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 Thursday, January 27
Lindros back after two-week absence
 
Associated Press

 PHILADELPHIA -- Eric Lindros plans to return to the Philadelphia Flyers' lineup for Thursday night's home game against Florida, confident he's fully recovered from a Jan. 14 concussion.

The game also will mark the debut of center Keith Primeau, acquired from Carolina on Sunday for Rod Brind'Amour.

Eric Lindros
Lindros

Keith Primeau
Primeau

Lindros and Primeau will be welcome additions to the Flyers' offense, which has struggled in the team's current 0-3-2 skid. The Flyers have scored just seven goals in those five games, four of them coming in a 4-4 tie at Pittsburgh on Sunday.

The Flyers are 0-2-2 since Lindros left the lineup and haven't won a game since Jan. 11 at Carolina.

Lindros' concussion was his third in the last 22 months, but after Wednesday's practice he said he was not having any aftereffects from the latest injury and looked forward to getting back to action.

"I've had a lot more energy the last three or four days," Lindros said. "I'm ready to go."

Lindros passed all his neurological tests Friday.

"Everything is back in place. They (doctors) have assured me I'm ready to go," Lindros said. "Things haven't been going that well for our club. You want to get in there and help out, but we'll get things rolling."

Lindros' teammates said the Flyers captain resembled his old self the last few days in practice.

With Lindros and Primeau out there, we've got twin towers on the ice the same night.
Flyers wing Keith Jones

"I thought he looked great," Mikael Renberg said. "We haven't played well without him. He's our leader, it's as simple as that."

Lindros figures to be reunited on a first line with John LeClair and Keith Jones while Primeau is likely to center a second unit with Renberg and Mark Recchi.

"He (Lindros) adds a lot to our lineup," LeClair said. "When we have our best player, it improves our team."

Added Jones, "With Lindros and Primeau out there, we've got twin towers on the ice the same night. Eric looked sharp today. ... He had a lot of time to practice; he looks the best I've seen all year."

Coach Roger Neilson said the Flyers should get a lift from having two quality players added to the lineup.

"We want to get this (slump) stopped now," he said. "Having Lindros and Primeau out there should help."

 


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