Lemieux out indefinitely following scare
Mario Lemieux will be out of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ lineup indefinitely and won’t practice for 10 days to two weeks as doctors adjust the medication he began taking this month for an irregular heartbeat.
Lemieux’s pulse began racing again Friday night during an overtime loss to Buffalo, his first game back after being hospitalized Dec. 7 with atrial fibrillation – a fluttering in his heart that causes his pulse to dramatically speed up at times.
Lemieux did not make the trip to Buffalo for the following day’s game, and he met again Monday with his doctors to reevaluate his treatment. He was cleared to work out daily, but will be monitored at all times in case the problem flares again.
Wayne Gretzky’s mother, Phyllis, dies
Phyllis Gretzky, the mother of hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, died Monday night. She was 64.
She was diagnosed with lung cancer late in 2004 and died two nights after her son took an indefinite leave of absence as coach of the Phoenix Coyotes to return home to Ontario to be with her.
“Throughout my career, she was in the background but she was the glue,” Wayne Gretzky said at the time of his mother’s diagnosis. “She’s always been the toughest in the family.”
Gretzky, the NHL’s career leading scorer, left the Coyotes on Saturday night in Los Angeles. It is not known when or if he’ll return.
Robinson resigns as Devils coach
Larry Robinson resigned as coach of the New Jersey Devils because of stress and “horrible headaches,” two days after his team lost for the seventh time in nine games.
Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said he will take over for Robinson on a temporary basis.
New Jersey’s next game is today, against the New York Rangers.
Robinson, a Hall of Fame defenseman who coached the Devils to the Stanley Cup championship in 2000, returned to the team in July.
New Jersey was 14-13-5 and fourth in the Atlantic Division.
On the ice
Sabres 2, Flyers 1 (SO): At Philadelphia, Maxim Afinogenov scored for Buffalo in an extra shootout round, extending the Sabres’ road winning streak to nine in a victory over Philadelphia.
Maple Leafs 9, Islanders 6: At Toronto, Ed Belfour moved into sole possession of second place on the NHL’s career wins list, and Matt Stajan scored twice in the Maple Leafs’ victory over New York.
Wild 2, Stars 1: At St. Paul, Minn., Marian Gaborik scored the winning goal midway through the third period and Minnesota rallied to slow down streaking Dallas.
Oilers 5, Flames 4: At Edmonton, Alberta, Fernando Pisani’s goal with 44 seconds remaining in the third period lifted the Oilers to a victory over Calgary.
Kings 4, Canucks 3 (SO): At Vancouver, British Columbia, forward Alexander Frolov scored the lone goal of the shootout to give Los Angeles a win over the Canucks.