Friday, January 25, 2002
Games pick up
By MIKE ZEISBERGER -- Toronto Sun
VANCOUVER -- Super Mario's been just that, The Big E slowly seems to be snapping out of his big daze, and Terrible Theo seems to be getting his act together -- at least on the scoresheet.
No wonder Team Canada head coach Pat Quinn was wearing an Olympic-sized grin yesterday.
On a number of occasions in the past six weeks, critics have suggested that Canadian Olympic team officials might want to consider dropping Mario Lemieux, Eric Lindros and/or Theo Fleury. The Magnificent One's ailing back and hip woes were fodder for concern, warning sirens wailed when Lindros suffered yet another concussion and Fleury's personal problems were causing some truly erratic behaviour, including a physical run-in with the San Jose Sharks mascot.
But with the Salt Lake City Games less than three weeks away, this besieged trio is starting to put up some Olympian numbers.
On Wednesday No. 66 was at his dominant best, racking up five points in a 5-1 Pittsburgh Penguins victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Lemieux has nine points in the past two games.
Meanwhile on that same night, Lindros and Fleury each had four points in the Rangers' 8-4 drubbing of Boston.
So who's laughing now? Quinn, for starters.
"It's refreshing to see these guys coming around," he said. "The main thing is that you want them healthy and they seem to be getting that way. They are elite players."
Fleury's recent antics -- he was fined $1,000 for making inappropriate gestures at Islanders fans -- are expected to be addressed by Team Canada officials, but that certainly won't be grounds to boot him off the roster, according to the coach.
"He was picked and he's a part of the team -- that's all there is to it," Quinn said.
2002 Games Men's Hockey Coverage
