Lindros hopes first goal leads to better times

Benched in quarterfinals, he gets 1 of Canada's 7 goals in win over Belarus.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 23, 2002

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah -- Eric Lindros' usual move after scoring a goal is to throw his arms skyward in celebration.

But after his third-period tally Friday during Canada's 7-1 victory over Belarus in the hockey semifinals, he smashed his stick against the E Center ice.

"I think back to the theory of the big red oak," Lindros said. "You keep chopping, and the thing will eventually drop. I think I put it through the driveway and onto the cement."

Lindros' first goal, and point, of the tournament couldn't have come at a better time. The struggles for the Rangers center were so acute during Wednesday's quarterfinal victory over Finland, he was benched for most of the second period and all of the third.

Coach Pat Quinn sent another message he hopes will carry into Sunday's gold-medal game against the United States by starting Lindros' line, which included wings Owen Nolan and Ryan Smyth, in each period against Belarus.

"Eric is a powerful player," Quinn said. "We feel he can make a great contribution to us. He was playing well, and we kept putting him out there."

"It's nice to get some ice time and go and play," said Lindros, who is minus-2. "You want to take advantage of the opportunities given to you."

Canada has an opportunity to end 50 years without Olympic gold, something that seemed far-fetched after a preliminary-round loss to Sweden.

But Canada (3-1-1) has improved steadily after abandoning the more wide-open international game in favor of the more comfortable NHL, grind-it-out style.

That resulted in a 51-14 advantage in shots against Belarus and goals by Steve Yzerman, Eric Brewer, Scott Niedermayer, Paul Kariya, Simon Gagne and Jarome Iginla.

"It's all there for us," Lindros said. "We have a lot of work ahead of us. We're going to do the best we can to finish off something that hasn't been on the smoothest path."

The same can be said for Lindros.

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