SCOREBOARD
Thursday, Oct. 4
Florida at N.Y. Rangers (7 p.m. EST). Free-agent acquisitions Chris Drury and Scott Gomez make their debuts for the Rangers.
REINSTATED
Mark Bell was cleared to play by doctors in the NHL’s substance abuse program on Tuesday, but the new Toronto forward will now have to serve the 15-game suspension handed down by the league. Bell was suspended indefinitely on Sept. 4 and placed into Stage 2 of the program, run jointly by the NHL and the players’ association. He entered the program in September 2006 following his arrest on drunken driving and hit-and-run charges in California when he was a member of the San Jose Sharks.
DENIED
Flyers prospect Steve Downie was ruled ineligible to play in the AHL for the first month of the season after the NHL suspended him 20 games last week. Downie was suspended 20 games by the NHL on Friday for leaving his feet to deliver a deliberate and dangerous hit to the head Ottawa’s Dean McAmmond.
SHINING STAR
In four seasons as Dallas’ starting goalie, Marty Turco has 147 victories, second during that span to the 170 by New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur. His 175 career victories are already the most in team history. The Stars begin their season in Colorado on Wednesday night.
HOME SWEET HOME
Toronto will play eight of its first 10 games at Air Canada Centre, beginning with a visit by Ottawa on Wednesday night.
MILESTONE
Roman Hamrlik’s first game with Montreal on Wednesday night will also be the defenseman’s 1,000th in the NHL.
CLAIMED
New Jersey claimed defenseman Sheldon Brookbank off waivers from Columbus on Tuesday. Brookbank had 15 goals and 38 assists with Milwaukee of the AHL last season and made his NHL debut with Nashville in February.
SPEAKING
ie to play in the league following his 20-game NHL suspension last week.