January 10th

LUONGO BOWS OUT OF ALL-STAR GAME

Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo announced Wednesday that he'll skip the Jan. 27 NHL all-star game in Atlanta to be with his pregnant wife.

"I struggled with this decision," said Luongo, who fans voted in as the starting netminder for the Western Conference. "But I think family right now is more important to me and this is a good opportunity for me to spend some with my wife and the baby."

Luongo was in line to start for the West for the second year in a row. But his wife, Gina, has experienced minor complications with her pregnancy, and Luongo wished to spend time with her at their home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

"The league was very understanding," Luongo said. "I appreciate the fact that they understood my situation and they respected that. Obviously I look forward to playing in many more all-star games and hopefully this won't affect any future all-star games."

With the Canucks' permission, Luongo will also miss Vancouver's first game after the all-star break on Jan. 29 at home against Dallas. The Canucks then travel to Florida, where Luongo will join up with the club for games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, on Jan. 31, and the Florida Panthers, on Feb. 1.

A finalist for the Vezina and Hart trophies last season, Luongo is enjoying another stellar campaign for Vancouver, ranking in the league's top four in wins (20), shutouts (six), goals-against average (1.96) and save percentage (.930).

Luongo's 263,221 votes were the most among Western Conference goalies, ahead of the 180,381 garnered by Columbus's Pascal Leclaire, the NHL leader with seven shutouts.

The league will announce the remainder of the Western Conference all-stars on Thursday.


OSGOOD WITH WINGS THREE MORE YEARS

The Detroit Red Wings have signed goaltender Chris Osgood to a three-year contract extension, general manager Ken Holland said Wednesday.

Osgood, who was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, is earning $800,000 US this year, but will earn $1.5 million a season under the new deal.

The 35-year-old leads all NHL goalies with a 1.68 goals-against average this season and is tied for the lead with a .932 save percentage, along with sporting a 19-2-1 record.


NUMMINEN UNLIKELY TO RETURN THIS SEASON

Buffalo Sabres defenceman Teppo Numminen will need at least two more months to recover from open-heart surgery, likely ending his season.

Numminen, 39, was told Wednesday by Sabres doctors that his heart is fine, but he requires more time for his sternum to heal.
Numminen's doctors made their recommendations after examining test results from a recent checkup, and consulting with doctors at the Cleveland Clinic, where he had the operation last September.

Numminen has experienced heart murmurs since childhood and was diagnosed with a dilated aorta nearly four years ago. He avoided surgery until doctors noticed a faulty valve in his heart during a routine checkup prior to training camp.

Numminen, who makes $2.6 million, has compiled 115 goals and 505 assists for 620 points in 1,314 games over 18 NHL seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes and Sabres. He was drafted in the second round (29th overall) by Winnipeg in 1986.


KEITH HEADED TO THE ISLAND

The New York Islanders acquired right wing Matt Keith for the Anaheim (LA) Ducks on Wednesday in exchange for right wing Darryl Bootland.

Keith will report to the Islanders' AHL affiliate in Bridgeport. The 24-year-old Keith has two goals and three assists in 24 career NHL games, all with Chicago. This season, he had five goals and five assists in 34 games for Portland in the AHL.

The 26-year-old Bootland had an assist in four games for the Islanders this season. In 28 games for Bridgeport, he had two goals and eight assists. He has a goal and two assists in 32 career NHL games with Detroit and the Islanders.


JACKETS PUT TOLLEFSEN ON IR

The Columbus Blue Jackets put defenceman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and center Andrew Murray on the injured list Wednesday and recalled defenceman Marc Methot from Syracuse.

Tollefsen, who had one goal and 67 penalty minutes in 30 games, has a neck injury and is out indefinitely. Murray, with two goals in six games, suffered a concussion in Tuesday's game in St. Louis and also is out indefinitely.

Methot had two goals in 37 games with Syracuse of the American Hockey League this season.


MUCKLER INTERESTED IN RETURNING TO NHL

In an interview with the Canadian Press on Wednesday, former Ottawa Senators General Manager John Muckler said he would welcome another crack at an NHL GM job.

Muckler said in the interview that, "I'm doing very well, everything is fine and life is great", but after nearly 60 years in hockey he misses it, "I was in the game all my life. I started in 1949. It's something I've done all my life. And it was a great life and a great ride. I still have the passion for the game". When asked if working in the NHL again would make him happy, he responded "If I get back in, yes it would make me happy, there's no question about it. But if I don't, I'll just go on with my life."

After five seasons at the helm of the Senators, Muckler was let go following a trip to the Stanley Cup final last June. Owner Eugene Melnyk promoted Bryan Murray from head coach to GM.

Muckler also coached in Edmonton (during the Oilers' glory years in the 80's), Buffalo (where he also served as GM), and with the New York Rangers, but said he hasn't approached any NHL teams about a job, and still watches a ton of hockey on "The Centre Ice Package".