John MacLean, New Jersey’s leading scorer in...

John MacLean, New Jersey’s leading scorer in the playoffs, got a reprieve when the league decided there was not enough video evidence to suspend him for a slash late in Game 4 on Thursday that broke the left arm of New York Ranger forward Niklas Sundstrom.

Sundstrom had six screws and a plate inserted in his arm during a 90-minute surgery Saturday.

No penalty was called on the play.

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The Colorado Avalanche will be without high-scoring Peter Forsberg and Stephane Yelle for the second consecutive game when their playoff series with Edmonton resumes today.

Forsberg, who has 16 points in nine games, is out of action because of a concussion after slamming into the ice headfirst in Game 3. Yelle had arthroscopic surgery Saturday on his left knee to repair torn cartilage and is expected to sit out at least two weeks.

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With all of the controversy surrounding Dominik Hasek, a leading candidate for the league’s most-valuable-player award, the Buffalo Sabres are just as happy to have Steve Shields playing for them. The rookie goalie made 39 saves in Buffalo’s 5-4 overtime victory against Philadelphia in Game 4 and will start Game 5 today at Marine Midland Arena.

“He hasn’t backed away from anything,� Sabre Coach Ted Nolan said. “He won the Ottawa series for us, and he has kept us in this series.�