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Hip knocks out Lemieux for season Posted: Thursday February 28, 2002 6:20 PMUpdated: Friday March 01, 2002 2:21 AM
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pittsburgh Penguins star Mario Lemieux is expected to miss the rest of the season because of the painful hip injury that has bothered him since training camp. Lemieux was advised Thursday by team physicians to undergo a period of rest and rehabilitation for the problem, which bothered Lemieux even as he helped Team Canada win the Olympic gold medal Sunday. Recent tests and evaluation revealed chronic tendinitis in one of Lemieux's hip flexor muscles, as well as inflammation of the hip capsule. As a result, Lemieux was told that playing again this season could lead to further damage. "While I'm disappointed I can't be in the lineup, I am satisfied that I have identified the problem with my hip," Lemieux said Thursday. "The doctors have told me that this period of rest and rehabilitation is necessary so that I can make a full recovery and get back in the lineup next season." Lemieux played Wednesday night in the Penguins' 5-4 loss to Los Angeles, getting two assists. He also lost a goal in the game's final minute when it was determined the puck was kicked in off a skate.
At that time, Lemieux said his status for the rest of the season was game-to-game because of the injury, which required several painkilling injections to keep him on the ice during the Olympics. He also is believed to have gotten a shot before Wednesday's game. The Penguins' owner-player first experienced the hip pain during training camp in September. He had arthroscopic surgery Oct. 29 to remove loose cartilage and returned less than two weeks later, but played only three games before sitting out the next two months after doctors advised him to rest. The six-time NHL scoring champion -- already in the Hall of Fame -- returned Jan. 12 and later produced 13 points in a four-game stretch that was part of a six-game Penguins winning streak. But Lemieux clearly seemed bothered by the pain during the 10 days leading into the Olympics, and he went without a goal in his final five games before the break. Lemieux said the problem nearly kept him out of the Olympics, and he sat out Canada's second game in the Salt Lake City Olympics. But he returned, with his hip and groin heavily wrapped, to score two goals in a key 3-3 tie against the Czech Republic on Feb. 18, and played a key role as Canada won its final three games for its first Olympic gold medal in 50 years. Lemieux also revealed in Salt Lake City that he had taken time off and had skipped some Penguins games in order to play in the Olympics for the first time in his career. The Lemieux injury news couldn't come at a worse time for the Penguins, who carried a six-game winless streak and were five games below .500 going into Thursday night's game at Columbus. They will likely miss the postseason for the first time in 12 years unless they win 16 or 17 of their final 23 games. Lemieux has played in fewer games than in any season he's been active in since 1993-94, when he had back surgery to repair a herniated disc and was limited to 22 games. This season, he has six goals and 25 assists for 31 points in 24 games. Lemieux returned from a 44-month retirement in late December 2000 to lead the Penguins -- the team he had bought the year before -- to the Eastern Conference finals. The Penguins also learned Thursday they will be without Martin Straka for an indefinite period because of a broken orbital and sinus bone around his left eye. Straka was injured Wednesday, only two shifts into his first game since breaking a leg Oct. 28, when he was accidentally clipped by goalie Johan Hedberg's stick. Straka tied for fourth in the NHL in scoring with 95 points last season.
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