Lemieux’s Season in Jeopardy : Injury: Two-time NHL scoring champion expected to miss six weeks because of herniated disk in his lower back.

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Mario Lemieux, the NHL’s leading scorer, probably will miss the rest of the regular season while undergoing six weeks of therapy for a herniated disk in his lower back, his doctor said Monday.

“Realistically, we’re hoping to get him back for the playoffs . . . if the Penguins make the playoffs,” Dr. Charles Burke said. “Hopefully, he won’t need surgery.”

Lemieux flew to Los Angeles on Saturday to consult with Dr. Robert Watkins, a spine specialist, and will remain for four weeks of isometric exercises, rest and therapy.

At best, Burke said the two-time NHL scoring champion might play again in six weeks, following 10 days to two weeks of additional rehabilitation after he returns to Pittsburgh from Los Angeles.

Lemieux, who had a 46-game scoring streak snapped on Wednesday, will have a cortisone injection today to “calm down the irritation in the spine and to help him tolerate the exercises,” Burke said.

“This program has worked with baseball players and golfers. There are a lot of people walking around with herniated disks that have learned to live with it.”

Burke, Watkins and Dr. Arthur White, a San Francisco spine specialist consulted by phone, have agreed surgery to remove the disk is a last resort because of a secondary, arthritis-like condition that is causing complications.

“It’s a complex problem he has . . . and this treatment is the only chance he has of playing again this season,” Burke said. “If he doesn’t make progress, there’s a good chance he’ll have surgery . . . but there is some risk involved.

“It’s not a simple herniated disk. If he has surgery and the abnormality in his back causes his bones to destabilize, he still might have back pain and have trouble returning to play. He might have complications the rest of his career.”

San Francisco 49er quarterback Joe Montana, who underwent successful disk surgery performed by White, didn’t have the complications that Lemieux does, Burke said.

Lemieux, who has scored 121 points, has problems bending down, leaning over and even tying his skates because of the pain.