Suchy

	Nagy

	Handzus

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Phoenix Coyotes will allow three players from Slovakia to play one game for their country as it tries to qualify for the Olympics.

Slovakia is one of eight countries that must play three preliminary matches to qualify for the medal round at the Winter Games at Salt Lake City.

The NHL's scheduled Olympic break does not begin until Feb. 14, after those early round games have been played.

Coyotes general manager Michael Barnett had discussions with Slovak national team general manager Peter Stastny and said Thursday that center Michal Handzus, left wing Ladislav Nagy and defenseman Radoslav Suchy can play in the Feb. 9 game against Germany.

"We cannot possibly release those players for additional games," Barnett said. "The dates of the second and third qualifying games coincide with previously scheduled Coyotes games that are extremely important NHL contests against division rivals. The players fully understand and accept our position."

Phoenix plays host to Los Angeles on Feb. 8, Edmonton on Feb. 10 and Calgary on Feb. 12.

Slovakia's other preliminary games are Feb. 10 against Latvia and Feb. 12 against Austria.

Barnett said the three Coyotes players will make the 100-minute flight to Utah after Phoenix's game against the Kings and return in time to play in the game against the Oilers.

"It would have been nicer to be able to play in all three games because, if we don't win two of them, we don't get into the tournament," Handzus told The Arizona Republic. "But this is positive because (the Coyotes) didn't have to let us go for even one game."

"We think we have come up with a pretty good compromise," said Coyotes managing partner Wayne Gretzky, who is in charge of the Canadian Olympic hockey team.