Pittsburgh's Lemieux is the strong, silent owner
STANLEY CUP FINALS FYI
The former superstar, who led the Penguins to two Cup championships, is one of the biggest supporters of the current team. Just don't ask him about it.
PITTSBURGH -- Mario Lemieux, who led the Penguins to Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992 and later saved the franchise from financial ruin by taking a majority ownership stake, remains a towering and much loved figure here.
Unfortunately for the NHL, instead of sharing his thoughts about his team's season-saving, 3-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings Wednesday or its potential to be a league power for years to come, he has chosen to be the strong, silent type during the Cup finals.
Lemieux is with the players often -- and sees Sidney Crosby just about every day because Crosby has been living in Lemieux's home since he joined the Penguins. Lemieux also visits the locker room after practices and games and usually watches the action from a suite at Mellon Arena.
He visited the locker room Wednesday after the game but avoided reporters, consistent with his denials of interview requests since the playoffs began.
He has said he doesn't want to take attention away from the team. Since he owns it, he gets to do what he wants.
Players say that he's supportive but not intrusive.
"He's been around there to shake guys' hands after certain games. He's around every once in a while," said fourth-line forward Adam Hall, whose third-period goal Wednesday ensured the Penguins would cut Detroit's series lead to 2-1.
"But I think for the most part he just kind of lets the team be in the locker room and that's about it."
Pittsburgh forward Maxime Talbot knows him slightly better.
"I got invited to his golf tournament," Talbot said today, referring to Lemieux's annual celebrity tournament that benefits cancer research.
"It's awesome. He's a great owner. He's around sometimes. You see him in the room. I don't think he wants to be there too much."
Talbot recalled sitting in Lemieux's private box while he was out of the lineup because of a foot injury.
"You can see he's still really passionate about the game," Talbot said. After games, "he's all excited and I think he's living that through us, and it's great."
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Detroit forward Tomas Holmstrom, who missed several shifts Wednesday after taking a hard hit from Penguins defenseman Hal Gill, "didn't feel too good" after the game, Coach Mike Babcock said.
His status for Game 4 on Saturday will probably be determined Friday.
