European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 27, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 34 the stars and stripes thursday january 27,1994 Aba ailing pens Zap Ottawa by United press International Pittsburgh Penguin fans May have been disappointed that Mario Lemieux did not return to the ice tuesday night no one could have asked for a better game from his replacement. Martin Straka picking up for Lemieux broken third period tie with his second goal of the game and Joe Mullen and Ron Francis each added goal and an assist sending the injury riddled penguins to a 4-2 Victory Over the Ottawa senators. The depleted penguins were without regulars Rick Tocchet Jaromir jagr Tom Barrasso Kjell Samuelsson and Lemieux who is expected  sometime next week. Lemieux hampered by  problems has played just four games this season. Straka took advantage of ice time that will diminish considerably when Lemieux returns As Early As next week from  problems. The penguins opened the third with Straka s 17th goal of the year. Doug Brown retrieved his own rebound behind the Ottawa net and banked a pass off the backboards to Straka. Straka receiving the pass on his backhand slammed the puck into the net on his forehand for his second goal of the game at 2 44. Marty played tremendously said Brown. He has soft hands and Quick feet and a Quick release the first one Oft the pipe and the Sec Ond one from behind. Straka s our Unsung  in other games tuesday Bruins 3, capitals 1 at Landover md., Ray Bourque and Bryan Smolinski each scored in the second period and Vincent Riendeau made 28 saves to Pace the Bruins Over Washington. ,. Blackhawk 5, red wings 0 at Detroit Chicago s de Belfour stopped 41 shots and the Blackhawk got three goals in the last 4 07 of the second period to score a Victory Over the red wings. Brian Noonan scored his 10th goal at 15 53 of the second to give Chicago a 1-0 Lead. Dirk Graham tallied at the 18 17 Mark and All Star Jeremy Roenick scored a Short handed goal 71 seconds later. Nordques 6, flyers 4 at Quebec Mike Ricci had a goal and two assists and Bob Bassen added a goal and an assist to rally the Nordques to a Victory Over Phila Delphia. The Nordques have won two straight after a six game losing slide. The flyers suffered their fourth straight Road loss. Canucks 3, blues 3 at Vancouver b.c., Martin Gelinas scored his second goal of the game with 5 47 left in Regula Tion and Kirk Mclean made 33 saves to help the canucks gain a tie with St. Louis. Rangers 8, Sharks 3 at san Jose calif., Mark Messier Steve Larmer Tony Amonte each scored two goals to Lead the new York rangers to a rout Over the Sharks. Kings 4, jets 4 at los Angeles Tomas Sandstrom s snapshot from the left Circle beat Bob Essensa to tie the game with just under 10 minutes left in Regula Tion helping the Kings rally for a tie with Winni Peg Tomps King of the Road Florida Secretary of state Jim Smith left presents Florida state head football coach Bobby Bowdon with a new License plate tuesday in Tallahassee. Bowdon was at a meeting to receive a proclamation from the state honouring the seminoles for winning their first Ever National championship. Clippers Surprise sonics by the associated press Ron Harper and Danny Manning two of the unhappiest players in the Aba took turns wiping the smiles off the Seattle supersonics faces. Harper scored a season High 37 Points on 15-for-21 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds in 46 minutes tues Day night while Manning scored 27 Points in 42 min utes As the clippers knocked off Seattle 111-103. The loss was a season worst third straight for the sonics now 17-2 at Home. The clippers also broke a 19-game losing Streak at Seattle with their first Victory there since dec. 28,1985. The earthquake in los Angeles last week was a 6.6," clippers coach Bob Weiss said. This win was a7.8." the clippers just 14-24 for the season could lose Manning and Harper to free Agency. We Are capable of having a Good game Harper said. We just need to put two three four five  any win is big for us right now Manning said. That in t any secret. This shows we have a talented team and a lot of  despite their three straight defeats the sonics 30-8record is still the Aba s nest. Since their 26-3 Start after a Victory Over Utah in Seattle on Jan. 8, the sonics Are 4-5. In other games tuesday Trail blazers 122, nets 117 Rod Strickland scored 25 Points and had a key Bas Ket and steal in the final two minutes As Portland won at Home and snapped new Jersey s five game winning Streak. The game saw six Lead changes in the final four min utes before the blazers went ahead to stay when Strick land scored with 1 43 left. He then stripped the Ball away from Kenny Anderson leading to Clyde Drexler s three Point play that gave Portland a 117-113 Lead with 1 19 remaining. Clifford Robinson led All scorers with30 Points for the blazers. National basketball association knocks 98, suns 96 new York avoided its first three game losing Streak of the season behind 25 Points each by Charles Smith and John Starks and 24 by Patrick Ewig against visit ing Phoenix. The kicks who trailed by As Many As 12 Points in the third Quarter took the Lead for the first time since the first period 91-89, with a 10-2 run. Hawks 95, Bucks 90 Atlanta won at Milwaukee after cookie Blaylock hit a pair of 3-Point shots 38 seconds apart late in the fourth Quarter. Dominique Wilkins scored 23 Points Stacey Augmon had 22 and Blaylock .17 for the Hawks who beat the Bucks for the sixth straight time in the last two seasons. Magic 112, bullets 89 Shaquille o Neal had 22 Points 12 rebounds and seven blocked shots in Orlando s rout of visiting Washington and the magic tied a franchise record with their fourth consecutive Victory. Tom Gugliotta led the bullets with 23 Points. Heat 119, hornets 98 Rony Seikaly scored 26 Points 11 of them during a 20-4 third Quarter run that carried Miami past Visitin Charlotte. Rockets 96, Cavaliers 93 Vernon Maxwell s 3-Point Basket with 30 seconds left lifted Houston to a win at Home Over Cleveland. Maxwell had 21 Points and 10 assists As the rocket dropped the Cavaliers below .500. Spurs 107, Kings 91 David Robinson scored 31 Points and san Antonio built a 30-Point Lead before handing visiting Sacramento its fifth straight loss. More seats May be added to rockets Home Houston a Arena operating company hoping to keep its primary ten ant the Houston rockets announced a $5.5 million expansion plan for the sum Mit tuesday and questioned the feasibility of a proposed downtown domed stadium. Kenneth Schnitzer managing partner of Arena operating company said tues Day s announcement was part of a two phase expansion program that would eventually add 750 to 1,000 seating capacity to the 16,611-seat Arena. When the rockets make an in depth study we feel they la conclude the sum Mit is a Superior facility for the future Schnitzer said. Our charge to the architects was to give us a facility equal to or better than the Aba  rockets owner Leslie Alexander and Houston oilers owner Bud Adams have expressed interest in a new downtown domed stadium that would be Home to both the rockets and oilers. The oilers recently announced plans to go Forward with efforts for the Down town facility. Alexander declined com ment on Schnitzer s  rockets lease extends through 2003, Schnitzer said but Arena is vitally interested in keeping them As tenants. He said Arena receives about $2 million annually from the rockets. If the rockets left the Summit it could very easily cause the Summit to shut Down Schnitzer said. At this Point it would be the City s problem. It would become a Burden to the City an the  the Summit is owned by the City and operated by Arena operating company. Schnitzer said his company s earnings from the Summit were about $350,000 to$400,000 annually