Nieuwendyk May Wind Up With Senators

With the Detroit Red Wings’ much-rumored trade of Steve Yzerman to Ottawa for holdout Alexei Yashin looking unlikely, the latest talk has Calgary holdout Joe Nieuwendyk becoming a Senator.

Nieuwendyk won an arbitration hearing, where it was determined his salary would be $1.85 million this season, but he’s holding out for a long-term deal worth $2.1 million a year.

The Flames, 0-4-3 and clueless, need to make some sort of move soon. They are likely to get a nasty welcome Wednesday at their home opener, which was delayed by renovations at the Saddledome.

Change of pace

The National Hockey League is looking into changing the game from three periods to two halves.

The game would be divided into four quarters with the ice resurfaced only during halftime.

The league might try it in exhibition games next season.

Same old story

This was supposed to be a new start for the New York Islanders, with a new coach, new logo and new colors. So far, they’re as bad as they were last season, with a 1-4-1 record. Their lone victory was over Montreal in the Canadiens’ first game after Jacques Demers and Serge Savard were fired.

“Right now, and I’ll be candid with you, it looks like the worst-coached team in hockey,” coach Mike Milbury said last week. “That’s my fault.”

The logo - a fisherman who looks as if he jumped off a box of Gorton’s frozen clams - was panned by fans of the rival Rangers. After taking one look, they began chanting, “We want fish sticks!”

Shots on goal

Edmonton goaltender Bill Ranford, who posted a 2-0-1 record with a 1.95 goals-against average, was selected NHL player of the week… . Philadelphia goaltender Ron Hextall will be sidelined for two weeks because of a pulled hamstring muscle in his right leg. … Los Angeles suffered a blow when tests revealed that its No. 1 defenseman, Rob Blake, suffered a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee.