BOSTON — Boston Bruins forward Marco Sturm is out for the season.
Sturm, who led the Bruins with 27 goals last season, had surgery Tuesday on his left knee. Doctors repaired his meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament.
Sturm played 19 games this season and had seven goals and six assists before getting injured in an 8-5 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 18.
• Philadelphia Flyers center Danny Briere will play for the team’s American Hockey League affiliate Wednesday and Friday, his first action in more than a month because of a groin strain.
• The New York Islanders acquired forward Junior Lessard from the Atlanta Thrashers for defenseman Brett Skinner and assigned the right wing to Bridgeport (Conn.) of the AHL.
The Islanders also announced defenseman Andy Sutton, who broke a foot in December, had surgery and will be out at least eight weeks.
Miles returns to action
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Darius Miles played in his first game since he was re-signed by the Memphis Grizzlies, moving the Portland Trail Blazers closer to the contentious salary cap problem they feared.
Memphis waived Miles on Wednesday and re-signed the forward to a 10-day contract Saturday, two days after Portland sent out an e-mail warning of possible legal action against any team that signed him.
Miles, who scored 13 points in a 102-87 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, is coming back from major knee surgery. If he plays in one more game, Portland will be on the hook for the $18 million and two years remaining on his deal. That would count against its salary cap and force the team to pay luxury tax.
There was some good news for the Blazers: An NBA spokesman said the league won’t punish the team for Thursday’s threatening e-mail.
• A man who worked as a driver for Eddy Curry is suing the New York Knicks center, contending the player owes him money, sexually harassed him and berated him with racist slurs. Dave Kuchinsky claims he’s owed $98,000 in back pay and expenses and also accuses Curry of exposing himself and referring to his Jewish heritage in a derogatory way as well as calling him a “cracker,” “white slave,” “white devil” and “grandmaster of the KKK.”
Curry denies the accusations.
• Golden State guard Marco Belinelli will be sidelined at least 10 days with a sprained right ankle.
• Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas will be sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury.
Footnotes.
Kansas junior guard Mario Little is going to play out the season instead of applying for a medical hardship because of injuries that caused him to miss the first 12 games.
• Hall of Fame Racing became the latest NASCAR team to use a merger to stave off collapse, aligning with Yates Racing to keep its operation running into the new season.
• Carlos Sainz of Spain won his fourth straight stage in Dakar Rally to keep his overall lead, while compatriot Cristobal Guerrero seriously injured his head when he fell off his motorbike in Chile. Guerrero was in serious but stable condition after doctors drilled a hole to reduce swelling around his brain.
The Associated Press
