March 8, 2007 in Sports

NHL : Penguins owner eyes Las Vegas

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Pittsburgh Penguins owner Ron Burkle traveled to Las Vegas on Wednesday to meet with the mayor and discuss the possibility of relocating the team there.

Burkle, who lives in Los Angeles, led a delegation in talks with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, according to Penguins spokesman Tom McMillan.

Meanwhile, Burkle and co-owner Mario Lemieux are prepared to meet with state, county and local officials today in Philadelphia to try to resolve differences over plans for a new arena in Pittsburgh.

Elena Owens, a spokeswoman for Goodman, confirmed the meeting with Penguins officials and said, “They had a very pleasant conversation.” She declined to elaborate.

The Penguins issued a letter Monday saying the team planned to actively pursue relocation. It blamed government officials for failing to reach a deal to build a new arena in Pittsburgh.

On the ice

Avalanche 3, Sabres 2: At Buffalo, N.Y., Wojtek Wolski scored the go-ahead goal 1:41 into the third period, extending Colorado’s winning streak to five games with a victory over the Sabres.

Paul Stastny set up two goals to extend his point streak to 17 games and match an NHL rookie record set in 1993 by Winnipeg’s Teemu Selanne.

Blue Jackets 3, Kings 2 (OT): At Columbus, Ohio, David Vyborny scored twice – including a goal with 21.4 seconds left in overtime – to lead the Blue Jackets to victory over Los Angeles.

Columbus general manager Doug MacLean said that goaltender Pascal Leclaire (knee), defensemen Duvie Westcott (concussion) and Bryan Berard (back), and forward Dan Fritsche (lacerated wrist) will miss the Blue Jackets’ final 16 games.

Ducks 2, Coyotes 1: At Anaheim, Calif., Joe DiPenta scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period, fellow defenseman Ric Jackman connected on a power play, and the Ducks beat Phoenix for their 10th straight home victory over the Coyotes.

Anaheim All-Star defenseman Chris Pronger will be out about two weeks because of a broken bone in his toe.

Lightning 3, Oilers 1: At Edmonton, Alberta, Vincent Lecavalier scored twice to lift Tampa Bay to a victory over the struggling Oilers.

Vaclav Prospal had the other goal for Tampa Bay, which snapped a two-game skid and moved into a first-place tie atop the Southeast Division.

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