Hockey

Former NHL scoring champion Mario Lemieux is troubled again by back spasms but expects to play tonight in the season opener for the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo.

Lemieux left the Penguins’ practice complaining of back pain. In frustration, he broke his stick in a hallway.

Lemieux missed 54 of the Penguins’ 80 regular-season games last season because of back problems, but returned in late January to lead them to their first Stanley Cup championship. He missed Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals against Minnesota because of back spasms, but was a force in the final three games.