Hasek

Two-time Hart Trophy winner Dominik Hasek of the Buffalo Sabres learned Tuesday he has a 90 percent tear of his right groin muscle and will be sidelined indefinitely. Although no definitive timetable has been set, it appears Hasek will be out for at least the next two months.

"This type of injury will keep Hasek out of games for an extended period of time -- we're talking months, not weeks," Sabres team doctor Les Bisson said Tuesday.

Hasek, who had been bothered by groin problems last season, aggravated the injury attempting to make a save late in the third period Friday against the Florida Panthers. Hasek vainly kicked out his right skate on Bret Hedican's 45-foot slap shot, which banked into the net off the left post, and slumped face first to the ice and stayed down for several minutes before leaving the game.

After the game, Hasek said the pain in his groin was more severe and sharp than the soreness he experienced last year.

"Currently, Hasek is being treated with anti-inflammatories and ice and will rest his groin for the next few weeks," Bisson said. "Once the groin area is stronger, we will begin rehabilitation and then at that point, we'll be able to have a better idea of how long Hasek will be out of the lineup."

Hasek, the NHL's premier goaltender with five Vezina Trophy awards in the last six years, announced in his native Czech Republic in July that he would retire after the 1999-2000 season. He cited the need to spend more time with his family in his homeland.

He played poorly for much of the first month of the season with just one win in six games (1-4-1).

Rookie Martin Biron, a first-round pick in 1995 and the heir apparent to Hasek, takes over as the starter sooner than expected. Biron, 2,, is 2-1 with a 2.88 goals-against average in three games this season.

Dwayne Roloson, who played in 18 regular season games and four postseason contests for the Sabres last year, will back up Biron. Roloson is 0-2-1 with a 3.66 GAA this season.

Hasek, who turns 35 in January, was sidelined from mid-February to March 19 last year due to a persistent groin injury that resulted from a slight hernia. However, Hasek played the rest of the season and backstopped the Sabres to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Hasek is the highest-paid goaltender in the NHL at $9.25 million this year. He would have received another $9.25 million in 2000-01, the final season of a three-year, $26 million deal.