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Saturday, January 1, 2011
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 31: Mario Lemieux #66 of the Pittsburgh Penguins carries the puck against the Washington Capitals during the 2011 NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game on December 31, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)They could have played this game in the middle of Siberia, and plenty of Pittsburghers would have attended. When Mario Lemieux laces up the skates, it's a big deal.
Before there was a Winter Classic, there was Lemieux. The icon took the ice, perhaps for the final time, contributing two assists and looking typically dominant as the Penguins alumni team tied the Capitals, 5-5, at Heinz Field on Friday morning.
"Just to be out there with Mario," former teammates Phil Bourque said, "was a special thing."
As always, Lemieux was the final player to exit the locker room before the puck dropped. A soothing voice from the Penguins' past made the moment even more special. The voice of John Barbero -- the former Penguins' PA announcer who passed away last summer -- boomed over the Heinz Field speakers, introducing Lemieux.
Missing this game wasn't an option for those who were invited.
"Not too many guys passed up the opportunity to play knowing that Mario was playing," said Gary Roberts, who never played with Lemieux.
In typical fashion, Lemieux was the dominant player on the ice, effortlessly weaving around Washington players and dishing passes with precision. He didn't score a goal, though it was pretty evident he could have at any time. On this day, he was a facilitator.
"He should have shot a couple more times," said Eddie Johnson, who coached the alumni team almost 27 years after drafting Lemieux. "He was wide open and passed it over. But that's Mario. He was always happy with an assist."
Everyone was happy to see Lemieux on the ice.
"It was a lot of fun out there," Lemieux said.
The crowd roared every time the puck touched his blade, and along with putting on his customary show, Lemieux took care of some unfinished business.
He and Rob Brown played on the same line during the 1989-90 season. Brown finished with 49 goals that year.
Early in the first period, Lemieux swooped behind the net and set up Brown for the game's first tally.
"It took 23 years, but he finally got me my 50th," Brown said.
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 31: Mario Lemieux, Kevin Stevens and Ron Francis watch from the bench during the 2011 NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game against the Washington Capitals on December 31, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)All of the alumni players, even Lemieux, looked noticeably slower than during their playing days. But on certain occasions, especially late in the game, Lemieux showed flashes of his old form.
On a late power play, Lemieux danced around two Washington players before setting up Larry Murphy for a goal that was disallowed because Kevin Stevens essentially assaulted Washington goalie Don Beaupre in the crease.
The goal being disallowed was irrelevant.
Seeing Lemieux turn back the clock, if even for a moment, left his old teammates in awe.
"It was awesome to see the stuff he was doing," Bourque said. "You could see it on the power play. The hockey sense never goes away."
Neither does the magic.
It seemed as though Lemieux could still dominate, and still be the center of attention, regardless of his age. Even at 45 and maybe beyond, he was still a second ahead of the play. And, for one morning, the game -- and the city -- still revolved around him.
"A lot of great players play this game," said Paul Coffey, who played with Wayne Gretzky but admitted that Lemieux is the most talented player he ever teamed with. "But only a certain amount think the game as well as play it."
Certainly no athlete in Pittsburgh history can produce magical moments quite like Lemieux.
"It was great to see him out there again," Coffey said.
Lemieux lauds Crosby ... and OvechkinPenguins majority co-owner Mario Lemieux, also a Hockey Hall of Famer and the best player in franchise history, spoke at length Friday morning after the Winter Classic alumni game at Heinz Field. Highlights from his comments yesterday:
• On Sidney Crosby's 25-game scoring streak:
"It was just a matter of time. He's got the ability to do pretty much whatever he wants out there when he puts his mind to it. I'm not surprised that he's had the success he has this year."
"What he did this year with the 25 games with points, it's pretty hard to do in this day and age. It's not the same as it was 20 years ago -- you have good goalies, good defensemen that can skate, and defensive schemes are very good compared with 20 years ago.
"It's pretty impressive what he's been able to do. Just his work ethic is the best in the world, that's why he is the best in the world."
• On Crosby's big lead in the NHL scoring race:
"I think it's much tougher now to dominate the way the league is set up. For him to go out there and do the things he does every night, every shift, is incredible. His talent is unbelievable -- his strength, skating abilities, his shoot(ing) ability has gotten better the last couple years. What he's doing now is much more impressive than what I did years ago."
• On Crosby's approach:
"He thinks about hockey 24 hours a day, even in his sleep it seems like. His work ethic, preparing himself and doing the same thing every day, I don't think what the opposition does really bothers him. He goes on the ice, knows what he has to do and tries to do it every shift."
• On Crosby and Alex Ovechkin being compared to him and Wayne Gretzky:
"They have two different styles from Gretzky and myself. Of course, Ovechkin is very physical, and he's got a great shot. Sid is more about controlling the play and using his strength."
"I think these two, Ovechkin and Sid, do everything they can to promote the game. I think they're doing a great job."
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