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

Kariya Still Wobbly From Suter’s Blow

From Wire Reports

At this rate, Paul Kariya might not be ready for the much-anticipated Chicago-Anaheim grudge match March 25 at the United Center.

The Mighty Ducks’ captain is still suffering from postconcussion syndrome after taking a Gary Suter cross-check to the jaw Feb. 1. Suter’s four-game suspension ended Thursday and he was back in the Hawks’ lineup, but Kariya remains on the sideline. When he’ll return is unclear.

“He gets a headache just talking to people,” said Ducks coach Pierre Page. “Paul needs to be cleared for a week (before returning), and he hasn’t been cleared for a day yet.

“(NHL senior vice president) Brian Burke said if he had known how serious the injury was, he would have handed out a longer suspension.”

Fuhr has surgery

St. Louis Blues comeback goaltender Grant Fuhr will miss at least four weeks after undergoing surgery Saturday to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.

Messier hits milestone

Mark Messier became the fourth NHL player to record his 1,600th career point, scoring in the first period of Saturday night’s game between the Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators in Vancouver.

Messier, in his 19th season, reached the milestone with a power-play goal 13:46 into the game. He later added a second goal as the Canucks won 6-2.

Elsewhere on the ice

Curtis Joseph had 26 saves as the Edmonton Oilers took over sole possession of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with a 4-1 victory over San Jose in Edmonton.

Ed Belfour got his eighth shutout of the season, and Jamie Langenbrunner and Grant Marshall scored two goals each to lead the Dallas Stars over the Phoenix Coyotes 4-0 in Dallas.

Trent Klatt and Eric Lindros scored goals in less than 2 minutes in the third period as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the New York Rangers 3-1, spoiling John Muckler’s coaching debut in Madison Square Garden.

At Inglewood, Calif., Geoff Courtnall and Pierre Turgeon scored the tying and go-ahead goals 10 seconds apart late in the second period and defenseman Steve Duchesne got his 200th NHL goal as the St. Louis Blues beat the Los Angeles Kings 5-2.