Murphy Out For One Game

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Larry Murphy's date with history will have to wait at least one more day.

Murphy will miss Wednesday's game against the New York Islanders after suffering a mild concussion in the first period of Monday's 2-2 tie at New Jersey. His next game will break Tim Horton's NHL record for appearances by a defenseman.

Murphy, 37, tied the record on Monday in his 1,446th game, although his appearance lasted all of one shift. Only 2½ minutes into the first period, he was shouldered by Devils left wing Krzysztof Oliwa in the Red Wings zone. As Murphy was sliding backwards, Oliwa delivered a hip check, crunching Murphy's head into the corner boards.

Murphy remained motionless on the ice for several minutes before he was helped to the locker room by teammates. He was evaluated Tuesday in Detroit, where physicians found no neurological symptoms. But they recommended Murphy sit out Wednesday's game for precautionary reasons.

Murphy is third on the all-time scoring list among defensemen with 1,137 points, trailing only Ray Bourque and Paul Coffey. He has eight goals and 26 assists in 49 games this season and is tied for second in scoring among defensemen.

Last season, Murphy was the only Red Wing to play all 82 games. Since the end of the 1991-92 campaign, he has missed only two of 311.

Murphy has twice won back-to-back Stanley Cups, accomplishing the feat in 1991-92 with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the last two seasons with Detroit.

The Red Wings also lost defenseman Todd Gill, who suffered a fractured left forearm after he was checked by Oliwa in the third period. He will be sidelined four to six weeks after X-rays revealed the extent of the injury Tuesday.

Detroit, which leads the Central Division by five points, recalled defenseman Jan Golubovsky from Adirondack of the American Hockey League, where he has two goals and two assists in 34 games. He will be available for Wednesday's game.

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