Wednesday, March 19, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
Look but don't touch.
The Las Vegas Thunder is playing the role of the child standing in the snow, drooling at the Christmas display through the storefront window, all the while wishing for a gift.
The Thunder's National Hockey League partner, the Phoenix Coyotes, made a trade Tuesday for veteran goaltender Pat Jablonski. That deal seemingly would clear the way for Phoenix to return Parris Duffus -- playing backup to Nikolai Khabibulin in place of injured Darcy Wakaluk -- to Las Vegas.
But then again ...
"As of right now, we have no plans to send anyone to Las Vegas," Coyotes spokesman Jeff Hecht said. "We intend to keep three goaltenders, including Wakaluk on (injured reserve)."
Thunder general manager Bob Strumm, however, says differently.
"That's not the indication I've received from (Coyotes assistant GM) Taylor Burke," Strumm said when informed of Hecht's comment. "If Jablonski can stand up (today) when he meets the team in Dallas (tonight), then they'll send Duffus back."
Strumm, who may make two trades of his own today, is hoping Duffus will arrive Thursday.
"When we see the whites of his eyes, we'll quit taking the Advils," he said.
The real man calling the shots, Coyotes GM and vice president of hockey operations Bobby Smith, was unavailable for comment.
Tuesday's trade was made because Scott Langkow, a top Coyotes prospect in Springfield of the American Hockey League, got hurt. That injury left just two legitimate goaltenders -- Khabibulin and Duffus -- in the organization.
Duffus, who made the trip to Dallas for the Coyotes' game tonight, left Las Vegas Feb. 19 to fill in for Wakaluk, whose injured knee required a second surgery. Wakaluk's recovery has been slow, pushing back his return date and keeping Duffus in Phoenix.
Duffus' only action with the Coyotes was 29 minutes of mop-up work Feb. 27. He gave up a goal on eight shots for a 2.07 GAA and an .875 save percentage. For the Thunder, Duffus compiled a 24-14-5 record with a 3.05 GAA and a .904 save percentage.
The 29-year-old Jablonski, acquired for minor-league defenseman Steve Cheredaryk, appeared in 17 games for the Canadiens this season. He went 4-6-2 with a 3.98 goals-against average and an .886 save percentage.
He has been idle since the end of January when the Canadiens sent him home in order to call up Jose Theodore.
The Thunder reportedly had a deal to bring Jablonski to Las Vegas nearly a month ago. According to multiple team sources, Jablonski refused the trade and the Thunder settled for Andre Racicot.
Thunderbolts
* SHAME ALL OVER YOU: The Hockey News runs a weekly feature inside its cover called "Plus-Minus," which lists five things right and five things wrong with hockey. In the March 21 edition, the Las Vegas Thunder gained recognition, but on the negative side of the ledger. The No. 2 heinous act reads as follows: "Serves you right: Las Vegas' Greg Lakovic waits for an opponent outside penalty box, then gets dusted in ensuing fight." That incident occurred Feb. 25, when Lakovic, in his first game with the Thunder, took on Michigan K-Wings enforcer Patrick Cote. Thunder head coach Chris McSorley claims Lakovic went after Cote on his own. Lakovic, however, said McSorley instructed him to wait for Cote. Lakovic was returned to Toledo of the East Coast Hockey League less than a week later.
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