Hunter takes aim at players

Caps coach fires across bow of Vokoun, Hamrlik

Dale Hunter isn’t getting along with his moribund hockey team. The Washington Capitals coach has called out both goaltender Tomas Vokoun and defenceman Roman Hamrlik this week as the team continues to spiral in the standings. After a 5- 2 loss in Ottawa Wednesday, Hunter’s comments weren’t exactly complimentary toward Vokoun. “He wasn’t as sharp as he should have been, and it’s in the back of our net,” Hunter said to the Washington Post. “We need some big stops early — that’s part of the game — and tonight we played a good, solid road game and we lose. Goaltending is a big part of the game and we need good goaltending.” After hearing the comments, Vokoun’s agent Allan Walsh fired back: “I will point out, though, that hockey’s great coaches throughout history never resorted to publicly singling out a particular player, blaming him for a loss. Where I come from, you win as a team and lose as a team. The oldest, most tired excuse in the book is to blame the goalie.” In the meantime, Hamrlik was a healthy scratch against the Senators. Hunter pointed to the veteran’s untimely penalties as the reason. Thursday, Hamrlik answered the critique in the Post: “You should ask him about the penalties because when he played, I think he make lots of penalties himself. He should know better.” TOEWS INVOLVED IN CRASH: Sidelined with an upper- body injury, Jonathan Toews’ week didn’t get a whole lot better Thursday when we was involved in an automobile mishap in Chicago’s loop district. According to reports, Toews was driving a black Mercedes- Benz when he collided with a pole in the city’s downtown. “I saw his car [ hit] the pole,” eyewitness Theron Banks told CBS. “I came out. People were everywhere. Toews was in the ambulance. People were videotaping and taking pictures and trying to get autographs, but police said they couldn’t get autographs.” Reports indicate Toews was taken to hospital by ambulance as a precaution. His injuries were not considered serious. HABS SKIRMISH AT PRACTICE: Montreal Canadiens forward David Desharnais and defenceman P. K. Subban became embroiled in a brief skirmish during Thursday’s practice. “It’s intensity,” head coach Randy Cunneyworth said. “I don’t see it as a bad thing. “Obviously, you don’t want it to escalate beyond where it went. But that’s just two guys competing, with neither one willing to back down. “You see it often with P. K. in games. Basically, he’s practising like he plays.” Montreal is coming off a discouraging 3- 0 loss to Dallas on Tuesday night. They’ll face an equally frustrated team today when the Canadiens play in Washington against the Capitals. Ice chips: Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin remains day- to- day with a lower- body injury. Ovechkin skated on his own for 15 minutes on Thursday before leaving the ice. ... The Tampa Bay Lightning have claimed forward Tim Wallace off waivers from the New York Islanders. ... The Pittsburgh Penguins have re- assigned forward Cal O’reilly to WilkesBarre/ Scranton of the American Hockey League