Gretzky takes indefinite leave to care for mother

Wayne Gretzky took an indefinite leave as coach of the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday night to return to Canada to be with his mother, who has lung cancer.

Gretzky left the team before the Coyotes played the Kings in Los Angeles and went to Ontario to be with his parents, Phyllis and Walter.

“We respect and support Wayne’s decision,” Coyotes general manager Michael Barnett said in a statement. “Family has always come first to the Gretzkys, as it should. The thoughts and prayers of the Phoenix Coyotes organization, and most surely, those of the entire hockey world, are with Wayne and the Gretzky family at this most difficult time.”

Gretzky addressed the Coyotes at the team hotel in Los Angeles about an hour before flying to his hometown of Brantford, Ontario, to join his family, including his sister Kim, and brothers Brent, Glen and Keith.

Associate coach Rick Tocchet assumed head coaching duties until Gretzky returns.

Just hours after the announcement, the Kings beat the Coyotes 4-1 at the Staples Center.

Craig Conroy ended a 13-game goal drought during a power play and set up set up goals by Pavol Demitra and Joe Corvo in the victory.

Phoenix’s Brian Boucher made his season debut, stopping 33 shots. In his first season as coach, Gretzky — also the Coyotes’ managing partner — has led Phoenix to a 16-14-2 record.

Gretzky, the NHL’s career leading scorer, also serves as the executive director of Team Canada, which is expected to announce its Olympic roster next Wednesday.

It was not immediately clear whether he would stay in that position.

“We’re in a tough situation because of teenage children, and then we have a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old, so my family and my responsibilities is sort of a juggle,” Gretzky said.

Gretzky cited his mother’s illness as a reason why he didn’t resume his role as the head of Team Canada during the hockey world championships in Austria last spring. He said then that her condition was improving.

“I’d heard earlier that there was a turn … but you keep hoping that it’s not what it is,” said Pat Quinn, the coach of Toronto and Team Canada. “It kind of puts a different perspective on everything right now.”

On the ice

Sabres 4, Penguins 3: At Buffalo, N.Y., Martin Biron made 30 saves in winning his 13th straight start and Buffalo withstood Pittsburgh’s late rally. Maxim Afinogenov had a goal and two assists for the Sabres, who have won six straight and 10 of 11.

Hurricanes 4, Devils 1: At Raleigh, N.C: Chad Larose scored his first NHL goal 1:59 into the third period and Eric Staal added his 22nd of the season 19 seconds later to lead Carolina over New Jersey.

Islanders 5, Avalanche 4: At Uniondale, N.Y., Chris Campoli’s third-period goal helped New York hold off Colorado.

Thrashers 2, Panthers 1: At Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk and Jim Slater scored 17 seconds apart in the third period and Atlanta handed Florida its 13th consecutive road loss.

Senators 8, Maple Leafs 2: At Ottawa, Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza and Wade Redden each had a goal and two assists and Ottawa scored six power-play goals in beating Toronto.

Red Wings 6, Lightning 3: Chris Osgood made 28 saves and Pavel Datsyuk had two goals and an assist to help Detroit defeat Tampa Bay.

Flyers 5, Blues 2: At St. Louis, Mike Knuble and R.J. Umberger each scored twice and Philadelphia peppered St. Louis goalie Jason Bacashihua in his first NHL start.

Predators 7, Blue Jackets 3: At Nashville, Tenn., Jordin Tootoo netted his first goal of the season, and Nashville scored a team-record six times in the second period.

Wild 4, Canadiens 3 (OT): At St. Paul, Minn., Kurtis Foster’s one-timer with a second left on a 4-on-3 power play and 1:47 remaining in overtime lifted Minnesota past Montreal.

Flames 3, Bruins 0: At Calgary, Alberta, Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 26 shots in his fifth shutout of the season for Calgary.

Oilers 5, Canucks 4 (OT): At Vancouver, British Columbia, Mike Peca scored 4:08 into overtime and Edmonton stopped Vancouver’s four-game winning streak.