Lindros May Return This Season

Eric Lindros could be back on the ice this season, although it likely won’t be any time soon, Philadelphia Flyers physician Jeff Hartzell said.

Lindros, who suffered a concussion on a clean check by Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Darius Kasparaitis on Saturday, will undergo a series of tests on Monday to see how well he has recovered.

If doctors determine the 25-year-old center has fully recovered, there’s a chance he could be back by early April.

Islanders fire coach

The New York Islanders kept pace with the rest of the NHL’s Atlantic Division on Wednesday - they fired their coach.

Rich Bowness was the victim this time, becoming the fifth coach in the seven-team division to lose his job this season. He was replaced by Mike Milbury, the general manager now in his second stint as Islanders coach.

Milbury took over as head coach on July 5, 1995, and assumed the general manager’s job on Dec. 12 that year. He had a 35-83-19 record as Islanders coach, and an overall record of 125-122-40, including a stint with the Boston Bruins from 1989-91.

Richard has cancer

Maurice Richard, one of hockey’s all-time players, is being treated for a cancerous tumor on his abdomen, said his agent.

The 76-year-old former Montreal Canadiens right winger has lost considerable weight but is improving, Jean Roy said.

On the ice

The New York Rangers got three power-play goals Wednesday night in a 5-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks.

New York scored twice within 27 seconds in the second period, to take a 3-2 lead. Wayne Gretzky and Adam Graves got the tallies.

Alexei Kovalev scored the other power-play goal, in the first period.