GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Marian Gaborik limped off the ice during practice Tuesday after the New York Rangers’ leading scorer was cut on the right knee by the skate of goalie Henrik Lundqvist in a collision.
Gaborik skated in on Lundqvist during a breakaway drill and tried to jump over his teammate’s outstretched leg when contact was made. The right wing, who has a team-high 35 goals and 69 points, fell to the ice and stayed down for a few moments.
“I thought he was joking,” Lund-qvist said. “My skate caught his knee. Hopefully he’ll be OK.”
Gaborik skated off slowly with assistance and didn’t put weight on his right leg. He received stitches at the team’s practice facility, but didn’t require X-rays. His status for tonight’s game against the Nashville Predators wasn’t immediately clear. He also is slated to play for Slovakia at the Vancouver Olympics.
• Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf said he is optimistic he’ll return from his sprained left ankle in time to play for Canada in the Olympics.
• The NHL and its players’ association announced six clubs will open the 2010-11 season in Europe, the fourth straight year the NHL will begin play overseas.
The Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, Phoenix Coyotes and San Jose Sharks will combine to play a total of six games in Europe at the start of next season.
Prosecutors: Andrews’ stalker
had other victims
LOS ANGELES — The man who stalked ESPN reporter Erin Andrews and shot nude videos of her through a hotel room peephole videotaped 16 other women and ran background checks on 30 people, including female sports reporters and TV personalities, according to court documents.
The filing did not name the other alleged victims or say what information Michael Barrett, an insurance executive from the Chicago area, obtained or how he might have used it. Barrett, 48, has pleaded guilty to interstate stalking and agreed to a 27-month prison sentence.
Peppers eschews long-term deal
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers said he no longer wants a long-term contract with Carolina because the team has ignored him this offseason.
“Last year, at the time, that was the option that I wanted most,” Peppers said. “Now it’s not.”
• St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson won’t face criminal charges over allegations that he beat a girlfriend who was nine months pregnant with the couple’s child at his Las Vegas home last year, a police spokeswoman said.
Webb pleased with outing
PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb threw off the mound for the first time since undergoing right shoulder surgery Aug. 4. Webb said he was pleased with how he felt after throwing between 20 and 25 pitches in the Chase Field bullpen. It’s not clear when Webb, who turns 31 in May, will throw again.
• Houston Astros reliever Brandon Lyon had surgery to drain a small cyst in his pitching shoulder but is expected to be ready for spring training.
The Associated Press
