Buffalo, N.Y. – Buffalo Sabres defenseman Teppo Numminen needs a third surgery to correct a heart condition.
It’s not known when Numminen, who is consulting with team physicians, will have the procedure and how much time he will miss. Numminen, 39, did not report for team physicals Thursday.
“After undergoing examination in connection with his preseason evaluation, the Buffalo Sabres’ medical team has determined that (Numminen) requires surgery to correct a cardiac condition,” general manager Darcy Regier said.
Numminen, the team’s alternate captain last season, has had two heart surgeries for an irregular heartbeat, including one in the summer of 2006 after the condition forced him to miss one game and part of another during a playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers. The native of Finland has had a heart murmur since childhood and was diagnosed with a dilated aorta in March 2004 when he was with the Dallas Stars. He missed five games because of the condition before being cleared to play.
Numminen finished with 29 points in 79 games last season.
NHL
League taking its game outdoors
The league is set to announce next week the Sabres will host the Pittsburgh Penguins at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., on New Year’s Day in what would be the NHL’s second outdoor game.
The NHL said it will “make a major announcement concerning a special event” at a news conference at the stadium Monday. Ralph Wilson Stadium is home to the Buffalo Bills and has a capacity of 73,967 seats for football games.
The league’s first outdoor game was played at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium on Nov. 22, 2003, when 57,167 fans showed up to see the Montreal Canadiens beat the Oilers 4-3.
Former University of Denver captain Gabe Gauthier had a goal and an assist, and former Avalanche forward Brian Willsie put Los Angeles in front with 5:06 left as the Kings beat the Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks 5-4 in the NHL’s preseason opener in Anaheim, Calif.
BASKETBALL
Russia, Spain advance to Euro semis
Tony Parker missed a game-tying free throw with seven seconds to play, and Russia went on to beat France 75-71 in Madrid, Spain, and reach the semifinals of the European Basketball Championship.
Spain moved a step closer to becoming only the third team to claim the European crown while holding the world title with an 83-55 win over Germany.
Today, unbeaten Lithuania plays Croatia, with the winner meeting Russia. Defending champion Greece faces Slovenia.
FOOTNOTES
Duquesne’s Everhart out of hospital
Duquesne men’s basketball coach Ron Everhart was released from a hospital, three days after having a small portion of his colon removed. Everhart, 45, is expected to resume his duties immediately.
Levi Leipheimer rode to a dominating individual time trial Stage 3 win in the Tour of Missouri, while teammate George Hincapie extended his overall lead to 1 minute, 40 seconds over Boulder’s William Frischkorn. Leipheimer completed the 18-mile hilly time trial in 39:37. Nathan O’Neill of Australia was second in 39:53.
Italian Alessandro Petacchi won the 12th stage of the Spanish Vuelta and Russian Denis Menchov retained the overall lead.
