Hotter Hockey

Before the hockey season opened, officials of the National Hockey League passed rules designed to make a fast game a fast scoring game. They ruled that the forward pass, hitherto barred except in a team's own territory, should be allowed in all zones. Each pass, to be sure, must stay in one of the three zones in which every rink is divided by blue lines drawn 60 feet apart and forming a quadrilateral whose centre is also the centre of the rink. A player may not pass from one end of the rink to a teammate at the other. But he may now pass the length of each zone in turn. This rule was supplemented by others penalizing players who loaf, for defensive purposes, in front of their own goal.

Eagerly hockey followers watched to see how the new rules would work out. They found that goals were scored, as had been predicted, in great quantities. One night when five major league games were played in various parts of the U. S. and Canada, 42 goals were scored. Under the old rules there were sometimes less goals scored throughout the league in a night than the number of contests held.

Warily hockey followers appraised the teams of the American and International sections of the League, trying to figure out which two teams may play off for the world's championship next spring:

Boston Bruins. The present champions, and still apparently the best team in the League. Strong on the defense, fast on the offense, fortified everywhere by Eddie ("Shining") Shore, loose-jointed and heavy-hipped, who with a sad look on his pale, wide face spills opponents ferociously.

New York Rangers. Foreseeing that the new rules would use up his men faster than the old, Coach Lester Patrick drilled three alternate forward lines instead of two. Formidable, the Rangers beat the fast Canadiens 8 to 3 last week.

Montreal Maroons. Terrific shoulderers, the roughest, heaviest team in hockey, the Maroons still have such bruisers as Stewart, Dutton and Babe Siebert in their lineup.

Montreal Canadiens. A team of virtuosos--tricky Joliat in his little black cap, Leduc, indolent, brilliant Howie Morenz, the world's fastest puckster. Puzzled by the new rules, the Canadiens were bumped around and badly beaten by the Maroons, outskated by the Rangers.

Chicago Blackhawks. A rejuvenated team, full of smart recruits, they have skated circles around most of their opponents to press Boston for leadership in the American group.

Detroit Cougars. Agile Goalie "Flat"' Walsh, stickmen Hay and Cooper, fighters Laurie Aurie and Noble, have been playing below form.

Pittsburgh Pirates. Veterans in mustard plaster sweaters, they found the new rules to their liking, recently came from behind to score ten goals against Toronto in one of the weirdest games ever played, then relapsed into the League cellar.

Toronto Maple Leafs. Dark horses.

Ottawa Senators. A team with a bad reputation for defensive tactics which will not get by under the new rules, the Senators revised their style to start off at the head of the International Group.

New York Americans. Slow and sad, looking for new forwards, more spares.

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