Ley Safe With Canucks

Pat Quinn, Vancouver Canucks team president and general manager, denied weekend reports that he had fired Rich Ley and would take over as coach for Wednesday night’s game against Chicago.

“We’re having some troubled times and a coach should be allowed to get his team together,” Quinn said in a radio interview from Vancouver, British Columbia. “This sort of rumor doesn’t do anybody any good.”

Los Angeles Kings left wing Eric Lacroix was suspended by the NHL for five games and fined $1,000 for a checking-from-behind incident involving New York Islanders defenseman Dennis Vaske.

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Daren Puppa, who allowed only three goals in winning three games, was named the NHL’s player of the week.