Lindros Sets Return Date

Eric Lindros, out since March 7 because of a concussion, will return to the Philadelphia Flyers’ lineup April 13 against the Buffalo Sabres.

The Flyers’ captain suffered a concussion after a shoulder check by the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Darius Kasparaitis. In neurological testing March 23, the results matched those of a healthy test in September, but team doctors said he still reported dizziness and headaches after solo workouts.

He finally skated symptom-free Sunday.

“I’m feeling a lot better,” Lindros said Tuesday. “I skated really hard today. The bottom line is being cautious.”

Lindros exercised caution on the advice of his father and because younger brother, Brett, of the New York Islanders, quit the game after a series of concussions.

News of Lindros’ return came a day after New York Rangers’ center Pat LaFontaine said he would skip the rest of the season because of a concussion he suffered March 16.

“I just don’t want to go through . . . what my brother went through,” Lindros said. “So with this time, it takes that out of the equation.”

The game against Buffalo will be Lindros’ first under new Coach Roger Neilson, who replaced Wayne Cashman two days after Lindros was hurt. Philadelphia is 7-4-2 since then.

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Sergei Fedorov of Detroit and San Jose’s Joe Murphy each drew a two-game suspension from the NHL for violent behavior on the ice.

Fedorov, also fined $1,000, already has served the suspension, having missed the Red Wings’ contests Saturday against St. Louis and Sunday against Buffalo pending a league hearing.

Fedorov was suspended for checking Mighty Ducks’ defenseman Jason Marshall from behind Thursday. He was assessed a major penalty for boarding.

Murphy, also fined $1,000, still had one game to serve on his suspension and missed the Sharks’ game Tuesday night against Pittsburgh.

Murphy was suspended after receiving a match penalty for slashing Dallas defenseman Richard Matvichuk on Saturday.