from Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe,

I thought of things I’d like to see once training camp opens on Wednesday. Here are 10 conclusions:

- Pull the goalie. It took Patrick Roy, of all people, to decide that not playing a useless goalie late in a game is wise. According to the Denver Post, the Avalanche scored in four regular-season games after Roy pulled his goalie with more than two minutes left in regulation. The Avalanche went 2-1-1. Every statistical analysis concludes the risk of allowing an empty-net goal is worth the advantage of having an extra attacker. What’s the difference between losing by two goals instead of one? It’s not easy to clear the zone, to say nothing of gaining control of the puck, when you’re outmanned. At 19:00, when most coaches wave their goalies to the bench, it’s too late.

- Practice occasionally at night. The puck drops on the average NHL practice at 10:30 a.m. Of the 1,230 games last year, just one started before noon Eastern time: Winnipeg at Philadelphia at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 29. Research would be required, but common sense dictates that players would perform better if they played at the same time as they practiced.

- Hire full-time chefs. After games in Buffalo, road teams usually snack on wings in the dressing room. Even us gluttons know this is not health food. It’s critical for athletes to refuel with good, nutritious meals after maximum effort. My team would have a chef and an assistant preparing healthy meals during the game to be ready for consumption in the room and on the plane.

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