Chris Nilan

Chris Nilan of the New York Rangers broke his right arm during Wednesday night's Stanley Cup playoff game against the New York Islanders and will miss the rest of the playoffs. Nilan broke the ulnar bone in his arm during the first period at Nassau Coliseum. He played for 40 minutes, but eventually left when he was unable to hold his stick with two hands. The Rangers beat the Islanders, 6-1, to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Patrick Division series, which resumes tonight.

The first scene of "The Last Gladiators," a documentary that brings extraordinary insight to hockey's vanishing breed of enforcers, features a closeup of a man's hands. It takes only a few seconds to realize who they belong to and how appropriate that image is. The hands are scarred, the fingers misshapen and the knuckles flattened. They're surprisingly small. "I have my mother's hands," a raspy voice says, turning those hands toward the camera for better inspection. The voice and hands belong to Chris "Knuckles" Nilan, one of the NHL's most feared fighters during an era when enforcers were featured players.

Chris "Knuckles" Nilan, an All-Star? Why not give Sonny Corleone the Lady Byng award and make Dan Quayle a Rhodes Scholar? As if we didn't already have enough evidence to convict, Boston Bruins' Coach Mike Milbury has further underscored why the NHL is a bush league. Hockey is a hard game to disgrace, but Milbury has managed to do so by putting his favorite Bruins' goon on the All-Star team. An All-Star team should represent the best of its sport. Nilan represents the worst.

Chris "Knuckles" Nilan, an All-Star? Why not give Sonny Corleone the Lady Byng award and make Dan Quayle a Rhodes Scholar? As if we didn't already have enough evidence to convict, Boston Bruins' Coach Mike Milbury has further underscored why the NHL is a bush league. Hockey is a hard game to disgrace, but Milbury has managed to do so by putting his favorite Bruins' goon on the All-Star team. An All-Star team should represent the best of its sport. Nilan represents the worst.

The first scene of "The Last Gladiators," a documentary that brings extraordinary insight to hockey's vanishing breed of enforcers, features a closeup of a man's hands. It takes only a few seconds to realize who they belong to and how appropriate that image is. The hands are scarred, the fingers misshapen and the knuckles flattened. They're surprisingly small. "I have my mother's hands," a raspy voice says, turning those hands toward the camera for better inspection. The voice and hands belong to Chris "Knuckles" Nilan, one of the NHL's most feared fighters during an era when enforcers were featured players.

Montreal Canadiens forward Chris Nilan was suspended for eight games for deliberately injuring Boston Bruins center Rick Middleton with his stick.

The National Hockey League suspended Blackhawks defenseman Dave Manson for three games after tempers flared in the team's weekend loss to the Rangers. Manson was penalized by the league Monday for pushing an official aside moments after New York's Chris Nilan poked Chicago goalie Alain Chevrier in the mask with his stick in the third period. Manson, who was rushing toward Nilan when the incident occurred, demeaned the official, the NHL contends.

A senior Boston-area Roman Catholic priest told a friend he molested three teenage boys and photographed them naked more than 20 years ago, according to a deposition made public. Former National Hockey League star Chris Nilan gave the sworn testimony as part of a lawsuit filed earlier this year against the priest, Msgr. Frederick J. Ryan, who officiated at the hockey player's wedding. Church authorities placed Ryan on administrative leave after the allegations surfaced in March.

Bobby Carpenter and Ed Olczyk each had a goal and an assist Monday night as the United States beat Sweden, 5-2, to move into first place in the Canada Cup hockey tournament. Chris Nilan, Bob Brooke and Joe Mullen also scored for Team USA (2-0). Bengt Gustafsson and Mats Naslund scored for Sweden (1-1). New York Rangers' goalie John Vanbiesbrouck shut down three Swedish power plays in the first period and also stopped Anders Carlsson of the New Jersey Devils on a breakaway.

Chris Nilan and Don Sweeney scored goals late in the second period and the Boston Bruins held on Thursday night for a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. It was their first meeting in Boston since Edmonton won the Stanley Cup in the Garden last May 24. The Bruins, who had lost at Edmonton on Oct. 19, 8-1, improved their regular-season record over the Oilers at home to 6-0-1 since 1986. The Bruins frustrated the Oilers twice while Edmonton pressed a two-man advantage.

Chris Nilan of the New York Rangers broke his right arm during Wednesday night's Stanley Cup playoff game against the New York Islanders and will miss the rest of the playoffs. Nilan broke the ulnar bone in his arm during the first period at Nassau Coliseum. He played for 40 minutes, but eventually left when he was unable to hold his stick with two hands. The Rangers beat the Islanders, 6-1, to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Patrick Division series, which resumes tonight.

The Montreal Canadiens got some unexpected points from a defensive line and another good effort from goaltender Patrick Roy to beat the New York Rangers, 6-2, Saturday night and move into the driver's seat in their Stanley Cup semifinal series. "We took it to them in the second period and got some lucky bounces," Montreal's Chris Chelios said following the Canadiens' victory that gave them a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Wales Conference final.