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Lindros cleared to resume practice
Posted: Monday May 22, 2000 10:56 PM
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Whether his teammates want him back or not, Eric Lindros is returning to practice with the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. Lindros, the Flyers' banished captain who has had two concussions in the past three months, was cleared Monday to practice with the team. Hours later, the Flyers lost 4-1 to New Jersey in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals and had their lead in the best-of-seven series cut to 3-2. Philadelphia can close out the Devils with a victory in Game 6 Wednesday night at Continental Airlines Arena. "I don't know that he's ready for that," Flyers interim coach Craig Ramsay said after Monday's loss. "He's cleared for practice; doesn't mean he's ready for the game. We'll see how it goes." Lindros suggested last week that one day of practice will not be enough to get him in game shape. Lindros flew to Chicago on Monday afternoon to see concussion specialist Dr. James Kelly, who has been treating him and issuing workout guidelines. The Flyers issued a statement during the first period of Monday night's game saying only that Lindros was examined by Kelly and cleared to participate in full team practices. There has been speculation whether Lindros' return would be viewed as a positive or negative for the team that is one win from the Stanley Cup finals. "If he's ready to go, he's ready to go," forward Rick Tocchet said after Monday's game. "If Eric is ready to play and wants to play, how can that be a distraction?" Lindros returned to the ice last Tuesday for the first time since sustaining his third concussion of the year earlier this month. During his most recent workouts, Lindros was able to skate with another player and a goalie in non-contact drills. Lindros hasn't played since March 13 because of a concussion suffered nine days earlier from a check by Boston's Hal Gill. After criticizing the team's medical staff for failing to diagnose that concussion, he was stripped of his captaincy in favor of Eric Desjardins. Lindros' latest concussion came at practice on May 4. He needed 20 stitches in his lip after colliding with Francis Lessard of the AHL's Philadelphia Phantoms during a drill. "For him to come back will be a great help," defenseman Luke Richardson said. "It's a plus, but we had to put in our minds at the beginning of the playoffs that we weren't going to have him."
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