Stars’ Hull Set to Return for Game 5

Coach Ken Hitchcock of the Dallas Stars said Wednesday that Brett Hull’s groin injury has improved enough for him to play against the Buffalo Sabres in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals.

How effective Hull will be is unclear.

In Hitchcock’s terms, someone who isn’t injured and may be in the lineup is “a player.” Thus, “it looks like [Hull] is a player in this series some time in the next couple of games,” according to Hitchcock.

When does Hull think he’s going to be a player?

“Some time this decade,” said Hull, who sat out Game 4 on Tuesday at Buffalo.

Whether he will ever be “a player” in the sense of an all-around standout is another matter. But it’s possible he will fit Hitchcock’s definition tonight in Reunion Arena.

“Even if he comes in as a fourth-line player and even in the role of a specialist, we can play him 10 or 12 minutes and that’s going to help us immensely because he’s such a competitive person from the red line in,” Hitchcock said.

Hull skated for 30 minutes Wednesday and reported no soreness. He planned to test the injury again this morning and in the pregame warmups before deciding if it will hold up under contact.

“It felt all right, but again, that’s just in sweats and I don’t think it was game speed at all,” Hull said. “We’ll see [today]. That will be a real good test.”

After a 2-1 loss at Buffalo that left the teams even after four games, the Stars can use his offensive potential. Hull watched the game on TV in the team’s locker room and fond it difficult to sit still.

“To be watching, especially in that one-goal game when I think the majority of people agree that what I do is score goals, and to be just that one short, it’s frustrating, as you can imagine,” he said.

The Stars may also regain left wing Benoit Hogue, who suffered a knee injury in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals. He will wear a brace and must undergo surgery to repair a damaged anterior cruciate ligament after the finals. “I’m anxious to get back out there,” he said.

However, Hitchcock said Dave Reid has played so well with Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner he’s apt to leave that line intact and slot Hogue with Mike Modano and Hull, if Hull plays.

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A proposed King trade for New York Islander forward Ziggy Palffy apparently has stalled because the Islanders are looking to up the ante.

A source close to the Islanders said Wednesday that New York is looking for players who can crash its lineup now, and that among the three Kings offered--defenseman Mathieu Biron, center Scott Barney and winger Josh Green, plus their first-round draft choice, which is eighth overall, and $2 million--only Green is deemed ready to play in the NHL.

The Islanders are said to want to add King center Olli Jokinen to the package, and that has been the quickest way to kill trade talks with the Kings in the last year.

So far, the benchmark in negotiations has been the New York Ranger offer of Todd Harvey and Niklas Sundstrom, plus a minor leaguer, cash and a first-round pick for Palffy and oft-injured Rich Pilon. The Islanders are believed reluctant to send Palffy--their best and highest-paid player at slightly more than $5 million a season--across town, and are seeking another team to approach that deal in value.

Dave Taylor, King senior vice president and general manager, would say only that talks are ongoing.

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Buffalo’s Dominik Hasek and Dallas’ Ed Belfour have identical 1.84 goals-against averages. . . . This is the first time since 1991 and the 16th time in history the finalists split the first four games. In the previous 15 finals that were 2-2, the team that won Game 5 went on to win the Cup 12 times.

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Former Boston Bruin assistant Bobby Francis, 40, was hired as coach of the Phoenix Coyotes.

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Staff Writer Jim Hodges and the Associated Press contributed to this story.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Stanley Cup Finals

Series tied, 2-2

RESULTS

Buffalo 3, Dallas 2 (OT)

Dallas 4, Buffalo 2

Dallas 2, Buffalo 1

Buffalo 2, Dallas 1

SCHEDULE

Tonight at Dallas, 5

Saturday at Buffalo, 5 p.m.

* Tuesday at Dallas, 5 p.m.

* if necessary; all times Pacific