President, Wings’ Star Swap Salutes

Sitting in his black wheelchair, Vladimir Konstantinov gave President Clinton a thumbs up.

The annual visit to the White House by a Stanley Cup championship team turned into an emotional reunion Friday as the Detroit Red Wings defenseman made his first public appearance since a limousine accident seven months ago.

“Vladi, we know how hard you are working, and how far you have come since your accident last summer. You are showing every day that you have the heart of a champion,” Clinton told Konstantinov after the two exchanged thumbs-up signs in the East Room of the White House.

Konstantinov, in a coma for weeks after the accident and now slowly regaining his ability to speak, also nodded often at encouraging words from the speakers and shared smiles with his teammates during the ceremony.

“Vladi’s really excited and really happy,” said Konstantinov’s wife, Irina, who accompanied her husband for the quick round-trip flight from Florida, where Konstantinov remains hospitalized. “He was up at 5 in the morning today. He’s very excited about seeing old teammates.”

Konstantinov, teammate Vyacheslav Fetisov and team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov were injured when their limousine hit a tree June 13, just six days after the Red Wings won their first NHL title in 42 years. Fetisov and the driver received minor injuries; Mnatsakanov is still hospitalized in Detroit, and is not expected to walk again.

Tocchet hit in pocketbook again

The totals for Phoenix Coyotes forward Rick Tocchet in eight days of knee collisions are two opponents injured, two suspensions, seven games missed and about $186,000 in lost salary.

The NHL suspended Tocchet for five games Friday because of a kneeing penalty against Detroit’s Steve Yzerman in Wednesday’s game.

Last week, he was suspended for two games for a similar check Jan. 20 against Ryan Smyth of Edmonton. Smyth sustained a torn ligament in his left knee and will be out 6-8 weeks.

“The fact that Mr. Tocchet committed a similar foul and was suspended for two games just a week ago is a factor in this decision,” Brian Burke, the NHL’s director of operations, said in a statement.

On the ice

Tommy Salo made 32 saves for his fourth shutout this season and Paul Kruse and Robert Reichel scored for New York as the Islanders defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 2-0 Friday night at Uniondale, N.Y.

The Islanders have won two straight games for the first time since December.

At Buffalo, N.Y., Oleg Tverdovsky scored two goals and set up another and the Phoenix Coyotes took advantage of a 5-minute penalty in a 3-3 tie with the Buffalo Sabres.

Arturs Irbe made 31 saves as the Vancouver Canucks ended a seven-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over the visiting New Jersey Devils.