Lightning’s Cullen Battling Lymphoma

Tampa Bay Lightning center John Cullen, sidelined for several games because of chest pains, has a form of lymphoma.

General Manager Phil Esposito said he was waiting for results of tests to determine exactly what type of lymphoma, the Tampa Tribune reported for today’s editions.

A large mass was discovered in the 32-year-old Cullen’s chest during an examination last weekend after Cullen complained of chest pains.

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NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman reduced the suspension of San Jose’s Andrei Nazarov from 13 games to six after a review of the player’s physical abuse of an official.

“While I certainly do not condone the actions taken by Mr. Nazarov in this case and, in fact, view them to be quite serious, I am comfortable that both contacts made with linesman Lazarowich were made in the context of the player attempting to ‘get free’ of the linesman ‘during or immediately following an altercation,’ ” Bettman said in a prepared statement.

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House Speaker Thomas D. Ritter said the state of Connecticut should at least double the $20.5 million it wants the Hartford Whalers to pay for their ticket out of town.

“We were not thinking of the state of Connecticut when we made this deal,” said Ritter, a Hartford Democrat.