NHL NOTES

updated 10:55 p.m. ET Feb. 3, 2004

NHL goal-scoring leader Rick Nash of Columbus has a bruised left foot and will decide this week if he can play in the All-Star Game.

The 19-year-old left wing is receiving treatment and did not make the Blue Jackets’ two-game road trip that ends Wednesday in Dallas. He will consult with team physicians before determining if he can play in Sunday’s game in St. Paul, Minn.

“He wants to play,” Blue Jackets spokesman Todd Sharrock said Tuesday. “They’ll have to wait a couple of days to decide.”

Nash, who has 31 goals, was injured while blocking a shot in the first period of Saturday’s 2-1 overtime win over Minnesota. He left near the end of the period and did not return.

Nash could become the first teenager to play in the NHL All-Star Game since Pittsburgh’s Jaromir Jagr and Quebec’s Owen Nolan skated in the 1992 game at Philadelphia.

Belfour out for Leafs
Maple Leafs goaltender Ed Belfour missed Tuesday night’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks because of a tight lower back.

Belfour appeared to have hurt his back during Saturday’s game and it’s not known if he will return for Thursday’s game in Ottawa.

Trevor Kidd will be in goal until Belfour returns. The Maple Leafs recalled goaltender Mikael Tellqvist from their AHL farm club in St. John’s.

Toronto is also without center Joe Nieuwendyk, who hasn’t skated since a rib-cage injury against Ottawa on Saturday.

“I really don’t think it’s going to be too long of an injury,” he said.

Rafalski replaces Stevens on All-Star roster
Brian Rafalski will replace fellow New Jersey Devils defenseman Scott Stevens on the Eastern Conference All-Star team.

Voted in by fans as a starter, Stevens has missed the past 12 games due to a concussion.

Rafalski, in his fifth NHL season, has four goals and 23 assists and will make his All-Star game debut Sunday in Minnesota. He was named to the North American All-Star team in 2002 but missed the game because of a knee injury.

Also Tuesday, the NHL named Vancouver Canucks forward Markus Naslund and Devils defenseman Scott Niedermayer captains for the All-Star game.

Naslund, making his fifth All-Star appearance, will serve as captain of the Western Conference. Niedermayer, in his third All-Star game, will wear the ‘C’ for the East.

Naslund came into Tuesday night’s games leading the league in scoring with 30 goals and 35 assists.

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