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E-Train back on track Flyers will play Lindros in Game 6 against Devils
Posted: Wednesday May 24, 2000 07:43 AM
PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- He may no longer be the most popular player in the locker room after having his captaincy stripped, but superstar center Eric Lindros will be in the lineup for the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. Lindros, who has been sidelined with a series of concussions, skated with the Flyers on Tuesday for the first time in more than two months and was given immediate clearance to play in the Eastern Conference finals against the New Jersey Devils at Continental Airlines Arena. Philadelphia leads the best-of-seven series 3-2 after suffering a 4-1 home loss to the Devils in Game 5 on Monday. How sharp the 27-year-old Lindros will be is a major question for the Flyers. He has been sidelined since March 12, eight days after suffering his fourth concussion in a year. "I feel right now that I can help out and I'm looking forward to it," Lindros said. "Obviously, I'm not going to be playing 18, 20 or 25 minutes a game. It'll be a much slighter role than that. It's just getting out there."
After claiming team physicians misdiagnosed his injury, the 6-4, 238-pound center was stripped of his captaincy, since given to Eric Desjardins. With Desjardins handling the role, the Flyers snatched the top seed in the East and defeated the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins to reach the conference finals. There had been speculation that Lindros already had played his final game in a Philadelphia uniform. His contract expires at the end of the season and he would become a restricted free agent July 1 unless the Flyers tender him an offer. While Lindros' dispute with the team took on a life of its own, he does not think his return will cause a distraction on the ice. "I feel comfortable in the dressing room," he said. "I've been here for a long time and I'm looking forward to playing." On Monday, Lindros flew to Chicago to see concussion specialist Dr. James Kelly, who cleared him to participate in full team practices. He had been participating in vigorous on- and off-ice conditioning for six days prior to visiting Dr. Kelly. "We talked about his role and what he can do," Flyers coach Craig Ramsey said. "He'll have a limited role from the past when he's had full strength. But we feel it's a great addition to the club and we're excited to have him back." "Timing and conditioning will all improve as we go along," Lindros added. He was recovering from a Grade II concussion when he suffered another during a controlled scrimmage May 4. He accidentally was hit by minor league defenseman Francis Lessard and suffered a bruised lower lip and a laceration on his upper lip that required 20 stitches to close. Team physicians insisted Lindros sustained only a Grade I concussion after he was checked by Boston Bruins defenseman Hal Gill on March 4. The diagnosis of a more serious Grade II concussion came after Lindros was examined by Kelly. One of the most imposing players in the NHL, Lindros also has proven to be one of the most brittle. He missed 27 games this season due to concussions, post-traumatic migraine headaches, back spasms, a bruised left hand and a viral infection but still ranked third on the team with 59 points in 55 contests. A six-time All-Star, Lindros also missed the final seven games of the 1999 season and all six playoff contests after suffering a collapsed lung on April 1 at Nashville. He has missed at least nine games in each of the past four seasons, sitting out the first 23 contests in 1996-97 with a groin ailment. Two seasons ago, Lindros sat out 18 games due to post-concussion syndrome. His younger brother, Brett, was forced to retire after the 1995-96 season due to multiple concussions.
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