A look back at Columbus Blue Jackets' head coach Rick Bowness' early days as an NHL coach.
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From THN's Archive: Bowness' Job Is Safe - Feb. 24, 1995, Vol. 48, Issue 23 - Chris Stevenson
With the Ottawa Senators winless in their first eight games, some of their fans were growing restless and some talk on the phone in shows began to center on coach Rick Bowness.
“I can’t believe seven games into a season people are talking about firing the coach,” said Senators’ general manager Randy Sexton. “I’m not panicking. 1 don’t think there’s any reason for panic.”
While the Senators had not won in those first eight games, they had been very competitive. They finally broke through with win No. 1 against the Philadelphia Flyers in their ninth game as Don Beaupre recorded the first shutout in the new Senators’ three-year history.
It was the fourth straight home game the Senators had given up two or fewer goals.
“We’ve made progress,” Bowness said. “It hasn’t translated into wins, but when you’re in this situation with young players, you have to suffer the consequences. If you’re not prepared to suffer the consequences, then you shouldn’t play them.”
NOTEBOOK: Alexei Yashin’s father Valery, was seriously injured in a one-car accident on the way home from the morning skate Feb. 8. His mini-van crossed three lanes of traffic on a freeway and collided with a metal and concrete sound barrier… Alexandre Daigle continued his improved play, scoring four goals in four games to take over the team goalscoring lead from Alexei Yashin.
Winger Dave McLlwain has had a string of bad luck. Over a stretch of two weeks, he was cut for seven stitches in his lip, had a tooth knocked out and then was cut for 17 stitches around his eye and hurt his ribs when hit into the glass by Philadelphia Flyers’ defenseman Chris Therien.
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