Courtnall May Have to Retire

The St. Louis Blues made it a miserable homecoming for Grant Fuhr on Tuesday night in St. Louis, chasing him from the net early in the third period of a 7-1 victory over the Calgary Flames, but there was bad news earlier in the day.

The Blues’ Geoff Courtnall, brother of former King Russ Courtnall, may be forced to retire after suffering his second concussion in less than a year when hit by Toronto defenseman Bryan Berard on Saturday.

“I don’t know why it’s happening right now; maybe somebody is sending me a signal, I don’t know,” Courtnall said after the game.

Fuhr, who played four seasons with the Blues before being traded to Calgary in the off-season, allowed six goals on 26 shots and is now 1-4-1 with a 4.38 goals-against average.

Pierre Turgeon had two goals and two assists, and his fifth goal of the season at 1:12 of the third brought Fred Brathwaite in to replace Fuhr.

The Blues said Courtnall, who missed 4 1/2 months last season because of a concussion, suffered a Grade 2 concussion Saturday.

Courtnall was evaluated by the team neurologist, who prescribed 10 to 15 days of bed rest.

Team captain Chris Pronger, who had three assists in Tuesday’s game, said, “He has to think about the rest of his life and his family when he’s making these decisions.”

Vancouver 6, Tampa Bay 5--Mark Messier scored 43 seconds into overtime to give the Canucks a victory over the Lightning at Tampa, Fla.

San Jose 2, New York Rangers 1--Jeff Friesen and Patrick Marleau scored 30 seconds apart early in the second period at New York as the Sharks beat the Rangers for the first time in team history.

Around the league

The NHL took action against Bryan Berard for his hit on Geoff Courtnall, suspending him for two games without pay. No penalty was called on the play. . . . Steve Leach, a 14-year veteran, signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins, his seventh NHL team.