February 29th

HOSSA HURT IN PENS DEBUT

Penguins forward Marian Hossa, acquired at the trade deadline from the Atlanta Thrashers, injured his right knee in his first game for Pittsburgh and sat out the third period of Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Boston Bruins.

Hossa, a five-time all-star, skated just 13 shifts before banging knees with Bruins forward Glen Murray in the second period.

He reportedly suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in the knee, and will miss about a week.

Hossa, who has 26 goals and 30 assists in 60 games, was acquired by Pittsburgh at Tuesday's trade deadline with forward Pascal Dupuis for forwards Colby Armstrong and Erik Christensen, prospect Angelo Esposito and a first-round draft pick.

The Penguins are also without captain Sidney Crosby, out since Jan. 18 with a sprained right ankle, and forward Gary Roberts, who hasn't played since breaking his leg on Dec. 29.


CANADIAN WOMEN'S COLLEGE HOCKEY PLAYER SUSPENDED FOR PUNCHING LINESMAN

A player on the University of Moncton women's hockey team has been suspended for one year after striking a linesman in the face three times.

Atlantic University Sport announced on Thursday that Josianne Bisaillon, a first-year defenceman for Aigles Bleues, will sit out the entire 2008-09 regular and playoff season.

During a semifinal game game last Saturday between the Aigles Bleues and Nova Scotia's Saint Mary's University Huskies, shoving started in the final seconds of the game. After the buzzer the tussle between the players continued, and when officials began to break up the fight, Bisaillon punched a female linesman three times.

"Student athletes are expected to treat officials with respect at all times and physical contact won't be tolerated", said Jennifer Myers, chair for women's hockey with Atlantic University Sport.

Atlantic University Sport reviewed a video of the game, interviewed the people involved in the incident and talked to witnesses in making its ruling, Myers said.

It's the first time that there has been an assault of an official in women's hockey within Atlantic University Sport, Myers said, and Hockey Canada and Hockey Nova Scotia were consulted on how they've dealt with similar situations.

Hockey Canada rules have a minimum suspension of one year for hitting an official. The university has four days to appeal the decision and is planning to do so, said athletic director Marc Boudreau.

Boudreau said the only video the university has seen pans away from the fight by Saint Mary's net after the final buzzer and doesn't show the strikes Bisaillon is accused of.


PLAYOFF STANDINGS

(RANK-TEAM--PTS--RECORD)

WEST

1-DETROIT*--90--42-17-6
2-DALLAS*--87--41-22-5
3-MINNESOTA*--75--35-24-5
4-ANAHEIM--79--36-23-7
5-SAN JOSE--76--34-21-8
6-CALGARY--75--33-22-9
7-VANCOUVER--73--32-22-9
8-COLORADO--72--33-26-6
----------------------------------------------------------
9-NASHVILLE--72--32-25-8
10-PHOENIX--71--33-27-5
11-COLUMBUS--67--29-27-9
12-CHICAGO--66--30-28-6
13-ST LOUIS--66--28-26-10
14-EDMONTON--65--30-30-5
15-LOS ANGELES--56--26-35-4

EAST

1-NEW JERSEY*--80--37-21-6
2-OTTAWA*--78--36-23-6
3-CAROLINA*--71--33-29-5
4-PITTSBURGH--79--36-22-7
5-MONTREAL--77--34-21-9
6-BOSTON--74--34-23-6
7-NY RANGERS--74--33-24-8
8-PHILADELPHIA--71-32-25-7
----------------------------------------------------------
9-BUFFALO--71--31-24-9
10-NY ISLANDERS--69--31-27-7
11-WASHINGTON--66--29-27-8
12-TORONTO--65--28-28-9
13-FLORIDA--64--28-30-8
14-ATLANTA--63--29-31-5
15-TAMPA BAY--57--25-31-7

(* DIVISION LEADER)


TODAYS NHL SCHEDULE (Central Time)

(11) CAPITALS @ (1) DEVILS 6pm
(5) CANADIENS @ (9) SABRES 630pm
(3) WILD @ (13) PANTHERS 630pm
(5) SHARKS @ (1) RED WINGS 630pm
(12) MAPLE LEAFS @ (15) LIGHTNING 7pm
(11) BLUE JACKETS @ (7) CANUCKS 9pm
(6) FLAMES @ (4) DUCKS 9pm