Islanders' forward Radek Martinek accused Rangers' tough guy Ryan Hollweg of trying to rip out the stitches of a fresh gash on the left side of his face Thursday night.

A bus carrying members of a New York minor league hockey team struck the back of a tractor-trailer and went down an embankment, seriously injuring the bus driver and causing minor injuries to several players. The Elmira Jackals of the ECHL were returning home after a 7-1 loss Wednesday in Cincinnati when the accident happened about 4:15 A.M. Thursday on Interstate 90 about 35 miles from the Ohio border, police said. The bus driver, 56-year-old Kenneth Nance of Blossburg, was trapped in the wreckage before he was flown to Hamot Medical Center in Erie, police said. Nance is in serious condition in the intensive-care unit, a hospital spokeswoman said. Nance, who was employed by JGM Coach Co. of Pennsylvania, was in the intensive-care unit, Jackals' General Manager Robbie Nichols said. "Some players were tossed and thrown around the bus," Nichols said. "We have some minor injuries. We don't know the extent of the injuries."

The NHL's foray into the Olympics could possibly end with Vancouver in 2010, Commissioner Gary Bettman said Thursday. "Our Olympic participation post 2010 will be decided in conjunction with the Players' Assciation," Bettman told The Canadian Press in an e-mail. "My guess is that we'll wait until after 2010 to access that experience and then make a decision about future Games."

Ducks General Manager Brian Burke took the time Tuesday morning to address speculation out of Toronto about a job that, at least for the moment, isn't even open. Burke said he is not interested in becoming the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, even though John Ferguson Jr. is still employed in that capacity by the team. Articles in the Hockey News and by the Canadian Press speculated Burke would be a good fit to succeed the besieged Ferguson, who, according to reports out of Toronto, may be fired with the Maple Leafs sitting in the Northeast Division basement. "You guys know my view on some members of the media," Burke said. "Some of the stuff they write is just . . . I've said it a million times and it's true. It can only be ascribed to a drug-induced fantasy."

The Islanders may get an added boost to their lineup. Shawn Bates, who has been sidelined with both a sports hernia and groin injury for the past 10 months, is expected to return for Wednesday's game against the Senators.

Jaromir Jagr's contract no longer contains a team option for next season, meaning that the current agreement under which he would earn $8.36M for 2008-09 will be extended only if he hits the performance triggers included in the deal, The Post has learned. That means that unless Jagr scores 40 goals or records 84 points while the Rangers win a playoff round in April, or unless he wins the Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy or Conn Smythe Trophy, a) No. 68 will be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1; and, b) beginning next season the Blueshirts will no longer be entitled to any cap discount on their captain. If the current Jagr contract (that he signed with Washington in October of 2001) is not automatically extended, the Rangers and No. 68 could negotiate a new deal for next year before he gets to the open market. Jagr, who will turn 36 on Feb. 15, has said time and time again that he has no interest at all in playing for any NHL team other than the Rangers.

The struggling Maple Leafs aren't going to make any kneejerk decisions on the future of GM John Ferguson and head coach Paul Maurice, according to the president of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment. As local media speculated on the job security of Ferguson and Maurice, Richard Peddie told The Canadian Press the team is keeping a close eye on the situation but doesn't want to make any hasty decisions. "We're trying not to be reactionary in this tough time," Peddie said after the Leafs posted a pair of losses over the weekend.

ESPN.com has learned NHL general managers will take part in a conference call Monday, when they will try and come to a consensus on the pros and cons of proposing changes to the collective-bargaining agreement that would allow teams to trade players while retaining a portion of a player's salary. The hope is the issue will then get a hearing before the board of governors when they meet Thursday and Friday. Under the current system, many GM's have complained that the possibility of making trades is near impossible because they don't have the option of eating any salary of a player they might like to trade. The move is being spearheaded by Anaheim GM Brian Burke, who believes he will have the support of as many as 25 of 30 GM's. "I'm with Burkie on this. I support his efforts," Tampa GM Jay Feaster told ESPN.com. "I don't understand why it's a problem [to make the change]. I really don't."

Tom Johnson, the Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman who coached the Bruins to their last Stanley Cup title in 1972, has died. He was 79. The Bruins said Saturday that Johnson died Wednesday at his Falmouth home. The team didn't disclose the cause of death. The former Montreal and Boston defenseman was a player, coach and executive with the Bruins for more than three decades until he retired in 1998.

Tom Johnson, the Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman who coached the Boston Bruins to their last Stanley Cup title in 1972, has died. He was 79. The Bruins said Saturday that Johnson died Wednesday at his Falmouth home. The team didn't disclose the cause of death. The former Montreal and Boston defenseman was a player, coach and executive with the Bruins for more than three decades until he retired in 1998. "If we all are allowed an ultimate friend, mentor, confidant and teacher, Tom Johnson was all of those to me," said Harry Sinden, Boston's former Coach and General Manager who is now an adviser. "The Bruins and all of hockey have lost a great person."