ST. PAUL, Minn. — Just as the Minnesota Wild was finally welcoming Marian Gaborik back, the team lost another top line player to injury.
Center Mikko Koivu hurt his right knee in Sunday’s victory over the Edmonton Oilers and will miss at least the next week, if not the remainder of the regular season. Even if he heals quickly, it’s an unquestionable detriment to the Wild’s playoff push. It is one point behind eighth-place the Nashville Predators for the final spot.
“He’s been so solid for us,” coach Jacques Lemaire said after Monday’s practice. “He’s a player that makes the other players better by playing with him.”
With 18 goals and 44 assists, Koivu’s career-high 62 points by far lead the team. The 26-year-old has played in all 72 games, a streak that will end tonight when the Wild visits the New York Rangers.
• Rangers defenseman Michal Rozsival is expected to be sidelined seven to 10 days because of an undisclosed lower body injury.
• Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller participated in his first full practice since suffering a high ankle sprain Feb. 21, but no timetable was given for his return to game action.
• New Jersey Devils forward Patrik Elias is day to day because of lower body soreness.
• The Montreal Canadiens could be for sale as part of a plan by owner George Gillett, a Vail resident, to sort out his varied holdings and gain a hedge against the recession.
Derby champion Lil E. Tee dies
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lil E. Tee, who was guided by jockey Pat Day to an upset of heavily favored Arazi at the 1992 Kentucky Derby, was euthanized Friday at Old Frankfort Stud. He was 20.
Farm owner Jim Plemmons said the horse fell ill last month after an operation to repair an obstructed bowel and struggled to recover.
“He was losing his equilibrium and we didn’t want him to suffer,” Plemmons said. “Up to that point, he had been fabulous. He looked like he was 10 years old.”
Lil E. Tee’s bid for a Triple Crown ended with a fifth-place finish in the Preakness. He skipped the Belmont due to a lung infection and a leg injury later ended his season. He returned as a 4-year-old to win the Razorback Handicap before retiring with seven wins in 13 career starts.
Daly’s libel suit dismissed
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Golfer John Daly claimed a Florida newspaper libeled him in a column suggesting he failed “the scoundrel sniff test,” but a judge disagreed.
Duval County Circuit Judge Hugh Carithers dismissed Daly’s libel lawsuit and granted the Florida Times-Union’s request for summary judgment. He ruled former columnist Mike Freeman‘s statements were either true or constitutionally protected opinion.
Freeman’s 2005 column said: “How does Daly not fail the scoundrel sniff test with fans despite possessing definite Thug Life qualifications. Look at the Daly blog. Domestic violence accusations? Yup. Substance abuse issues? Unfortunately, three different kids from three different moms, making him the Shawn Kemp of golf? Yes. A former wife indicted for laundering illegal drug profits? Roger that.”
The Associated Press
