Lead Pass

Games of Note Ottawa at Pittsburgh, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. ET: Two first-place teams. Two NHL superstars. Two interesting goalie situations. The Pens have Jaromir Jagr -- no explanation needed -- and the Sens have Alexei Yashin -- and rising star Marian Hossa. But this game might be won or lost between the pipes, where Ottawa remains without Patrick Lalime. Jean-Sebastien Aubin starts for Pittsburgh with veteran Garth Snow breathing down his neck. Vancouver at Dallas, Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. ET: Like Eddie Murphy's comic line about Stevie Wonder truly impressing him if he drove Murphy's car ... The Canucks' start will be truly legitimized with a win in Dallas. Frozen Ponderings Has anyone else noticed that Donald Audette is tied for the league scoring lead with 13 points, and he's only played six games. The others tied with 13 have played at least seven games. What's even more amazing is that his six goals account for one-third of the team's overall production. Great for him. Terrible indicator of the Thrashers' woes. ... Question: Why would Bruins GM Harry Sinden rip his coach and team while they were still no worse than .500? Answer/another question: He knows something we don't (?) ... Time for In the Corners to eat a little crow on the Dallas Stars. Discussion of the Stars' imminent demise seem to be completely unfounded. First, ESPN.com columnist Mike Heika reported that impending player-coach tension in the Stars' locker room was a sham. And on top of that, Dallas is the league's hottest team, allowing just six goals in five consecutive wins. -- Brian A. Shactman

Sean Burke had a pretty good gig in Phoenix last season. He was the No. 1 goalie on a successful team. Of course, it all came crashing down in the playoffs, but Burke still had one of his best seasons, with a 2.55 GAA and .914 save percentage after coming over in a trade from Florida.

But Burke didn't expect to be back in the desert for '00-01. He figured new ownership would come in and quickly re-sign holdout Nikolai Khabibulin. No need to have two No. 1 goalies with high price tags, so he'd hook on somewhere else.

However, when Steve Ellman's ownership group stalled on signing Khabibulin, and Burke remained unsigned, a return trip to Phoenix was in order. With a one-year contract, Burke stabilized the position, once again, for the Coyotes.

"I was just waiting things out," Burke said. "I didn't think it would happen. It was a possibilty in Phoenix, but with the ownership situation and what I had heard about Nik Khabibulin, I wasn't sure."

These days, it's no matter to Burke because Khabibulin isn't signed -- at least not yet -- and because Burke is playing even better this season. Of course, if Khabibulin does sign at some point, Burke could become trade bait to bolster the team up front, but that's out of Burke's control.

"If Nik is going to get the kind of money they're talking about, they're not going to have him sitting on the bench every second night," Burke admitted. "But not thinking about that situation helps me focus on the present, (and) I've always been a guy who's played a lot of hockey and have been counted on to be a leader."

Well, leading by example is a sure sign of leadership too, and Burke's 1.68 GAA and .944 save percentage are incredible considering his career numbers are 3.15 and .897 repsectively. Although it's still way too early to think the '00-01 numbers will remain so impressive, it's obvious Burke is playing as well or better than he ever has.

Is it because he's on a good team? Maturity?

"You just learn there are things you can do better," he said. "Our goaltending coach here took me aside and said they had a lot of confidence in me and that I could be one of the best in the league. He gave me some thigns to work on to make me more successful, and I bought into them. I've been excited to play the game the last couple of years because I've seen myself getting better."

That's a lot to say for a guy in his 13th NHL season who will turn 34 this season.

"I've had games where I've felt I couldn't play any better, but you have to try and have those more often."

It looks like Burke does have those nights more often, and if he continues his fine play and Khabibulin does ink a lucrative deal, then a trade involving Burke could be a key for Phoenix's playoff hopes.

Either way, he'll be helping the Coyotes win.

Inside Burke
Last book: "The Troubles and Triumphs of the World's Greatest Goalie"
by David Michael Dupuis
Thoughts: "I found it really interesting. It didn't paint a complimentary picture of him as a person. I came away from it both loving and hating him at the same time."

Last movie: "Almost Famous"
Siskel & Ebert: "I loved it. I'm a big music fan, so I loved it."

Superstition: "I don't have too many anymore. I have a routine and come to the rink at roughly the same time. I don't want to rely on something and have to worry about whether it happens or not. That's too stressful."

Favorite Album: "Physical Graffitti" by Led Zeppelin
Comments: "I am trying to get them (in the locker room) to get rid of that country station."

Favorite food: Sushi
Anti-pasta: "I eat pasta for pregame meals, but I don't touch the stuff all summer, I'm so sick of it. I'm a sushi guy."

Mailbag
During the season, I'll try to answer a question or two from ESPN.com users for every edition of In the Corners. If you want to get a question answered, click here and ask away.

Question from Erik Feole of Lawrence, Mass.: I'm a huge Dallas fan and I am happy that things have started they way they have for my Stars. My only big question is about a good two-way player or dominant scorer. What do you think the chances are that they'll get a big scorer (like John LeClair) or a decent two-way player (Anson Carter or Mike Peca)?

Response: Big-time scorers don't really flourish in Dallas. And Mike Modano and Brett Hull are about as talented in the goal-scoring department as anyone out there. Both Modano and Hull have decreased their goal production because of Dallas' system but have proven they can still put up good numbers.

GM Bob Gainey likely will make moves before the playoffs, but he's more likely to get a role player than a pure goal scorer. He'd be looking for more Pecas than Pavel Bure's. Peca in Dallas would be a lot like Pat Verbeek two seasons ago. That was a pretty good acquisition.

Brian A. Shactman is the NHL Editor for ESPN.com.