The Florida Panthers exercised an option in coach and general manager Rick Dudley’s contract for next season, ending speculation about Dudley’s future and quelling rumors that former coach Mike Keenan would return.
“I like what he’s doing,” owner Alan Cohen said. “I never really had a doubt that I’d extend him.”
Desjardins sidelined
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Eric Desjardins needs surgery on his broken right forearm, and is expected to be sidelined up to eight weeks. Desjardins, who got hurt in a collision with teammate Jeremy Roenick in the first period of Saturday night’s 4-0 win in Toronto, is to have surgery Tuesday.
More injuries
Coyotes defenseman David Tanabe will be sidelined for up to four months with a torn knee ligament and left wing Tyson Nash (knee sprain) will miss at least a week. . . . Panthers defenseman Jay Bouwmeester could miss six weeks due to a broken left foot.
Back from Manitoba
The Vancouver Canucks recalled goalie Johan Hedberg from Manitoba of the AHL, where he’d played two games on a rehab assignment. He broke his wrist Dec. 9 against Pittsburgh.
RESULTS, SUNDAY’S SYNOPSIS
Los Angeles 2 at Blackhawks 1 Complete coverage, Page 4
Atlanta 5 at Carolina 2
Randy Robitaille scored 2 power-play goals off assists from Ilya Kovalchuk as Thrashers won first game of ’04. Daniel Tjarnqvist scored for Atlanta in 3rd with Carolina on 5-on-3 power play.
Pittsburgh 3 at Washington 4
Peter Bondra, who didn’t play Saturday night due to flu, had power-play goal and assist for Capitals. Robert Lang scored 23rd goal of season and had 3 assists for Washington.
Edmonton 4 at Columbus 4
Rick Nash got NHL-leading 28th goal for a 4-3 Jackets lead a minute into 3rd, but Oilers’ Eric Brewer tied it 5 minutes later. Columbus’ Nikolai Zherdev shot just wide 4 min. into OT.
