Puppa Prepares For Return

Around the NHL

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Daren Puppa, who had surgery for a herniated disc Nov.11, has resumed light skating and said he could rejoin the team in the next three to four weeks.

Puppa, who played a major role in Tampa Bay’s first-ever playoff appearance last year, has been sidelined since the season opener Oct. 5.

New arena planned in L.A.

The Los Angeles City Council agreed to seek a deal with Kings owners Edward J. Roski and Philip Anschutz to build a $250 million downtown sport-sentertainment complex. The 13-2 vote approved the key points of a memorandum of understanding that could bring the Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers to a new downtown arena perhaps as early as the 1999 season.

On the ice

Edmonton goaltender Curtis Joseph set a team record with his fifth shutout of the season, making 40 saves in the Oilers’ 4-0 victory over the Florida Panthers in Edmonton, Alberta.

Joseph broke the record of four saves by Grant Fuhr in the 1987-88 season.

Keith Jones and Sandis Ozolinsh scored third-period goals for Colorado, which tied a franchise record by extending its unbeaten streak to 11 games (8-0-3) with a 4-2 win over Tampa Bay at Denver.

Patrick Lalime became the first rookie goaltender since NHL expansion in 1967 to open his career with a 15-game unbeaten streak as Pittsburgh beat Hartford 3-0 at Hartford, Conn.

Phoenix’s Keith Tkachuk was added to replace injured Mike Modano of Dallas in Saturday’s All-Star Game.