Lindros

Lindros passed a neurological baseline test, the first step to coming back from a concussion. He said he had no symptoms while riding the exercise bike and lifting weights.

Concern was evident in his voice, though, when he revealed that he still had headaches as recently as Thursday, when he skated for the first time since sustaining his third concussion in 22 months last Friday in Atlanta.

"I had trouble skating," Lindros said. "I don't have a problem on the bike. Every day we've been making progress. I'll start skating again tomorrow and keep moving ahead."

Lindros took a 45-minute test to measure his reaction time and memory, and results were compared to scores he achieved before the concussion. Such "baseline" tests are standard in the NHL and NFL to make sure players are fit to return after taking a potentially dangerous blow to the head.

"I was pleased to hear that his mental function seemed to be back to his baseline at this point," team doctor Gary Dorshimer said.

Lindros said he plans to practice Saturday and perhaps return to the lineup Thursday at home against Florida.

"Just to get practicing would be nice," Lindros said. "We're looking at (Saturday). Everything's going well. Every day I'm feeling better."

Still, concussions are a serious matter for the Lindros family. His younger brother, Brett Lindros, had his career ended at age 19 after having numerous concussions and two in eight days.

"I've been fortunate in the fact that they've been spread out," Eric Lindros said. "My brother had one and then had another one eight days later, which is a huge concern and ended up being the final blow.

"I was a little nervous about why things were taking so long. When I was skating, when I was riding the bike, I was still having headaches. But they assured me that things will clear up and be in order."

Lindros' father, Carl, said the situations for the two brothers are very different.

"What became apparent after the fact was that Brett shouldn't have been playing," Carl Lindros said. "I think he was playing through concussions on a fairly regular basis.

"Since Brett turned pro, he wanted so badly to succeed that he was prepared to do anything, including playing through concussions, to be a player. What's become abundantly clear is, you certainly cannot play through a concussion."

Lindros, who turns 27 next month, has been through a harrowing nine months. He missed the final seven games of the regular season and last year's playoffs because of a collapsed lung. Bothered by a badly bruised hand, Lindros is having an off year with 17 goals and 26 assists -- barely qualifying for the NHL leader board.

Now, another concussion.

"He's got the concussions hanging over him that could end his career," Flyers coach Roger Neilson said. "His brother got it and the whole thing. It's not easy to have stuff hanging over you."

Neilson and Lindros had a long talk Thursday about how they both are going through difficult times. Neilson is being treated for a rare form of bone cancer and will have to leave the team in February or March for a grueling bone marrow transplant.

"I've got an incurable disease hanging over me," Neilson said. "Whether they say it is or not, my sister got the same thing and she died from it.

"He's got the concussions hanging over him. I want him to know that I know it's not easy, too. It's really important to have a positive attitude. We can kind of sympathize with each other on that."