1.   At his bleakest, Hamilton was jinxed again, hobbled late in the season by a lingering groin injury that limited his ability to steal bases.

2.   But his season took a thorny path when he lost his shooting rhythm, suffered a lingering groin injury and later became anemic and feared heart trouble.

3.   In both games, the Islanders were without defenseman Bryan Berard, who was out with a lingering groin strain.

4.   Lingering groin problems were a concern, but that big body around the crease made all the worries disappear.

5.   Questionable for the Americans is center Pat LaFontaine, with a lingering groin strain.

6.   Reserve forward Terry Davis is missing the three-game road trip because of a lingering groin injury.

7.   Philadelphia Flyers star Eric Lindros will seek a second opinion about a lingering groin injury.

8.   Elvis Stoijko of Canada withdrew because of a lingering groin injury.

9.   Elvis Stojko of Canada was here but withdrew because of a lingering groin injury.

10.   Hasek left the team at midweek to see a specialist in Germany to have his lingering groin problems evaluated.