March 24th

CROSBY MAY RETURN TONIGHT

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby plans to accompany the Penguins on a brief road trip that starts Monday and could play for the first time since March 9.

The Pens meet the New York Islanders on Monday night and the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday before returning home to face the Islanders again Thursday.

Crosby took part in the Penguins' pre-game skate Saturday but did not play during a 7-1 victory over New Jersey that moved Pittsburgh into the Atlantic Division lead.

He was the NHL's leading scorer when he badly sprained his right ankle while sliding hard into the boards Jan. 18 against Tampa Bay.

He missed 21 games before coming back against the Lightning on March 4, playing three games until pain returned in his ankle. He sat out Pittsburgh's last five games.


ROY'S SON INVOLVED IN QMJHL BRAWL

In Junior Canadian hockey there's no love lost between the Quebec Remparts and Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the QMJHL, and Saturday's game was no different.

With the Remparts behind 7-1 at the end of the second period of a playoff game, a brawl broke out that saw Quebec head coach Patrick Roy's son, Jonathan Roy, one of three netminders for the Remparts, skate down the ice to fight Saguenéens goalie Bobby Nadeau.

Roy escaped the two officials that were trying to hold him back and caught up to Nadeau, who refused to retaliate while Roy punched him several times.

He then instigated a second fight with Chicoutimi defenceman Sébastien Rioux, a display of aggression that recalled his father's infamous fights with Mike Vernon and Chris Osgood.

The teams logged a total of 118 penalty minutes as Chicoutimi, playing at home, trounced Quebec 10-1 to even up the messy playoff series at 1-1.


NHLPA SETTLES WITH SASKIN

According to the Globe and Mail, the National Hockey League Players' Association has reached a financial settlement with former executive director Ted Saskin.

The eport indicates Saskin, who was fired last year for allegedly reading private e-mails of NHL players, was paid $400,000 in the settlement.

Saskin had about $6.5 million remaining on his contract when he was fired with cause.

While Saskin's successor Paul Kelly confirmed a settlement had been ''consummated,'' he would not comment on the amount.