Ruling: Lindros Didn’t Bite

Eric Lindros, it seems, is no Mike Tyson.

Television replays of a fight Thursday night between the Philadelphia Flyers’ captain and San Jose’s Marty McSorley appeared to show Lindros biting the Sharks’ defenseman.

Lindros could be seen in the replays with his mouth open and his teeth bared against McSorley’s face.

“I didn’t bite him. That’s all there is to it,” Lindros said. “You can see. Look at the tape.”

That’s what NHL officials did, and they concurred.

“Our conclusion is, nothing happened,” league spokesman Arthur Pincus said.

The Sharks won the game, 3-0, and McSorley never complained about being bitten. Hockey’s heavyweight was cagey Friday after practice, saying that he wanted to “let the league make a comment about it. I think that’s the way I would want it handled if I were in a situation like that.”

Both players received double minor penalties for the fight.

Tyson’s boxing license was suspended after he bit heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield on both ears during their June 28 fight at Las Vegas.

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Forward Bill Guerin signed a multiyear contract with the New Jersey Devils, making him eligible for the U.S. Olympic hockey team and apparently ending a boycott threat by members of that team.

Several Olympic teammates, including Brett Hull of the St. Louis Blues, had talked about skipping the Olympics at Nagano, Japan because Guerin had been left off the United States’ roster by Lou Lamoriello, the general manager for both the Devils and Team USA.

While the signing clears the way for Guerin to be added to the Olympic team by the Dec. 1 deadline, the Devils’ problems with Guerin are far from over.

Less than an hour after taking part in an optional workout at South Mountain Arena, a visibly upset Guerin said his request to be traded was unchanged.

Lamoriello said the multiyear deal was reached Thursday and signed Friday. He said he did not revise his last offer, a reported three-year, $5.1-million deal.

“What Hully said was greatly appreciated by me,” Guerin said. “I think it’s harsh to say there was going to be a boycott because Brett hadn’t talked to all the guys.”

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Center Sergei Fedorov of the Detroit Red Wings is tired of stalled contract negotiations and wants the team to trade him, according to his agent.

Fedorov, a former Hart and Selke trophy winner, is a restricted free agent. If he signs with another team, the Red Wings would have the right to match it to retain him or receive five first-round draft picks in return.

Fedorov, who is practicing with the Central Red Army team in Russia, is seeking a $6-million average salary in a four-year deal. The Wings are offering about $5 million per year over four years.

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After missing four games with a hip injury, Jaromir Jagr might return for the Pittsburgh Penguins’ home game Saturday with the New York Rangers.

“I feel much better,” Jagr said. “I’ve been skating about a week and going hard a few days now, so it’s a lot better. I needed all the rest to get completely healthy, and I’m very close.”