Concussion Jeopardizes Lindros’ Return

Hoping Eric Lindros would be available for the Eastern Conference finals, the Philadelphia Flyers learned Sunday that they might not have him at all.

Lindros, out since March 13 because of a concussion, suffered another Thursday in a supposedly non-contact scrimmage when he collided with Francis Lessard of the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL. Twenty stitches were needed to close a cut on Lindros’ lip. He was bothered by headaches and returned to Toronto for continued therapy.

It was his third concussion this season and fifth in the past two years.

Flyer Chairman Ed Snider said he was informed of the severity of the injury before Sunday’s 6-3 win over Pittsburgh. The Toronto Star had a story about it Sunday.

“I’m surprised to hear it secondhand, and I’m surprised that the organization was not informed first,” Snider said.

Lindros’ concussion, like his previous one, was termed a Grade II, which means he would have to be symptom-free for at least two weeks before he can be cleared to skate. That would rule him out of the conference finals should the Flyers advance.

Carl Lindros, Eric’s father and agent, called the injury “a significant setback.” Brett Lindros, Eric’s younger brother, retired from hockey in May 1996 because of concussion-related problems.

*

Jaromir Jagr, bothered again by leg problems that sidelined him for most of the final two months of the season, played only five minutes in the Penguins’ Game 5 loss.

It was the second consecutive game in which Jagr’s performance was clearly off. He had five goals in the first three games of the series.