31.   One Islander who would help any of the many playoff-bound teams in need of a veteran defenseman is the gritty Rich Pilon.

32.   Playing without Andreychuk and Holik would be like the Yankees trying to win without Bernie Williams and Tino Martinez, according to Ken Daneyko, the veteran Devils defenseman.

33.   Selanne and Kariya, if he plays, will face a Dallas team that will be without two veteran defensemen.

34.   Sather is trying to acquire another veteran defenseman to take some pressure off Brian Leetch and Kim Johnsson, the two defensemen Low relies upon the most.

35.   Scoring first, while short-handed, was Larry Murphy, the veteran defenseman.

36.   Soon, he was joined by Slava Fetisov, the veteran defenseman, a big, tough Russian with a thick accent.

37.   Stevens was one of two veteran defensemen praised by Robinson for their effort.

38.   That occurred during the scrimmage when veteran defenseman Dallas Eakins laid a hard check on fellow veteran Kris King, a wing.

39.   The Bruins placed the veteran defenseman on waivers Tuesday, and Coffey elected to head back to Boston to await his fate.

40.   The Dallas Stars signed veteran defenseman Dan Keczmer to a two-year contract.