Lindros Gets Back on Ice in Practice

Eric Lindros returned to the ice Tuesday for the first time since his third concussion of the season earlier this month.

He skated for about 15 minutes by himself at the team’s practice facility in Voorhees, N.J., a team spokesman said. He is expected to do the same today.

“I feel really good, better than I felt in a long time,” Lindros said.

Lindros said he’s been headache-free for about eight days. He lifted weights and rode a stationary bike after his morning skate.

Lindros will skate with another player and a goaltender in non-contact drills Thursday through Sunday. He will undergo further tests and be examined again on Monday.

If cleared by Dr. James Kelly, a neurologist and concussion specialist, Lindros could participate in team practices the next day. Game 6 of the Flyers-Devils Eastern Conference finals, if necessary, is Tuesday. That’s the earliest Lindros could return.

Lindros, the former team captain, hasn’t played since March 13 because of a concussion sustained nine days earlier from a check by Boston’s Hal Gill.

Lindros’ latest concussion came May 4 at practice. He needed 20 stitches in his lip.

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Colorado Avalanche defenseman Adam Foote will miss Friday’s Game 3 of the Western Conference finals against Dallas because of an eye injury, but the team expects defenseman Ray Bourque to return from a sprained left knee.

Another defenseman, Sandis Ozolinsh, limped off the ice at the end of Game 2 Monday but Coach Bob Hartley said precautionary X-rays were negative and the injury was merely a bruised foot.

Foote was injured early in the first period of the Stars’ 3-2 victory in Dallas when he took an inadvertent stick to the face from Dallas’ Jere Lehtinen.

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Grant Marshall, who has not been on the Stars’ roster for the last three playoff games, has been added as a replacement for Brenden Morrow, who was knocked out for the rest of the playoffs after breaking his right ankle against Colorado in Game 1. . . . Bryan Murray signed a multiyear contract to remain general manager of the Florida Panthers.