September 23, 2004
The following is a daily log of the NHL lockout, which began September 16:

TOTAL DAYS: 8

GAMES CANCELED TODAY: 1

GAMES CANCELED TO DATE: 18

LAST WORK STOPPAGE: 1994 (103 days)

NEWS OF THE DAY: For the second time since the lockout began, the Los Angeles Kings' schedule got a little shorter. After wiping the first two regular-season home games off the slate Friday, the Kings on Thursday canceled a third contest at the Staples Center.

According to a report in the Ottawa Sun, the Players Association filed charges for "unfair labor practices" against the NHL on Tuesday for failing to provide a list of players that have been locked out. The union apparently asked for a specific list Monday but has yet to receive it, prompting the grievance filed with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board.

In other hockey news, former Chicago Blackhawks coach Billy Reay died Thursday of liver cancer. He was 84.

After winning two Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens as a player, Reay guided the Toronto Maple Leafs for parts of two seasons before joining the Blackhawks. He led Chicago to the playoffs in all but one of his 13 campaigns, including three appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals.

While not in the Hall of Fame, Reay is sixth on the all-time wins list with 542 in 1,102 games as a coach.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: Apparently, the grass is not as green on the other side for a trio of Swedish natives.

TEAM 1040 radio in Vancouver has reported Markus Naslund, Daniel Alfredsson and Nicklas Lidstrom have elected not to play in their home land during the lockout due to high tax premiums. All three players were expecting to join Peter Forsberg, Niklas Sundstrom and Hendrik and Daniel Sedin with MoDo of the Swedish Elite League but will return to North America instead.

ONE YEAR AGO: The Phoenix Coyotes signed journeyman defenseman Mike Wilson to a one-year contract. Selected 20th overall by Vancouver in the 1993 draft, Wilson spent time with Buffalo, Florida and Pittsburgh before appearing in one game with the New York Rangers in 2002-03.

J.P. Vigier and Kamil Piros scored in the final six minutes as the Atlanta Thrashers posted a 3-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in a preseason contest that began at 10:30 a.m. EDT.