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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Faltering Canucks Fire Top Executive

Associated Press

The Vancouver Canucks fired team president and general manager Pat Quinn after the team signed Mark Messier to a three-year, $20 million contract in the off-season and got off to one of the worst starts in the National Hockey League.

Vancouver has lost eight straight games and has fallen into a last-place tie in the NHL’s Pacific Division with a 3-11-2 record.

“The win-loss column is always important, but we just felt over a period of time that it was time for a change,” Orca Bay Sports & Entertainment President and CEO Steve Bellringer said. Coach Tom Renney and his staff will be retained.

The Canucks are one of the NHL’s biggest disappointments after signing free-agent center Messier and naming him captain. Only the Tampa Bay Lightning have fewer points than the Canucks’ eight. Former 76-goal scorer Alexander Mogilny has been a season-long holdout.

Panther coach fined

The National Hockey League suspended Florida Panthers coach Doug MacLean two games and fined him $5,000 for a confrontation with rookie referee Dennis LaRue following Saturday’s overtime loss to Buffalo.

MacLean jumped over the boards and rushed toward LaRue to protest the overtime-winning goal by Buffalo’s Dixon Ward, who appeared to poke the puck loose from underneath Panthers goalie Mark Fitzpatrick.

Oiler sale fizzles Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander won’t be adding the Edmonton Oilers to his holdings because the Canadian city is insisting that the team not be moved for at least seven years.

Alexander won’t promise to leave the team in the Alberta capital that long, and city officials won’t back down.

“Without having those conditions met, we can’t buy the team,” Alexander said.

Alexander had signed a deal - reportedly worth $88.8 million - to take control of the NHL club and possibly move it to Texas in a few years if the team lost money.

Granato has surgery

San Jose Sharks right wing Tony Granato underwent surgery to repair a fractured jaw caused by a puck that struck him in the face.

At the same time, Granato had plastic surgery to repair facial lacerations that also resulted from being struck by the same puck in a game Saturday.

On the ice

Stephane Fiset had 36 saves as the Los Angeles Kings beat New Jersey 3-0 Tuesday night at East Rutherford, N.J., to snap the Devils’ three-game winning streak.

The Washington Capitals ended a six-game winless streak and handed the Vancouver Canucks their eighth straight loss, 2-1, in Washington.

Through three 20-minute periods and a 5-minute overtime, San Jose and visiting Toronto couldn’t get the puck in the net and skated to a rare scoreless tie.