This piece originally ran in The Hockey News magazine, vol. 32, issue 19, on Feb. 9, 1979

SPECIAL TO THE HOCKEY NEWS

MONTREAL— The steady goaltending of veteran Gary Inness and the scoring explaints of some young stars have led the Washington Capitals to eight wins and 17 points after 13 National Hockey League games during the month of January.

After games of Sunday, Jan. 18, only New York’s Rangers and Islanders won eight games in the month and Islanders were the only team with more points as they had 18.

Capitals, who have won six games and tied one in their last eight games, have been almost unbeatable at home since Dec. 17. In that time they have played 10 home games and have lost once while winning seven times, including a club-record five straight wins from Jan. 12 through Jan. 27.

Inness, who was signed as a free agent from Indianapolis of the World Hockey Association, Dec. 19, has a record of eight wins, four losses and four ties since joining the Capitals. During that time, he has a goals-against average of 3.00 which is ninth best in the NHL. The best average by a Washington goaltender was set last season by Jim Bedard, who finished with a 3.66 figure. Inness, a 29-year-old native of Toronto, Ont., saw previous NHL action with Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and had a career goals-against average of 3.28 in the NHL prior to this season.

Offensively, Washington’s leading scorer is Dennis Maruk who has 51 points which is 18th in the league. Maruk, a 23-year-old center who was acquired from Minnesota North Stars, Oct. 18, has totalled 20 points in his last 14 games, including eight goals. He now has 110 career goals in 284 NHL games.

Sophomore defenseman Robert Picard, the third choice overall in the 1977 Amateur Draft, has already surpassed his point total from his rookie season. His 40 points are three more than he had last season and tie him for fourth place among NHL defensemen.

Denis Potvin of the Islanders, Ron Greschner of the Rangers and Ian Turnbull of the Toronto Maple Leafs are the only rearguards with more points than Picard and Stefan Persson of the Islanders. Picard also has 13 goals, which is tied for third with Mike McEwen of the Rangers. Potvin leads with 20 and Greschner has 16. In his last 19 games, Picard has been outstanding.