NHL/Soccer: Oct. 14, 2005

Saying it's "open season" on goalies, Martin Brodeur is asking the NHL for protection for the league's netminders. The New Jersey Devils star fears somebody will soon get seriously hurt if players are allowed to crash the net or stand in the crease without inhibition, since new rules limit what defensemen can do to take them out. -- The Globe and Mail

Sean Avery on Thursday denied an accusation by Edmonton's Georges Laraque that the King forward called him a "monkey" during Tuesday's game. Avery, whose comments demeaning French Canadian players three weeks ago earned him a reprimand from the NHL, insisted he had said nothing and that Laraque, who is black and French Canadian, was lying. The uproar comes one day after the Oilers filed a report with the NHL about the alleged incident. The league is not expected to pursue the matter because of a lack of evidence. -- Los Angeles Times

Nick Boynton decided enough was enough yesterday, accepting Boston's one-year, $1.75-million (all figures U.S.) offer that had been on the table for more than a month. Boynton, 26, and Bruins general manager Mike O'Connell were only $150,000 apart on a new deal for several weeks but neither side seemed willing to budge. Boynton phoned his agent Anton Thun yesterday and ended the stalemate by accepting the offer. -- The Globe and Mail

The Coyotes placed center Mike Ricci on the injured reserve list Thursday retroactive to Saturday when his nose was broken by a deflected shot in the home opener vs. Minnesota. Ricci practiced with teammates Wednesday and Thursday morning, but coach Wayne Gretzky said resting him another few days was the logical decision. Ricci had minor surgery on his nose Thursday. -- Arizona Republic

Mats Sundin has been cleared by the Toronto Maple Leafs doctors to begin light off-ice workouts, but he still does not have proper vision in his left eye. Sundin suffered a broken orbital bone when he was hit by a puck in the team's National Hockey League season opener. While the doctors still hope Sundin will not need surgery to repair the bone, he may be out of the lineup for another five weeks. -- The Globe and Mail

Islander center Shawn Bates was out of the lineup for last night's game against the Capitals and also will miss the second game of this two-game trip tomorrow against the Flyers in Philadelphia. Bates stayed on Long Island after Wednesday's practice because he aggravated a hip injury that plagued him during the preseason. -- Newsday

Defenseman Lyle Odelein, a healthy scratch for the Penguins' first three games, impressed the coaching staff enough with his performance during a 3-2 overtime loss in Buffalo Monday that he guaranteed himself a spot in the lineup tonight. -- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Wayne Rooney last night warned England's World Cup rivals that he is storing up his international goals for next summer's tournament in Germany. Rooney has not scored a competitive goal for England since Euro 2004 but the 19-year-old Manchester United striker vowed to end that drought in spectacular style in his first World Cup. -- The Mirror

Former England boss Glenn Hoddle last night compared Wayne Rooney to Diego Maradona and Michel Platini -- and insisted he can take the World Cup by storm. Wolves manager Hoddle believes Rooney can inspire Sven Goran Eriksson's men in the same way Maradona and Platini did for Argentina and France respectively. He claims Rooney's virtuoso performance in England's final World Cup qualifying victory over Poland marked him out for greatness next summer -- Brazil legend Zico even compared him to Pele. -- The Mirror

Joe Cole last night jumped to the defense of Peter Crouch and claimed the booing of him was "ridiculous." The Liverpool striker was greeted with jeers when he came on as a second-half substitute in England's final World Cup qualifier with Poland at Old Trafford. But Chelsea midfielder Cole insists it was unfair and believes Crouch can have a big part to play in next summer's World Cup finals. -- The Mirror