Guerin to miss start of playoffs

DALLAS, April 3 (UPI) -- The return of star right wing Bill Guerin of Dallas will take longer than the Stars had hoped.

They have disclosed that Guerin, who has been out of action with a thigh injury since Feb. 27, will miss at least the first two games of the Western Conference quarterfinals.

"In keeping up with hockey injuries, he'll be out with a wrist injury starting in the playoffs," jokes Dallas General Manager Doug Armstrong.

Guerin suffered the injury when he collided with Ottawa defenseman Chris Phillips in the third period of a 3-2 overtime loss. The injury caused a compartment syndrome in Guerin's thigh, a condition in which internal bleeding becomes so severe that it cuts off circulation to the muscle. The pressure must be relieved through surgery.

That procedure was performed at Baylor Medical Center March 1 by team physician Dr. Dan Cooper.

Guerin, signed over the summer to a five-year contract worth some $50 million, has 25 goals and 25 assists in 64 games. He scored a career-high 41 goals for Boston last season, and led the NHL with 355 shots.