February 20th

KINGS TRADE JAROSLAV TO FLYERS

Several possible trade rumors have been mentioned in the last few weeks with the trade deadline less then a week away on Tuesday Feb. 26, and finally there is one to speak of.

The Los Angeles Kings, last in the NHL and possibly looking to shed some salaries, traded defenceman Jaroslav Mordy to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a third-round pick in this years draft on Tuesday.

Modry, who turns 37 on Feb.27, is earning $1.2 million this season and will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer.

The Flyers, riddled by injury and depth problems, had been looking for help on the blue-line. Modry has six points in 61 games with the Kings this season.


NHL GMs CONSIDER POSSIBLE RULES CHANGES

NHL general managers discussed several possible rules changes at thier meetings in Naples, Fla., including the size of goaltender equipment, the shootout format, and no-touch icing.

Dallas Stars GM Brett Hull, the league's No. 3 all-time scorer has been very vocal about the bulky goalie equipment, "Something needs to be done and we need to put together something to get it done. It all goes back to Rule 21: Goalkeeper equipment is to protect the goalie not block the net."

The long-standing problem with reducing the size of goalie gear has been a lack of co-operation from the NHL players Players Association.

The GMs did make decisions on no-touch icing, rejecting the idea yet again, and on a proposed tweak to the shootout format, electing not to increase from three shooters to six. As well, a player who takes a penalty in overtime is still eligible to compete in the shootout if the penalty hasn't expired.

However, they're still deciding whether to scrape the ice before overtime, with 58 per cent of OT games having gone to shootouts this season.

Colin Campbell, the NHL's vice president and director of hockey operations, said there is also concern about the pace of games with too many forzen pucks and needless stoppages but the league dosn't want to change anything with 20 games left.

Some of the other ideas under consideration include:

--The league is discussing the concept of an 84-game schedule, which has the support of the NHLPA, but won't happen for next season. While the NHLPA has suggested a five-game exhibition season, the general managers would like at least six games.

--There is talk about moving the first day of free-agent shopping from July 1 to July 7 to avoid conflicts with Canada Day and the July 4th holiday in the US.

--Several cities, including Montreal, Chicago, Denver and New York (at Yankee Stadium) have expressed interest in playing an outdoor game. No decision has been made, but there will be an outdoor game next season.


LIDSTROM TO HAVE KNEE EXAMINED TODAY

Detroit Red Wings Defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom hobbled off the ice Monday night at Colorado after he was slammed into the boards by the Avs Ian Laperriere in the first period.

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said Lidstrom will likely miss two weeks with a strained medial collateral ligament, but is scheduled to have his knee fully examined Wednesday.

The five-time Norris Trophy winner as top defenceman has missed just 22 games since entering the NHL in 1989 as the third round (53rd overall) pick Detroit, and has seven goals and 50 assists in 61 games for the Wings this season.


PLAYOFF STANDINGS

(RANK-TEAM--PTS--RECORD)

WEST

1-DETROIT*--89--42-15-5
2-DALLAS*--79--37-21-5
3-MINNESOTA*--73--34-21-5
4-ANAHEIM--73--33-23-7
5-NASHVILLE--71--32-23-7
6-SAN JOSE--70--31-20-8
7-VANCOUVER--68--30-22-8
8-CALGARY--68--30-22-8
__________________________________
9-PHOENIX--66--31-26-4
10-ST LOUIS--65--28-22-9
11-COLORADO--65--30-25-5
12-COLUMBUS--63--27-26-9
13-CHICAGO--60--27-26-6
14-EDMONTON--59--27-29-5
15-LOS ANGELES--53--25-34-3

EAST

1-OTTAWA*--75--35-20-5
2-NEW JERSEY*--34-21-5
3-CAROLINA*--65--30-28-5
4-MONTREAL--75--33-19-9
5-PITTSBURGH--73--34-21-5
6-NY RANGERS--68--30-24-8
7-BOSTON--66--30-23-6
8-PHILADELPHIA--66--30-24-6
____________________________________
9-BUFFALO--64--28-23-8
10-NY ISLANDERS--63--28-25-7
11-WASHINGTON--62--28-26-6
12-ATLANTA--62--29-28-4
13-FLORIDA--60--27-29-6
14-TORONTO--59--25-27-9
15-TAMPA BAY--56--25-28-6

(* DIVISION LEADER)


TODAYS NHL SCHEDULE (Central Time)

(15) LIGHTING @ (9) SABRES 6pm
(6) SHARKS @ (2) DEVILS 6pm
(10) ISLANDERS @ (11) CAPITALS 6pm
(3) WILD @ (13) BLACKHAWKS 730pm
(8) FLAMES @ (2) STARS 730pm
(11) AVALANCHE @ (4) DUCKS 9pm