Bettman Pleased With Predators

Commissioner Gary Bettman said Friday he is confident the Nashville Predators will meet their ticket-sale requirement by the NHL’s March 31 deadline.

The team had sold slightly more than 11,000 tickets. The NHL’s franchise agreement requires the team to sell 12,000 season tickets by the end of the month.

“I’m optimistic, as I’ve been all along, that the Predators will meet the goal,” Bettman said at a news conference at the Predators’ prospective home, the new Nashville Arena.

The commissioner was in Nashville to check on the progress of not only the ticket sales but other requirements as well, including the status of the arena. He said everything appears on schedule.

*

The Dallas Stars activated defenseman Derian Hatcher from the injured reserve list. Hatcher had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee March 4 after injuring it against Chicago. In 55 games this season, he has six goals and 20 assists for 26 points. He also has 100 penalty minutes. The Stars sent defenseman Sergey Gusev back to the Michigan K-Wings, their affiliate in the International Hockey League. . . . Center Jeff Shantz of the Chicago Blackhawks is out for the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Shantz, who suffered the injury during the first period of Chicago’s 1-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens Thursday night, had 11 goals and 20 assists in 61 games.