VANCOUVER -- Vancouver police have completed their investigation of Todd Bertuzzi's on-ice attack that left Colorado's Steve Moore with a broken neck, and prosecutors will decide whether to press charges.
The information has been forwarded to Crown counsel, police said Friday.
"We would expect that Crown counsel will review the information and they will be responsible for making any decision as to whether anyone is charged," spokeswoman Const. Sarah Bloor said.
Bloor said police didn't make any recommendation on charges.
The director of legal services for Crown counsel in British Columbia wouldn't speculate on how long it might take to decide whether to press charges.
"There is no set time line with respect to our decision," Geoffrey Gaul said.
Bloor said both the Canucks and Avalanche cooperated with investigators.
The Canucks' Bertuzzi punched Moore in the back of the head and fell on top of him during a game in Vancouver on March 8.
Moore had a broken neck and cuts on his face, and Bertuzzi was suspended by the NHL for the rest of the season, including the playoffs. He also must meet with the league before being reinstated next season.
Doctors say it's not known when, or if, Moore can play hockey again.
There is precedent for a hockey player facing charges for his on-ice action.
Most recently Marty McSorley, then with the Boston Bruins, was charged with assault after hitting Vancouver's Donald Brashear with a stick to the head in February 2000.
McSorley was convicted of assault with a weapon and given an 18-month conditional discharge.
Wings can advance with win
The Detroit Red Wings finally played like the star-studded team they are in taking the lead in their first-round series against Nashville. Now they face a different challenge: Winning on the road.
The Red Wings are up 3-2 in the best-of-seven series after a 4-1 victory Thursday night. Victory in Game 6 in Nashville this afternoon moves them a step closer to their fourth Stanley Cup in eight years.
But home teams have won every game in the series, and the Predators now lead the series with Detroit in Nashville 9-7-2-0.
"Now it's up to us to find a way to win a road game," Detroit forward Kris Draper said.
The Predators fed off a rowdy home crowd in winning Games 3 and 4 to avoid the Detroit sweep many expected. Another sellout crowd will be on hand as they try to forget their worst game this postseason.
"Obviously, it's an advantage for us," said goaltender Tomas Vokoun, who stopped 82 of 83 shots in Nashville. "Possibly facing elimination, so it's all about how you respond. And we got to respond, or our season is over."
The Red Wings are 7-0 in games that clinched a series dating back to a 3-2 overtime loss to Dallas in the 1998 Western Conference finals.
Canadiens: Raycroft will rebound
The Montreal Canadiens figure they've seen the worst from Boston Bruins rookie Andrew Raycroft. They know they'll need to pick up their game to win again.
The goalie looked beatable for the first time Thursday night, allowing the Canadiens to stay alive in the first-round playoff series with a 5-1 victory. The Bruins still hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series and get another chance to eliminate the Canadiens in Game 6 tonight.
"He's been one of the top goalies in the league all year and he'll bounce back," Canadiens forward Yanic Perreault said yesterday. "It'll be tough to score against him."
Perreault's goal 5:43 into the first period started the Montreal romp in Game 5. Raycroft, the leading rookie of the year candidate, also wasn't sharp on Alex Kovalev's goal 7:39 into the second.
Montreal's Jose Theodore, meanwhile, had his first dominant game of the series, making 43 saves.
"They're up 3-2, but I don't know it that's because of the goaltending," Canadiens forward Darren Langdon said. "Both teams have great goaltenders. I'd say Raycroft will come back with the same attitude Theo did."
