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'Alert and clear ' Flyers' Lindros injured again in scrimmage
Posted: Friday May 05, 2000 07:49 AM
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Philadelphia Flyers star Eric Lindros, sitting out the playoffs because of a concussion, needed 20 stitches to close a gash in his upper lip and complained of headaches Thursday after a collision during a scrimmage. Lindros collided with a Philadelphia Phantoms player at the teams' Voorhees, N.J., practice facility. The Phantoms are the Flyers' minor league affiliate. Lindros was taken to a Camden, N.J., hospital, where he received the stitches and pain medication before he was released, Flyers spokesman Zack Hill said. Flyers general manager Bob Clarke, attending the team's playoff game Thursday night at Pittsburgh, denied Lindros violated any rules set down by his doctors by practicing. Lindros also skated with the minor leaguers Monday and Tuesday, and Thursday's session was supposed to be non-contact. "The injury occurred this morning when Lindros and defenseman Francis Lessard accidentally collided while participating in a controlled scrimmage as part of Lindros' conditioning program," Hill said. "Lindros was alert and clear throughout his examination." Lindros wanted to get in a workout before flying to Chicago to see his neurologist, James Kelly of Chicago, in hopes of getting clearance to play. Because of Lindros' injury, that trip will be delayed at least a day or two. "We're just following Dr. Kelly's instructions," said Clarke, who declined to discuss the incident in detail. Flyers chairman Ed Snider, who also attended the game in Pittsburgh, said Lindros was not cleared for contact drills, but Thursday's session was not supposed to involve contact. "This is the first I heard of it, but it doesn't shock me," Snider said. "It is a non-contact drill. Obviously, it was a freak accident; this was not a contact scrimmage or anything of that nature." Snider added, "His intentions were obviously good. His desire was to get back with the team." Snider denied the team was rushing Lindros back. "No one here has been in touch with him," Snider said. Despite Lindros' recent criticism of the Flyers' medical staff -- comments that led Clarke to strip him of his captaincy -- Snider insisted the Flyers would welcome Lindros' return when he is cleared to play. "Of course we would," he said. "Obviously, Eric is out there skating, trying to get himself in shape." Lindros has been hopeful of playing in the Eastern Conference finals or the Stanley Cup finals if the Flyers advance that far. Team doctor Gary Dorshimer said Lindros reported no dizziness -- often, an indicator of a concussion. Lindros apparently is having bi-frontal headaches, or headaches in the front of his head, and will be checked regularly. Lindros, looking angry and with a fat, but unbandaged lip, returned to the practice facility shortly after noon, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on its Web site. He declined immediate comment, and his father and agent, Carl Lindros, did not immediately return several phone messages. "We were playing four-on-four," Lessard told the Inquirer. "We both cut at the same time. My shoulder hit his and he got cut on the lip." Lindros has been recovering from a Grade II concussion that has sidelined him since March 13. Asked if the Flyers would like to get Lindros back, defenseman Adam Burt said, "What do you think? Would the Mighty Ducks like to get Paul Kariya back? Would the Penguins like to get Jaromir Jagr back? Of course we would."
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