Sports: NHL briefs

NHL briefs

Compiled from Times wires

Teams to stay put, says Bettman

NEW YORK -- Commissioner Gary Bettman said Thursday the NHL remains opposed to moving teams, meaning the Phoenix and Montreal franchises, both up for sale, are expected to remain in those cities.

Speaking at the annual Sport Summit, Bettman said Phoenix developer Steve Ellman expects to complete financing for his purchase of the Coyotes from Richard Burke by Feb. 15. Ellman's partner in the purchase is NHL Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky.

The Canadiens and Molson Arena have been on the market for some time with several Americans expressing interest in the team. Bettman was asked if the franchise might move.

"The Canadiens aren't going anywhere," he said. "There are issues about operating any team in Canada. Currency issues, taxation issues. Montreal pays three times more in taxes on Molson Arena than all U.S. teams pay combined.

"But to say they might move because they are sold to an American, that's like saying that because somebody from Ohio buys the Yankees that they're going to move to Columbus."

Bettman said he sees three challenges for the future.

"The first is to make sure the Canadian franchises stay strong," he said. "Canada is the heart and soul of the game. The majority of our players come from there. It's too important to us to diminish it.

"The second is ticket prices. We've gone to third place. We were first for a while, but others are getting more expensive than us. We have to be cognizant that at some point, ticket prices will erode attendance. None of us are studio games. Our buildings need to be full.

"The third is the economics of the game determined by labor relations. We have to have a labor agreement that makes sense and keeps all our teams competitive."

SENATORS 5, CAPITALS 4: Mike Fisher scored midway through the third period to lift host Ottawa. The Senators have lost just twice in their past eight games.

RANGERS 2, MAPLE LEAFS 1 (OT): Brian Leetch's goal with 26.8 seconds left in overtime made Mike Richter the winningest goalie in Rangers history and gave host New York the victory.

Richter made 30 saves, including a stop on Mats Sundin right before Leetch's goal, for his 267th career win that snapped Ed Giacomin's team mark.

HURRICANES 4, BRUINS 2: Glen Wesley and Josef Vasicek scored in the first 6:37 as host Carolina ran its unbeaten streak to nine (7-0-2).

Boston, which had won four straight, saw its five-game road unbeaten streak snapped.

DEVILS 7, FLYERS 1: Scott Gomez had a goal and two assists and Martin Brodeur stopped 18 shots as visiting New Jersey won a matchup of the top two teams in the Atlantic Division.

Sergei Brylin scored twice and Alexander Mogilny got his 23rd goal for the Devils, who took a three-point lead over the Flyers.

BLUES 4, OILERS 1: Pierre Turgeon had two assists in his first game back from a mild concussion. Turgeon, who leads the Blues with 48 points, missed three games after being knocked unconscious by Anaheim's Tony Hrkac in a rare fight Jan. 10.

THRASHERS: Injury-plagued Atlanta's training room became even more crowded Thursday as wing Hnat Domenichelli aggravated a groin strain and went back on the injured list, joined by Per Svartvadet (sprained ankle).