LaFontaine Out Indefinitely

New York Ranger center Pat LaFontaine will be sidelined indefinitely until symptoms from a head injury diminish, the team said.

“He is still suffering headaches,” Ranger spokesman John Rosasco said Tuesday in New York. “Once his symptoms subside, he is going to see Dr. James Kelly at the Chicago Institute for Head Injuries. Dr. Kelly will give us a date when he can return.”

LaFontaine, who sat out several months last season because of post-concussion syndrome, collided full speed with teammate Mike Keane in a game against the Ottawa Senators on Monday. He was taken to a hospital, but tests showed he didn’t suffer a concussion, which would have been the sixth of his career.

The Rangers acquired LaFontaine from Buffalo at the beginning of this season. The Sabres had expected him to retire because of his history of concussions.

LaFontaine is the Rangers’ second-leading scorer with 23 goals and 39 assists for 62 points.

*

Montreal Canadien forward Scott Thornton will be sidelined at least two weeks because of a broken rib.

Thornton injured the rib in the third period of Montreal’s tie Monday with the Calgary Flames.

“It was at the end of a power play,” Thornton said. “I chipped the puck by their defenseman and tried to jump around him, but I got pitched into the wall.”

X-rays showed the tip of one rib was broken.

Coach Alain Vigneault said no one would be called up from the minors and the Canadiens might use eight defensemen in tonight’s game against the Rangers in New York.

*

Defenseman Per Gustafsson was traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs to Ottawa for an eighth-round pick in this year’s NHL draft.

Toronto acquired Gustafsson from the Florida Panthers last June for defenseman Mike Lankshear. But in 22 games, Gustafsson had only one goal and four assists before being sent down to the AHL’s St. John’s Maple Leafs.