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PredDave · 12-15-2006, 08:10 AM

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....612150426/1028

Dumont, Kariya men behind the goals
Set up Hartnell, Sullivan heroics

Scott Hartnell's two goals got the Predators off to a great start against Ottawa.

Steve Sullivan's three goals finished the Senators off.

But it was the efforts of two players who didn't score at all that proved just as critical in the Predators' 6-0 spanking of Ottawa on Thursday.

J.P. Dumont and Paul Kariya both contributed three assists against the Senators, setting their teammates up for shots that — in several instances — were hard to miss.

Kariya's first assist was a sweet little backhand dish across the crease, a pass that Hartnell merely had to tap behind goalie Ray Emery to put the Predators ahead 1-0.

Six minutes later, Kariya found Hartnell standing by the crease once more, dropping a pinpoint pass on his stick that Hartnell simply redirected behind Emery.

"Paul Kariya could be top five all-time for passing and vision,'' Sullivan said. "He's a special player that way. I don't think Hartsy has had to lift his stick (his) last five goals.''

Hartnell, who leads the team with 13 goals, got a chuckle out of that line.

"It has been a while since I had to shoot one in,'' he said. "Paul made a great pass and there was an open net, so I just had to redirect it.''

Dumont's vision and ability to deceive was as impressive.

He had everyone on the ice thinking he was about to launch a shot from the face-off circle with just over 14 minutes left in the second period, before choosing to fire a cross-ice pass instead.

Sullivan was wide open and knocked the puck behind Emery before the netminder could react.

"He's known as a goal-scorer, but he really knows how to find people out there,'' Sullivan said of Dumont, who tied a career high with the three assists.

12-15-2006, 08:10 AM	#27 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....612150426/1028 Dumont, Kariya men behind the goals Set up Hartnell, Sullivan heroics Scott Hartnell's two goals got the Predators off to a great start against Ottawa. Steve Sullivan's three goals finished the Senators off. But it was the efforts of two players who didn't score at all that proved just as critical in the Predators' 6-0 spanking of Ottawa on Thursday. J.P. Dumont and Paul Kariya both contributed three assists against the Senators, setting their teammates up for shots that — in several instances — were hard to miss. Kariya's first assist was a sweet little backhand dish across the crease, a pass that Hartnell merely had to tap behind goalie Ray Emery to put the Predators ahead 1-0. Six minutes later, Kariya found Hartnell standing by the crease once more, dropping a pinpoint pass on his stick that Hartnell simply redirected behind Emery. "Paul Kariya could be top five all-time for passing and vision,'' Sullivan said. "He's a special player that way. I don't think Hartsy has had to lift his stick (his) last five goals.'' Hartnell, who leads the team with 13 goals, got a chuckle out of that line. "It has been a while since I had to shoot one in,'' he said. "Paul made a great pass and there was an open net, so I just had to redirect it.'' Dumont's vision and ability to deceive was as impressive. He had everyone on the ice thinking he was about to launch a shot from the face-off circle with just over 14 minutes left in the second period, before choosing to fire a cross-ice pass instead. Sullivan was wide open and knocked the puck behind Emery before the netminder could react. "He's known as a goal-scorer, but he really knows how to find people out there,'' Sullivan said of Dumont, who tied a career high with the three assists.