|
Lemieux out
Lemieux out after new heart scare
Tuesday, December 20, 2005 Posted: 1140 GMT (1940 HKT)
Lemieux must take a break from practice and play after his latest heart scare.
PITTSBURGH, USA -- NHL great Mario Lemieux has been sidelined indefinitely by the Pittsburgh Penguins after his irregular heartbeat problem flared up again during last Friday's overtime loss to Buffalo.
The 40-year-old has been told not to practice for up to two weeks as doctors adjust his medication.
Lemieux was hospitalized on December 7 and diagnosed with atrial fibrillation - a fluttering in his heart that causes his pulse to dramatically increase at times.
Pittsburgh general manager Craig Patrick promised that the legendary center won't return prematurely, as he may have done Friday after practicing for only one day.
"That's the one thing we've got to be careful of -- him feeling the pressure, putting it on himself to get back on the ice," Patrick said.
"We've got to calm him down from here on out, we've got to make sure it's right. We've got to not listen to him this time and say, `No, Mario, not until we say you're ready."'
|
