Alexander Mogilny

Buffalo Sabre right wing Alexander Mogilny, who needed three goals for 50 goals in 50 games, failed to become the sixth player in NHL history to accomplish the feat as he was held to one assist Wednesday night in Buffalo's 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals at Buffalo. "It's a tremendous record," Sabre Coach John Muckler said. "It's like hitting .400 in baseball--not many people can do it."

Luc Robitaille plans to spend today at his desk at the Kings' El Segundo offices, but it won't be business as usual. This is the day the Hockey Hall of Fame will announce this year's inductees, and Robitaille has an excellent chance to be among them. The limit in the players' category is four, and the strong pool of first-year eligible players includes Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, Brian Leetch, Dave Andreychuk and Alexander Mogilny.

The resilient Toronto Maple Leafs keep advancing in the playoffs because Alexander Mogilny continues to score big goals in Game 7s. Mogilny was at it again Tuesday night, scoring twice in a 3-0 victory over Ottawa that advanced the Maple Leafs to the Eastern Conference finals. Curtis Joseph stopped 19 shots and Bryan McCabe also scored for the Leafs, who will face the Carolina Hurricanes in a best-of-seven series that starts Thursday at Raleigh, N.C.

Soviet sports authorities had planned to send hockey star Vyacheslav Fetisov to the United States to try to persuade teammate Alexander Mogilny to return after defecting, a Soviet newspaper reported. The daily Stroitelnaya Gazeta said the trip was canceled at the last minute because of travel problems. Mogilny, 20, a center for the Soviet national team, defected after the Soviets won the world championships last month in Stockholm. He has signed a contract with the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League.

Alexander Mogilny scored four goals, bringing his NHL-leading total to 60, and had an assist as the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Detroit Red Wings, 10-7, Wednesday night at Buffalo. Detroit's Steve Yzerman assisted on the Red Wings' first goal for the 1,000th point of his 10-year NHL career, then added a goal and two more assists. Pat LaFontaine also had a five-point night for the Sabres, giving him sole possession of the NHL scoring lead with 109 points.

No. 1 NEW JERSEY vs. No. 8 CAROLINA Best of seven Thursday: at New Jersey, 4:30 p.m. Sunday: at New Jersey, noon Tuesday: at Carolina, 4:30 p.m. April 18: at Carolina, 4:30 p.m. April 20: *at New Jersey, 4:30 p.m. April 22: *at Carolina, noon April 24: *at New Jersey, 4:30 p.m. * if necessary; all times Pacific THE BREAKDOWN * Team records: New Jersey 48-19-12-3, Carolina 38-32-9-3 . * Season series: New Jersey, 2-1-1. * Coaches: NJ: Larry Robinson, 16-11 (.593) in playoffs.

Alexander Mogilny is a pale-faced, 20-year-old manwith acne on his cheek and an ache in his heart. He is lonely and a long way from home. He misses his parents. He misses his friends. He wonders what happens to some of the packages he sends. He wonders if the secret police are listening when he calls home. He wonders what will happen to his loved ones. He wonders what will happen to him. "KGB is everywhere," he said of the Soviet secret police and intelligence agency.

No. 1 NEW JERSEY vs. No. 8 CAROLINA Best of seven Thursday: at New Jersey, 4:30 p.m. Sunday: at New Jersey, noon Tuesday: at Carolina, 4:30 p.m. April 18: at Carolina, 4:30 p.m. April 20: *at New Jersey, 4:30 p.m. April 22: *at Carolina, noon April 24: *at New Jersey, 4:30 p.m. * if necessary; all times Pacific THE BREAKDOWN * Team records: New Jersey 48-19-12-3, Carolina 38-32-9-3 . * Season series: New Jersey, 2-1-1. * Coaches: NJ: Larry Robinson, 16-11 (.593) in playoffs.

The Vancouver Canucks, who have managed to win only three games this season and stand last in the Western Conference, announced Friday they have signed holdout restricted free agent Alexander Mogilny. Mogilny signed a four-year deal worth $17.6 million, according to the Canadian Press. Mogilny, the Russian forward acquired from the Buffalo Sabres and one of the Canucks' bright lights offensively, did not report to training camp because of a contract dispute.

Two seasons removed from the Stanley Cup Finals, the Vancouver Canucks are still a chore to figure out. Pegged as one of the top teams in the Pacific Division, they flopped and foundered after Pavel Bure blew out his right knee Nov. 9. That made sense, considering Bure has been one of the NHL's top offensive stars. But with a 6-2 victory over the Mighty Ducks Friday at The Pond, the Canucks improved to 6-1-3 in their past 10 games. They also reached the .

When the Vancouver Canucks acquired Alexander Mogilny from the Buffalo Sabres in July, taking on his $3.7-million salary and his complex personality, they deemed it a fair price for the fireworks he would ignite playing on the same team--or even the same line--with Pavel Bure once again. They were sensational in leading the Soviet Union to the gold medal at the 1989 world junior championships, establishing themselves and center Sergei Fedorov as the next cogs in the great Soviet hockey machine.

Tired of all those boring team names like Cowboys, Seahawks, Broncos and Giants? Here's David Letterman's list of "Top 10 Rejected NFL nicknames:" 10. The Opticians. 9. The Groin-Pullers. 8. The Porcelain Mice. 7. The Fightin' Amish. 6. The Blood-Swollen Ticks. 5. The Velveteen Rabbits. 4. The Referee Killers. 3. The Soft Angora Sweater-Wearing Debutantes. 2. The Greasy Ferrets. 1. The Highly Paid Dumb Guys.

Alexander Mogilny scored four goals, bringing his NHL-leading total to 60, and had an assist as the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Detroit Red Wings, 10-7, Wednesday night at Buffalo. Detroit's Steve Yzerman assisted on the Red Wings' first goal for the 1,000th point of his 10-year NHL career, then added a goal and two more assists. Pat LaFontaine also had a five-point night for the Sabres, giving him sole possession of the NHL scoring lead with 109 points.

The Vancouver Canucks, who have managed to win only three games this season and stand last in the Western Conference, announced Friday they have signed holdout restricted free agent Alexander Mogilny. Mogilny signed a four-year deal worth $17.6 million, according to the Canadian Press. Mogilny, the Russian forward acquired from the Buffalo Sabres and one of the Canucks' bright lights offensively, did not report to training camp because of a contract dispute.

Please, be patient. Those words were having the opposite effect on right wing Alexander Mogilny last season. The Buffalo Sabres were telling him to wait until after the season for a contract renegotiation. Mogilny insisted that an immediate change was necessary. Finally, the Sabres' general manager, Gerry Meehan, asked Mogilny's agent, Don Meehan--no relation--to arrange a meeting. So, the three convened in a hotel lobby in Montreal.