's offense will have to rise to the occasion behind Zach Parise, David Clackson and John Madden. Parise had only two goals and five assists during the in 12 January games. With two goals and two assists in three February games, already it appears he's shaken off the rust he accumulated around the New Year. Madden will have to play like he did against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, Feb. 6 when he contributed two assists. Clarkson has been productive lately with two goals and six points in the last five games.•
UCLA and USC look to heat up cross-town rivalry
Rivalry games are what make college sports some of the most watched events in America. The Border War, Civil War, Apple Cup, Iron Bowl and many other games are circled by fans every year who wait with baited-breath for gameday to arrive. Whether it is Duke versus North Carolina, Oregon State taking on the University of Oregon or Miami against Florida State, we all have our favorites. On Sunday, Feb. 17 a contentious rivalry will resume when the University of Southern California (USC) hosts the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).
UCLA's freshman center Kevin Love is the best player on perhaps the best team in the conference, and he's getting better. In 12 non-conference games, Love averaged 17.8 points and 11.0 rebounds and shot 57.8 percent from the floor. In UCLA's first 11 Pac-10 games, he's averaging 18.8 points and 12.1 rebounds, in addition to those eye-popping statistics, he's converting 64 percent of his attempts. With this 6' 10" giant leading them through the Pac-10 another trip to the post season is a virtual guarantee.
USC will try to counter Love with highly touted freshman guard OJ Mayo. Mayo is averaging 20.2 points per game, 44.3 percent shooting from the floor and is shooting 77.6 percent from the free-throw line. The Trojans will be looking to rebound after a poor showing against Washington State last Sunday. For USC to prevail they will have to limit the potent UCLA offense and overcome their stifling defense.•
On Saturday, Feb. 16 the Ottawa Senators host the New Jersey Devils. The game will pit the highest scoring team in the National Hockey League, Ottawa, against the Devil's number three ranked defense in goals allowed. The game will showcase Ottawa's points leader, Daniel Alfredsson, who has 34 goals and 39 assists against the Devils' goaltender Martin Brodeur. Brodeur has a save average of 91.7 percent and has 29 of New Jersey's 31 wins to his credit.
Ottawa's Alfredsson has five goals and eight assists during a three-game points streak. He will be assisted by Jason Spezza who leads Ottawa with 48 assists. Spezza has four goals and seven assists during a three-game points streak and goes into Saturday's contest two assists shy of the league leader. Goaltender Ray Emery has to improve upon his 89.3 percent save average for the Senators to challenge the Devils.
New Jersey's offense will have to rise to the occasion behind Zach Parise, David Clackson and John Madden. Parise had only two goals and five assists during the in 12 January games. With two goals and two assists in three February games, already it appears he's shaken off the rust he accumulated around the New Year. Madden will have to play like he did against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, Feb. 6 when he contributed two assists. Clarkson has been productive lately with two goals and six points in the last five games.•
UCLA and USC look to heat up cross-town rivalry
Rivalry games are what make college sports some of the most watched events in America. The Border War, Civil War, Apple Cup, Iron Bowl and many other games are circled by fans every year who wait with baited-breath for gameday to arrive. Whether it is Duke versus North Carolina, Oregon State taking on the University of Oregon or Miami against Florida State, we all have our favorites. On Sunday, Feb. 17 a contentious rivalry will resume when the University of Southern California (USC) hosts the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).
UCLA's freshman center Kevin Love is the best player on perhaps the best team in the conference, and he's getting better. In 12 non-conference games, Love averaged 17.8 points and 11.0 rebounds and shot 57.8 percent from the floor. In UCLA's first 11 Pac-10 games, he's averaging 18.8 points and 12.1 rebounds, in addition to those eye-popping statistics, he's converting 64 percent of his attempts. With this 6' 10" giant leading them through the Pac-10 another trip to the post season is a virtual guarantee.
USC will try to counter Love with highly touted freshman guard OJ Mayo. Mayo is averaging 20.2 points per game, 44.3 percent shooting from the floor and is shooting 77.6 percent from the free-throw line. The Trojans will be looking to rebound after a poor showing against Washington State last Sunday. For USC to prevail they will have to limit the potent UCLA offense and overcome their stifling defense.•
Be the first to comment on this story