NHL CRACKDOWN
The NHL has mandated crackdowns on obstruction in the past, however, it appears that 2002-03 will be the most intense effort ever to open up the ice. To ensure that the message gets across, the NHL has mandated that all NHL management and coaching staffs attend a meeting in Toronto on September 10.

NHL referees will also be at the Toronto meeting, marking the first time that the coaches and referees will be in a meeting of this magnitude together. Wayne Thomas and Darryl Sutter are attending for San Jose.

For the coming campaign, any stick contact with a player not in possession of the puck will result in a penalty. That alone will provide many of the NHL's most skilled players plenty of additional scoring opportunities. That form of obstruction historically has been one of the most efficient ways to slow down skill players such as Teemu Selanne, as well as power players such as Owen Nolan.

SCRIMMAGE CANCELED SEPTEMBER 12
There will be no public scrimmage for either rookies or veterans on September 12.

ROOKIE SCRIMMAGE UPDATE
Black opened up the scoring on a tally by Ryane Clowe at even strength to take the early 1-0 lead in the fourth day of rookie camp scrimmages.

In a new twist to the rules, at the 15-minute mark both the first and second halves, each club worked with five consecutive minutes of power play time. The Gray Team evened the scored on a goal power play goal during that period by Eric LaPlante in the opening stanza. LaPlante also recorded the hit of the game on Josh Gorges later in the half.

LaPlante came close to scoring his second of the afternoon on a breakaway after exiting the penalty box during the second half. Coming on to the ice and giving Team Gray a power play, the rugged winger rang his shot off the pipe. The missed opportunity would cost Team Gray as Ryan Kraft scored on a shorthanded breakaway just seven seconds before the power play ended. Team Black would not give up the one-goal lead.

Ryane Clowe secured the victory with a deflected tally that stretched the lead to 3-1 in the closing minutes.

FRACTURED JAW
Center Graig Mischler, who left the ice during Saturday's scrimmage, has been diagnosed with a fractured jaw and will be out indefinitely. Mischler posted 24 points (10-14=24) in 65 contests with Cleveland last year.