Richer Is Expectedto Join Lemieux Line

Free-agent right-wing Stephane Richer signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday and is expected to play on the team’s top line with center Mario Lemieux and left wing Kris Beech in the season opener against the Colorado Avalanche tonight at Pittsburgh.

Richer, 35, a two-time 50-goal scorer, hasn’t played since retiring last September. He has 407 career goals and 384 assists.

The Penguins claimed defenseman John Jakopin on waivers from Florida.

Atlanta’s Ray Ferraro is expected to sit out two games after arthroscopic knee surgery ....Center Jason Spezza, 18, the second overall selection in the draft by the Ottawa Senators, was sent to the Windsor Spitfires of the junior Ontario Hockey League .... The New Jersey Devils put veteran forward Randy McKay and rookie left wing Adrian Foster, the team’s first-round draft pick in June, on injured reserve .... Carolina returned top draft pick Igor Knyazev, 18, to Spartak of the Russian Division I League and put left wing Chris Dingman on injured reserve. Knyazev, the 15th pick in the draft, injured his back in training camp.

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Sergei Fedorov of the Detroit Red Wings has pleaded not guilty to impaired driving. His lawyer entered the plea Sept. 25, said a Royal Oak District Court clerk who would not give her name. She said no hearing date was set.

Fedorov was stopped Sept. 23 in the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak after he was seen driving through a red light “at a high rate of speed,” according to a police statement.

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In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the NHL will allow referees and linesmen to travel on team charters in certain circumstances, possibly between games on consecutive days.

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NHL at a Glance

Key dates

Today: 85th regular season begins.

Nov. 12: Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony of Viacheslav Fetisov, Mike Gartner, Dale Hawerchuk and Jari Kurri.

Feb. 1: All-Star Friday, Staples Center.

Feb. 2: 52nd All-Star Game, Staples Center.

Feb 14-25: Olympic break.

Today’s games

Ottawa at Toronto, 4 p.m.

Colorado at Pittsburgh, 5

Edmonton at Calgary, 6

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Thursday’s Games

Ducks at Boston, 4:30

Atlanta at Buffalo, 4

Montreal at Ottawa, 4

St. Louis at Columbus, 4

Florida at Philadelphia, 4

Detroit at San Jose, 7

Chicago at Vancouver, 7

Phoenix at Kings, 7:30

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Friday’s Games

N.Y. Rangers at

Carolina, 4

N.Y. Islanders

at Tampa Bay, 4:30

Nashville at Dallas, 5:30