Saw this on ESPN.com. For tomorrow's game, Lemieux will be out and Jean-Sebastien Aubin will get his first start in the NHL in quite some time. Thought you all would like to know this info early on.
Lemieux likely to resume practice on Thursday
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Associated Press
CANONSBURG, PA. -- The Pittsburgh Penguins knew it would be an adjustment without Jaromir Jagr. Now they're trying to get along without Mario Lemieux, too.
Lemieux didn't practice Tuesday because of a hip injury and will miss his second consecutive game Wednesday as the Penguins play the New York Islanders at Mellon Arena. Lemieux also sat out a 4-2 loss at home Saturday to Anaheim.
Coach Ivan Hlinka expects Lemieux to resume practicing Thursday and play Sunday at Buffalo. Lemieux was hurt late in training camp and apparently aggravated the injury in a season-opening 3-1 loss to Colorado on Oct. 3.
"You know him, I know him, if he can do something he will do it but, right now, it's not possible," Hlinka said.
Penguins forward Kevin Stevens also had a hip flexor injury earlier in his career and said it can severely limit a player's mobility. A flexor is a muscle that flexes or bends upon contraction.
"It's not anything serious, but it takes a little time," he said. "It's in your upper leg and it's tough to lift your leg when you get them. But once you get them right, it's fine. It's not like a back injury, but you've got to get it right."
The Penguins must win to avoid their first 0-3 start since 1996-97, Lemieux's last full NHL season. They outshot Colorado and Anaheim nearly 2-to-1 in their first two games, but lost both as goaltender Johan Hedberg gave up seven goals on 40 shots.
With Hedberg not yet playing at the form that carried the Penguins to the Eastern Conference finals last season, Jean-Sebastien Aubin will make his first start since March 23 against Carolina.
Aubin was 20-14-1 with a 3.13 goals-against average as the starting goalie most of last season, but was benched after the Penguins traded for Hedberg in mid-March and never got his job back.
Hlinka's willingness to switch goalies after only two games, even if only for one game, could be a sign the Penguins are concerned about falling too far behind so early in the season. They made the playoffs fairly easily last season but weren't assured of qualifying until about two weeks left in the season.
"It's tough to call it a must game, but I think it is a must game," Stevens said. "We've lost two games in a row at home and that's not a good way to start the season. We've got to come out with some bang and some emotion."
One glaring problem is the Penguins are 0-for-10 on the power play, while opponents have scored three times in 10 chances with a man advantage.
"Not having him (Lemieux) hurts, not having Jaromir Jagr hurts," Stevens said. "It's a whole different feel, it's a whole different mix of guys when you don't have No. 66 on the left side and No. 68 on the right side. Right now, it's a matter of guys getting used to each other."
[This message has been edited by TexasBC6 (edited 10-09-2001).]
Lemieux likely to resume practice on Thursday
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Associated Press
CANONSBURG, PA. -- The Pittsburgh Penguins knew it would be an adjustment without Jaromir Jagr. Now they're trying to get along without Mario Lemieux, too.
Lemieux didn't practice Tuesday because of a hip injury and will miss his second consecutive game Wednesday as the Penguins play the New York Islanders at Mellon Arena. Lemieux also sat out a 4-2 loss at home Saturday to Anaheim.
Coach Ivan Hlinka expects Lemieux to resume practicing Thursday and play Sunday at Buffalo. Lemieux was hurt late in training camp and apparently aggravated the injury in a season-opening 3-1 loss to Colorado on Oct. 3.
"You know him, I know him, if he can do something he will do it but, right now, it's not possible," Hlinka said.
Penguins forward Kevin Stevens also had a hip flexor injury earlier in his career and said it can severely limit a player's mobility. A flexor is a muscle that flexes or bends upon contraction.
"It's not anything serious, but it takes a little time," he said. "It's in your upper leg and it's tough to lift your leg when you get them. But once you get them right, it's fine. It's not like a back injury, but you've got to get it right."
The Penguins must win to avoid their first 0-3 start since 1996-97, Lemieux's last full NHL season. They outshot Colorado and Anaheim nearly 2-to-1 in their first two games, but lost both as goaltender Johan Hedberg gave up seven goals on 40 shots.
With Hedberg not yet playing at the form that carried the Penguins to the Eastern Conference finals last season, Jean-Sebastien Aubin will make his first start since March 23 against Carolina.
Aubin was 20-14-1 with a 3.13 goals-against average as the starting goalie most of last season, but was benched after the Penguins traded for Hedberg in mid-March and never got his job back.
Hlinka's willingness to switch goalies after only two games, even if only for one game, could be a sign the Penguins are concerned about falling too far behind so early in the season. They made the playoffs fairly easily last season but weren't assured of qualifying until about two weeks left in the season.
"It's tough to call it a must game, but I think it is a must game," Stevens said. "We've lost two games in a row at home and that's not a good way to start the season. We've got to come out with some bang and some emotion."
One glaring problem is the Penguins are 0-for-10 on the power play, while opponents have scored three times in 10 chances with a man advantage.
"Not having him (Lemieux) hurts, not having Jaromir Jagr hurts," Stevens said. "It's a whole different feel, it's a whole different mix of guys when you don't have No. 66 on the left side and No. 68 on the right side. Right now, it's a matter of guys getting used to each other."
[This message has been edited by TexasBC6 (edited 10-09-2001).]
