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League To Investigate Complaints Of Bad Ice

From Wire Reports

Ice conditions in NHL arenas will be examined by the league in the wake of complaints blaming bad ice for some injuries this season.

“Hockey operations will look into the conditions,” Arthur Pincus, the league’s vice president for public relations, said Friday.

“I’m not dismissing the claims that ice conditions are responsible for some injuries, but it’s far from proven that the ice had anything to do with them.”

Stars such as Paul Kariya of Anaheim and Philadelphia’s Eric Lindros were the most prominent victims of groin and abdominal injuries that put several players out of action this season.

Players have blamed the skating surfaces and said among the worst rinks were the Pond in Anaheim, Calif., CoreStates Spectrum in Philadelphia and Madison Square Garden in New York City.

League suspends Bure

Vancouver forward Pavel Bure was suspended for one game and fined $1,000 by the NHL for a forearm blow against Buffalo defenseman Garry Galley in Wednesday’s game against the Sabres. Bure got a double-minor penalty for high sticking.

Bure will miss Vancouver’s game tonight against Ottawa.

Keenan benches Hull

St. Louis Blues general manager and coach Mike Keenan benched star winger Brett Hull on Friday, a day after Hull hinted that Keenan was to blame for the team’s recent woes.

Hull never mentioned Keenan by name, leaving reporters to guess at his meaning. Later, though, he took a dig at Keenan’s coaching.

Without Hull, the Blues beat Colorado 4-3.

Jagr, Pens extend streaks

Jaromir Jagr scored twice and Mario Lemieux got the go-ahead goal in the third period as the Pittsburgh Penguins extended their unbeaten streak to six games by defeating the crippled Washington Capitals 5-3.

Lemieux scored on a backhander from the slot with 16:47 left to put the Penguins up 3-2. His 574th goal in 12 seasons moved him ahead of Mike Bossy into sole possession of eighth place on the NHL career list.

Jagr’s second goal of the night and league-high 26th of the season clinched the victory with 4:41 left. Jagr’s seven-game goal-scoring streak is the longest in the NHL this season.