Viacheslav Fetisov

The biggest goal in San Jose Sharks history came nearly a year ago at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena, when they knocked the Red Wings out of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Unfortunately for the Sharks, they haven't scored one there since. For the second time this season, the Sharks came into Detroit and were shut out by the Red Wings, this time, 3-0, last night. "This was a great game for us," Detroit coach Scotty Bowman said. "We got an outstanding effort from every forward and every defenseman, because they really wanted to get a shutout.

After years of negotiations with Soviet authorities, the New Jersey Devils yesterday announced the signing of two Soviet Olympians considered among the world's premier hockey defensemen. Viacheslav Fetisov, 31, and Sergei Starikov, 30, both members of the Central Red Army team, had been granted permission by the Soviet government in May 1988 to negotiate with the franchise, but they had been seeking clearance from military authorities. "We are delighted with the fact that both these players have been signed, and we look forward to their joining the team," said Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello, who went to the Soviet Union last week to complete the deal.

A red sea of hockey worshipers parted yesterday for the Detroit Red Wings, who paraded through some 1 million fans as the silver Stanley Cup that eluded the franchise for 42 years sparkled under cloudless skies. "For all Red Wings fans, this is your day in the sun," coach Scotty Bowman told the screaming throngs at a Hart Plaza rally that followed the two-hour parade down Woodward Avenue. The players and coaches rode in red convertibles, feted for their sweep of the Flyers on Saturday night that ended an NHL championship drought dating to 1955.

Not even Montreal's patented vanishing act on the road could conjure up a point for the Ottawa Senators. Vincent Damphousse scored his second goal of the night with 14 seconds remaining in regulation as the visiting Canadiens broke a nine-game road losing skid with a 5-4 victory last night. The goal came after Ottawa tied the game on two goals with its goaltender pulled for an extra skater. "It's not the kind of game we wanted - taking over the game in the first period and then taking it down to the last few seconds to win," Damphousse said.

A couple of tips for the Flyers as they prepare for the New Jersey Devils tonight: Don't allow right winger John MacLean to get to the puck. Don't allow the Devils to throw a pregame party. MacLean has 23 goals and 17 assists in 33 games this season. As for the party, well New Jersey held its annual Christmas bash Tuesday afternoon and then went out that night and blasted the Bruins, 8-3. "The party was a very good time," said Soviet defenseman Alexei Kasatonov.

There is no official marker to designate the quarter pole, halfway point or three-quarter mark of the National Hockey League's regular season. Moreover, with the discrepancy in the number of games played, it is often hard to compare teams during the regular season. Nonetheless, there are numbers that stand out. Through their first 20 games - Boston and St. Louis have played only 19 - the teams with the best goals-against average were Montreal, 2.51; Boston, 2.92, and the New York Rangers, 2.96.

The New Jersey Devils - in second place in the NHL's Patrick Division with a record of 6-6-2 - fired coach Jim Schoenfeld yesterday and replaced him with assistant coach John Cunniff. The Devils failed to make the playoffs last season, and despite their improved play this year, general manager Lou Lamoriello said the club's inconsistent play warranted a "change of direction. " He said the decision was made based on the team's play for the past year. "There is no question that 14 games is not the season," Lamoriello said.

Although it is early in the season, the Flyers face a very important home- and-home Patrick Division series this weekend against the New Jersey Devils. The eight-point weekend will begin this afternoon at the Meadowlands (Channel 57, 1:35) and continue at the Spectrum tomorrow night. If the Flyers sweep the Devils, they will move into a tie with them, with 16 points. However, if the Flyers drop both games, they will fall eight points behind the Devils, and they could lose touch with the first-place New York Rangers, who have 23 points.

Hockey player Sergei Priakin hasn't been overtaxed in his pioneering role as an ice-breaker in U.S.-Soviet sports relations. The 25-year-old right winger for the Calgary Flames on March 31 became the first Soviet athlete to play for a professional team in North America. He has been used sparingly, but if the Flames continue winning in the Stanley Cup playoffs, his name soon could be etched on the NHL's top prize, the Stanley Cup. He probably won't be a real factor until next season.

The Flyers got a preview of opening night last night at the Meadowlands as they lost to the internationally revised New Jersey Devils, 5-2. The Devils, who will open the season at the Spectrum on Oct. 5, may be the team most improved by this season's influx of Soviet players to the NHL. And last night both of their new Soviet defensemen were on display - Viacheslav Fetisov and Sergei Starikov. Fetisov, 31, is already well known to hockey fans in North America for the starring role he played with Soviet national teams for a decade.

A red sea of hockey worshipers parted yesterday for the Detroit Red Wings, who paraded through some 1 million fans as the silver Stanley Cup that eluded the franchise for 42 years sparkled under cloudless skies. "For all Red Wings fans, this is your day in the sun," coach Scotty Bowman told the screaming throngs at a Hart Plaza rally that followed the two-hour parade down Woodward Avenue. The players and coaches rode in red convertibles, feted for their sweep of the Flyers on Saturday night that ended an NHL championship drought dating to 1955.

The biggest goal in San Jose Sharks history came nearly a year ago at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena, when they knocked the Red Wings out of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Unfortunately for the Sharks, they haven't scored one there since. For the second time this season, the Sharks came into Detroit and were shut out by the Red Wings, this time, 3-0, last night. "This was a great game for us," Detroit coach Scotty Bowman said. "We got an outstanding effort from every forward and every defenseman, because they really wanted to get a shutout.

Not even Montreal's patented vanishing act on the road could conjure up a point for the Ottawa Senators. Vincent Damphousse scored his second goal of the night with 14 seconds remaining in regulation as the visiting Canadiens broke a nine-game road losing skid with a 5-4 victory last night. The goal came after Ottawa tied the game on two goals with its goaltender pulled for an extra skater. "It's not the kind of game we wanted - taking over the game in the first period and then taking it down to the last few seconds to win," Damphousse said.

A couple of tips for the Flyers as they prepare for the New Jersey Devils tonight: Don't allow right winger John MacLean to get to the puck. Don't allow the Devils to throw a pregame party. MacLean has 23 goals and 17 assists in 33 games this season. As for the party, well New Jersey held its annual Christmas bash Tuesday afternoon and then went out that night and blasted the Bruins, 8-3. "The party was a very good time," said Soviet defenseman Alexei Kasatonov.

There is no official marker to designate the quarter pole, halfway point or three-quarter mark of the National Hockey League's regular season. Moreover, with the discrepancy in the number of games played, it is often hard to compare teams during the regular season. Nonetheless, there are numbers that stand out. Through their first 20 games - Boston and St. Louis have played only 19 - the teams with the best goals-against average were Montreal, 2.51; Boston, 2.92, and the New York Rangers, 2.96.

Although it is early in the season, the Flyers face a very important home- and-home Patrick Division series this weekend against the New Jersey Devils. The eight-point weekend will begin this afternoon at the Meadowlands (Channel 57, 1:35) and continue at the Spectrum tomorrow night. If the Flyers sweep the Devils, they will move into a tie with them, with 16 points. However, if the Flyers drop both games, they will fall eight points behind the Devils, and they could lose touch with the first-place New York Rangers, who have 23 points.

The New Jersey Devils - in second place in the NHL's Patrick Division with a record of 6-6-2 - fired coach Jim Schoenfeld yesterday and replaced him with assistant coach John Cunniff. The Devils failed to make the playoffs last season, and despite their improved play this year, general manager Lou Lamoriello said the club's inconsistent play warranted a "change of direction. " He said the decision was made based on the team's play for the past year. "There is no question that 14 games is not the season," Lamoriello said.

There were people who had worse days yesterday than the Flyers did in opening their 23rd NHL season with a 6-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils. Jim Bakker. Rick Reuschel. After that, nobody in particular comes to mind. When it was over, the Flyers could take comfort in not having time to dwell on a skittish, disorganized opening-night effort in front of the 17,423 Spectrum faithful. They play again tonight in Landover, Md., against the Washington Capitals. And then they have 78 more regular-season games after that - plenty of time to prove that the sky is not falling.

Hockey fans out of touch for the past few years will be shocked to see two of the teams that are considered front-runners in the NHL's Patrick Division. Welcome the New Jersey Devils and the Pittsburgh Penguins to the upper class. The year of the Devils and Penguins? Sounds like Chinese New Year. Yes, the Devils, who in former franchise lives were the Kansas City Scouts and the Colorado Rockies. Since 1982 the Devils have resided in the Meadowlands, where, except for 1988 when they stunned almost everyone by reaching the Stanley Cup semifinals, they haven't bothered anyone.

The Flyers got a preview of opening night last night at the Meadowlands as they lost to the internationally revised New Jersey Devils, 5-2. The Devils, who will open the season at the Spectrum on Oct. 5, may be the team most improved by this season's influx of Soviet players to the NHL. And last night both of their new Soviet defensemen were on display - Viacheslav Fetisov and Sergei Starikov. Fetisov, 31, is already well known to hockey fans in North America for the starring role he played with Soviet national teams for a decade.