Penguin Goalie’s Daughter Battles Cancer

Goaltender Tom Barrasso of the Pittsburgh Penguins has returned to practice after having spent the last six weeks in Los Angeles, where his 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Ashley, has been undergoing treatment for cancer.

Besides receiving chemotherapy, Ashley had a bone marrow transplant Feb. 23 at Children’s Hospital. She and her mother were expected to return to their Pittsburgh home Thursday and Ashley will start a long recuperative program.

“I want to look ahead, be positive and put the last six weeks behind us,” Barrasso said. “Now that the immediate danger has passed, we’d like to get on with the rest of our lives. Her condition is the best it’s been. She has a 50% chance for long-term survival. When she was diagnosed, they gave us a 15% chance.”

Barrasso broke his right hand four games into the season and wound up missing nearly two months. He returned Dec. 9 but said his concern about Ashley became more distracting after she underwent surgery in January. He received permission to leave the team Feb. 9. He said he didn’t know whether he would be ready to play in any of the Penguins’ last seven regular-season games.