Laviolette sets coaching record
RALEIGH -- The tie has been broken. The Hurricanes' Peter Laviolette now is the winningest U.S.-born NHL coach.
Laviolette picked up career victory No. 240 Friday night as the Canes topped the Ottawa Senators 2-1 at the RBC Center. Laviolette moved past former Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella, who had 239 wins.
"I think when things like that happen, you're in the game long enough and you're fortunate to be around long enough and you get good organizations and I've had two," he said. "You get to work with a lot of great players and I've been fortunate that way.
"Coaches, too. I've worked with some terrific coaches. And a good wife who lets me do it.
"In saying that, I just things those things happen. Somebody plays their 400th game, somebody scores their 300th point. If you stay around long enough something will happen. I've been fortunate and lucky to stay around long enough in this game."
Chip Alexander
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is in his second season as the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at chip.alexander@newsobserver.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @ice_chip.
Comments
Congrats!!!
Sat, 11/08/2008 - 10:47 — Anonymous (not verified)Great job by Coach Laviolette!! This has been a long time coming and I'm glad it happened at home. (though hated to lose the heartbreaker against Washington)
Lavi has gotten great press on the front page of nhl.com and tsn.ca where both websites show him and have a headline of winningest US born coach. Great stuff!
Out of curiosity, I checked the Canes website and the headline is a much more muted "Hurricanes Rally to Top Sens" with a picture of Corvo. While the fact that Lavi is the winningest US born coach is in the article (it's a standard article) I wonder if he is as appreciated by Canes management as we all appreciate him.
Just wondering.... Go Canes!!
NHL WINS
Sat, 11/08/2008 - 09:59 — Anonymous (not verified)Good for Peter..to put it in perspective if I looked it up correctly Scotty Bowman is 1st with NHL wins with 1467!
Here's hoping he can get
Sat, 11/08/2008 - 09:57 — FuquayCaniacHere's hoping he can get number 300 this season! :D
Yes Sir !!
Sat, 11/08/2008 - 08:48 — esteban1949He worked and earned this !!!
Go Canes !
THE LAV!!!!!
Fri, 11/07/2008 - 23:06 — Anonymous (not verified)Way to go coach Lavi!!! I'm proud to have you coaching the 'Canes and congratulations on #240!!!! Many more great wins to come.. hopefully you'll be hoisting the cup again soon!!! Thanks for all your hard work and dedication to the City of Raleigh!!!!!!
GO CANES!!!!!!!!!!!!!