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27 октября 2005 года. 
Zhitnik's task: Try to stop Jagr // Newsday

BY ERIK BOLAND

At a generously listed 5-11, Alexei Zhitnik does not fit the prototype of the tall, bruising NHL defenseman.

But, Zhitnik was quick to point out with a laugh, "I'm heavy ... I'm not 6-1 or 6-2, but I have my 220 pounds, so I'm not the lightest defenseman in the league," continued the 33-year-old Zhitnik, signed by the Islanders as a free agent Aug. 2. "My favorite player was [longtime Bruins and Avalanche defenseman] Ray Bourque and he wasn't a big defenseman. Guys who can skate, get down the ice can play. You don't have to be big to play good defensively."

Coach Steve Stirling has maligned his defense at times this season, but he practically emotes when talking about Zhitnik, who logged a team-high 26 minutes, 14 seconds on the ice in Tuesday's 4-3 victory over the Thrashers.

"Boy, is he strong and he's got legs like tree stumps, so he can play against the big boys because he uses his legs," Stirling said. "He loves his minutes, he loves playing against the top lines. Loves to be physical. I think the new rules have cut a little bit into that [but] I think he's adjusted better than any of our players."

The Islanders (5-4), and Zhitnik in particular, will need to make adjustments tonight when they play Jaromir Jagr and the Rangers at the Garden. The Islanders snapped their six-game slide against the Rangers with a 3-2 victory Oct. 19 and added a 5-4 victory one day later. But Jagr scored four of his league-best 10 goals in those games, including a hat trick in the second contest.

"He can put the puck in the net," Zhitnik said. "You have to be aware of where he is on the ice. He can beat you one on one. It's really difficult to play against him, especially with the new rules. As soon as he gets ahead of you, you're done. You're not allowed to grab or hold, so position-wise, you have to make sure he's in front of you."

Zhitnik has been in front of many of the Islanders' successful sweeps down the ice, not unlike his idol, Bourque, the league's all-time leading scorer as a defenseman with 1,579 points. Zhitnik had two assists Tuesday to extend his points streak to five games and leads the league in power-play assists with eight.

"Even when I was a teenager, the first rule for a defenseman was get the puck, pass the puck," Zhitnik said. "Most important, get the puck to the forwards, so they can do their jobs." Zhitnik is more than doing his so far.

Страничка Алексея Житника на сайте "Звёзды с Востока"
 

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