PRAGUE -- While management and players in the National Hockey League remain divided -- and with no indication when the season will begin, if at all -- several Czech-born and Finnish-born players have returned home to play and to stay in shape.


"It's too bad that there are problems in North America but it would definitely be a plus for us to have players like (Jaromir) Jagr, (Martin) Straka and (Robert) Reichel in our league," said Stanislav Burdys, chairman of the Czech Ice Hockey Federation.


Straka, the Pittsburgh Penguins first pick in the 1992 draft, is scheduled to turn out for his former team HC Plzen this weekend, while Calgary Flames defenseman Frantisek Musil should see action with Sparta Praha within the next few days.


About 20 players in all are reported to be considering a return to the Czech Republic's top league, the Extra Liga, where they played before their departure to the NHL.


Already, some NHL players have returned to the ice in Finland, with Esa Tikkanen of the St. Louis Blues leading Helsinki IFK to a 3-2 victory over Jokerit, featuring Los Angeles' Jari Kurri and Winnipeg's Teemu Selanne.


In New York, the NHL confirmed Thursday what has seemed inevitable, admitting it will not be able to save its entire 84-game season.


"An announcement will be made before too long and it will involve some reduction in the number of games on the schedule," said Jeffrey Pash, the league's general counsel.


NHL spokesman Arthur Pincus said an announcement regarding the schedule will be made "in the next few days."


It was the first acknowledgement by the league that games will be lost. The NHL may now concede that the postponement of the season is in fact a lockout, which would give players new rights under labor law.


NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has said the league would need at least a 40- or 50-game schedule to have a legitimate season leading to the Stanley Cup. To play a 50-game schedule, the NHL would have to start by mid-December. A 40-game schedule would mean starting around Jan. 1.


Bettman and union head Bob Goodenow last spoke Oct. 11. A source said Bettman has called the union and made attempts to set up talks.


Labor problems seemed far away for Tikkanen, whose hard slapshot from the left bounced off the goalie's pads to present Russian defenseman Yury Kuznetsov with the rebound for Helsinki's game-winning shot, 3-1, at 17:33 in the final period.


The former New York Rangers wing, who followed Stanley Cup-winning coach Mike Keenan to St. Louis, instantly emerged as the team leader early in the first period with strong checking and clean, physical play.


Chicago's Christian Ruuttu left the ice after being hit by a stick in the face six minutes into the game. Ruuttu, who played for Jokerit, lost three teeth and needed more than 10 stitches in his face.


Toronto's Mats Sundin was cleared to play in the Swedish League. All 24 players of the Djurgarden club voted in favor of Sundin returning to the Stockholm team during the lockout.


(Reuters, AP)