Moore Is About to Go Home

Colorado forward Steve Moore is walking without help and expects to be released from a hospital today, two weeks after his neck was broken by Vancouver’s Todd Bertuzzi.

When, or whether, he’ll return to the ice is still unknown.

“That’s got to be a tough situation,” Avalanche center Peter Forsberg said. “He has to do what he has to do, and he might be out for a while.... Hopefully, he’s going to recover.”

Team doctor Andrew Parker said Moore broke two vertebrae and the nerves in his neck were stretched. Moore also suffered a concussion and deep lacerations when Bertuzzi hit him from behind and drove him to the ice during a March 8 game at Vancouver.

Bertuzzi was suspended for the rest of the season and playoffs, and will have to apply for reinstatement before next season. The hit was believed to be retribution for a check by Moore in February that forced Vancouver’s Markus Naslund to sit out three games.

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The NHL suspended Toronto defenseman Wade Belak eight games for his two-handed chop to the face of Colorado defenseman Ossi Vaananen.

Belak will be out for the Maple Leafs’ remaining six regular-season games and the first two playoff games.

Belak slashed Vaananen on Saturday night and was given a match penalty for attempt to injure.

“It was a little severe, I think,” Belak said of the suspension. “I wasn’t expecting to walk away with less than three [games], but I thought no more than five. Getting six plus two, it’s kind of harsh.”

Belak received a two-game suspension in November 2002 when he elbowed Washington defenseman Brendan Witt in the head.

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New York Ranger captain Mark Messier was suspended for two games Monday for spearing an opponent.

Messier, 43, was ejected in the second period of the Rangers’ 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday night, when he went after defenseman Martin Strbak during a New York power play.

Moments earlier, Strbak had cross-checked Messier.

After the spearing, Strbak remained down on the ice for some time but did not leave the game.

The second-leading scorer in NHL history, Messier has 17 goals, 25 assists and 47 penalty minutes in 75 games during his 25th season.

Messier refused to comment on the play Sunday, but Strbak said he was surprised that Messier hit his abdomen with a stick.

“I respect Mark Messier. He’s a great hockey player, a legend,” Strbak said. “I don’t know what happened. I just gave him a little push from behind. I can’t understand why he reacted like he did.”