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Too much GRIT to QUIT

Sporting News, The, May 29, 2000 by Larry Wigge

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"Your legs usually wear down first, but mine feel just fine," Primeau says. "Plenty of tread left on the tires."

Primeau recalled a similar situation when Sergei Fedorov sat out most of 1997-98. Fedorov signed an offer sheet from Carolina that was matched by Detroit in February of that season.

"Sergei was marvelous and fresh for the Red Wings in helping them win their second straight Stanley Cup," Primeau says. "The only difference is he got a $12 million bonus for getting his team to the conference finals, I got a pat on the back--and a concussion for good measure."

--L.W.

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Flyers left winger John LeClair has scored 40 or more goals in each of his past five seasons, but never has he been so effective since moving to right wing because of an injury to Flyers center Daymond Langkow in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Langkow was sidelined with a concussion, and that led Flyers coach Craig Ramsay to move right winger Mark Recchi to center and LeClair to the right side. Simon Gagne completes the line.

This story of how quickly injury can strike took on another life when LeClair was cut for 39 stitches, 36 on his nose and three more under his right eye, after being hit accidentally by the stick of New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur late in Game 3.

Yet LeClair was back for Game 4, and all he did was get two clear-cut break-ins. And if not for brilliant saves by Brodeur, LeClair could have been an even bigger hero.

"It would take one zillion elephants to keep John out of this game," teammate Rick Tocchet says. "No way would he miss such an important game."

--L.W.

NO WAY IS HE GOING TO MISS THIS: LeClair took 78 stitches in his face in one game but was back on the ice by the next.

RELATED ARTICLE: Young, but not restless

What happens when players have injuries? Youngsters get a chance to show what they can do.

And with the rash of injuries this year, never has a group of rookies contributed so much in the playoffs.

In Philadelphia, goaltender Brian Boucher has been diving and sprawling his way into history, and Simon Gagne and Andy Delmore have combined to score 10 goals.

In New Jersey, Scott Gomez rose to just short of star status this season, and he has been just as good in the playoffs. Also making a good impression are defensemen Brian Rafalski and Colin White, and center John Madden.

Brenden Morrow's marvelous story in Dallas ended when he broke his ankle in the second round.

And following in the skate tracks of rookies Chris Drury and Milan Hejduk, who sparkled last year for Colorado, this year the Avalanche has had steady production from left winger Alex Tanguay and defenseman Martin Skoula.

--L.W.

Senior writer Larry Wigge covers hockey for THE SPORTING NEWS.

Too much GRIT to QUIT

Sporting News, The, May 29, 2000 by Larry Wigge

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