CANONSBURG, Pa. – Of all the NHL players for Minnesota Wild
coach Jacques Lemaire to pick a fight with, this might not have
been the wisest choice – Mario Lemieux.
Lemieux said Tuesday the sore back that visibly bothered him in
Sunday's 4-2 loss at Minnesota feels much better, and he is looking
forward to Wednesday's rematch with the Wild in Pittsburgh.
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Lemaire may have something to do with Lemieux's eagerness to get
on the ice again.
After being shut out Sunday for only the second time in his 19
comeback games, Lemieux was critical of the Wild's offense-stifling
clutching and grabbing, saying it wasn't what the NHL is trying to
sell.
Lemaire responded with the first critical remarks of
Lemieux by an opposing player or coach since Lemieux's comeback
began in late December, essentially saying Lemieux should have
stayed retired if he didn't want contact.
"It's not a wide-open game, which they (the Penguins) would
love," Lemaire said. "If we're not allowed to hit and not allowed
to check, I'm coming back, too. I'm going to play in this league if
nobody touches me, or nobody back-checks on me, and if they let me
make plays and shoot on the net and get 2-on-1s and breakaways."
The Wild coach also said the Penguins relied on clutching and
grabbing more than his team did, and he planned to report it to the
NHL office.
Lemaire also responded to Penguins forward Kevin Stevens'
comment that the Wild's system was so boring he wouldn't watch it
as a fan. Lemaire said, "They're four times better than we are.
Don't come out and say, 'I wouldn't go and watch hockey.' "
Lemieux, in turn, said he isn't looking for a feud with Lemaire.
"I've got enough problems myself without having to pick a fight
with Jacques Lemaire. That's his point of view and I respect
that," Lemieux said Tuesday. "We've got a game tomorrow, and
we've got to be ready to play hard for 60 minutes and win the game.
We have something to prove tomorrow night against these guys."
Lemieux said he feels "100 percent better" than he did when he
reinjured his back in practice Friday. Despite being so sore he
couldn't bend over to tie his skates, Lemieux played Saturday
against New Jersey and Sunday against the Wild, but was limited to
a single assist in the two games.
"It was frustrating ... to not be able to do what I want to do
out there," Lemieux said. "I have to be more patient and maybe
miss a few games here or there and make sure when I'm on the ice,
I'm 100 percent."
In the future, Lemieux said, he may skip the second game of
back-to-back games or miss a one-game road trip if it would be more
beneficial to get back treatment.
"Maybe I should have stayed home (Sunday) and done some work on
it, but I felt pretty decent after the afternoon game (Saturday)
and I thought it would be a good idea to play," Lemieux said.
"From now on, I have to be a little bit more careful and look at
the big picture.
"I need to see how I feel. If I'm not 100 percent for the
second game (of consecutive games), maybe I should sit out."
The Penguins made a few tactical changes in practice Tuesday to
counter the Wild's neutral-zone trap, spending considerable time
setting up breakout plays from their own zone. They also moved
newly acquired center Wayne Primeau onto the third line alongside Jan Hrdina and Josef Beranek. Alexei Morozov had been playing
there.
"We need to generate our own offense and not let the other team
dictate what we do on the ice," Lemieux said. "They're coming
into our building and we have to prove we're one of the top teams
in the league." Send this story to a friend
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ALSO SEE
Lemieux says he might sit out from time to time
Lemieux skips practice, gets treatment on ailing back
Wild knock off Penguins; Lemieux scoreless but 'OK'
Lemieux in Penguins lineup, says back feeling better
AUDIO VIDEO
 Is the honeymoon over with Mario Lemieux and the NHL? ESPN's Bill Clement weighs in.
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