Suspension Sets Lindros Down At Crunch Time

Around the NHL

Eric Lindros was suspended for two games and fined $2,000 Wednesday for two high-sticking incidents in Monday’s 3-2 loss to the New York Rangers.

Lindros, the Flyers’ best player, will miss today’s rematch against the Rangers in Philadelphia and then sit out Saturday night’s game at Montreal. He will return for Sunday’s regular-season finale against New Jersey, the team the Flyers are chasing in the Eastern Conference points race.

The Flyers need to win all three games to finish as the top seed in the East.

Houston makes pitch

Houston, touting itself “The New NHL Frontier,” briefed NHL executives on why the league should put an expansion franchise in the nation’s fourth-largest city.

Houston officials showed an expansion subcommittee of the NHL Board of Governors and commissioner Gary Bettman where they hope to build a downtown arena, along with alternate sites, and also toured The Summit, home now for a minor league hockey team as well as the NBA Houston Rockets.

On the ice

The San Jose Sharks beat Colorado 4-1 in Denver, reducing the Avalanche’s lead to one point over Dallas in the race for home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

Colorado remained the NHL leader with 105 points, but Dallas beat Toronto 3-2 to increase its total to 104. New Jersey, a 4-2 loser to Florida, remained at 102.

Shayne Corson’s power play tip-in with 4:27 remaining gave the visiting Montreal Canadiens a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders, killing any Islander hopes of making the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The St. Louis Blues clinched a playoff spot by beating the Chicago Blackhawks 1-0 in Chicago behind Grant Fuhr, who made 23 saves for his 20th career shutout.

Ottawa kept its playoff hopes alive with a 5-4 victory over the Hartford Whalers, leaving the two teams tied for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.