Sundin May Return Early

Mats Sundin could return to the Toronto Maple Leaf lineup if their second-round series against the Ottawa Senators is a long one.

It would be an amazing recovery from a broken wrist suffered April 18. Sundin broke the wrist in the opening game of the first-round series against the New York Islanders, and played the next two games before pain intensified and he was unable to hold a stick. The initial prognosis for recovery was four to six weeks.

*

The NHL fined Toronto General Manager and Coach Pat Quinn $30,000 for comments he made to reporters during the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the New York Islanders.

Quinn was critical after New York’s Shawn Bates was awarded a penalty shot with 2:30 left in Game 4. Bates scored to give the Islanders a 4-3 victory that tied the series, 2-2. “I’ve had some pretty disappointing results from officiating, but never one like this,” Quinn said.

*

Calgary’s Jarome Iginla, who led the league in goals and points this season, and goalies Patrick Roy of Colorado and Jose Theodore of Montreal are finalists for the Hart Trophy, awarded annually to the league’s most valuable player. Iginla had 52 goals and 96 points for the Flames, who finished 32-35-12-3. The nomination of Roy and Theodore mark the first time since 1994 that two goalies have been among the three Hart finalists.... Ziggy Palffy and Lubomir Visnovsky of the Kings flew to Sweden to play for their native Slovakia in the World Ice Hockey Championships. Team Canada inquired about the availability of Jason Allison, but Allison is unable to play after suffering a leg cramp in Saturday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche.... Two-time NHL All-Star Milan Hejduk of the Avalanche was cited for driving 102 mph in a 65-mph zone but may not face jail time under a possible plea deal. Hejduk was pulled over when returning from Aspen, Colo., to his home in Highlands Ranch, just south of Denver.... Tampa Bay defenseman Petr Svoboda, who hadn’t played since suffering a concussion in Dec. 2000, retired after 18 seasons in the NHL. Svoboda was an NHL All-Star in 2000 and had 58 goals and 341 assists.