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Arnott returns for Game 6
Updated: Friday June 08, 2001 12:19 AM
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Jason Arnott brought his new foam helmet and aching head onto the ice Thursday night for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals. His presence didn't help as the Devils lost 4-0 to the Colorado Avalanche, setting up a deciding Game 7 in Denver on Saturday night. The usual top-line center of the defending champion New Jersey Devils skated with the team in the morning pregame practice, and felt well enough to play in the game after taking part in warmups about 45 minutes before the opening faceoff. Arnott returned to action just 38 seconds into the first period after missing most of the last two games -- both New Jersey victories -- against the Avalanche. After logging 16:02 of ice time on 20 shifts, Arnott declined to speak to reporters. Early on, Arnott missed a check against the boards, and appeared to hit his head on the glass. He shook his head as if he were trying to clear it, but later returned to the ice. Arnott was then hit in the head again by a puck off the stick of Colorado's Eric Messier. After the puck struck him on the right side of his head, Arnott responded with a hard check that sent Stephane Yelle to the ice. Fitted with a helmet that gives more protection, Arnott did not start play with regular linemates Petr Sykora and Patrik Elias. Instead he centered a line with Sergei Nemchinov and Bob Corkum. Elias and Sykora were matched with Bobby Holik against Colorado's top line led by Joe Sakic. Arnott and Sykora switched places later in the game. The 26-year-old Arnott sat out Game 5 two nights after he was struck in the head by a puck during last Saturday's fourth game. He played eight shifts totaling 6:27 of the first period Thursday. Last year, he scored in overtime to win the cup for the Devils. The shot to the left temple left Arnott with headaches and dizziness after the first period of Game 4. He played the rest of that period after he was hit in the game's opening seconds. But the effects came on during the intermission, and Arnott hadn't felt well enough to play until Thursday.
"They come and go, they're off and on," Arnott said of the
headaches.
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