The well-publicized accounts of Blackhawks winger Theo Fleury's battles with addiction got a new chapter earlier this week. Fleury and two unnamed teammates, reported to be rookie standout Tyler Arnason and Phil Housley, were involved in an incident at a Columbus, Ohio, strip club at around 4 a.m. on Sunday. A police report described Fleury, who is in the NHL's substance-abuse aftercare program, as intoxicated after a fight with several bouncers.
A report in the Winnipeg Sun said that three Blackhawks players were ejected from Pure Platinum after violating club rules, and the fight started after Fleury hit an employee on the way out the door. The paper also reported that the club is considering legal action, although it is unlikely that will happen.
Fleury was not suspended because the behavior wasn't deemed a violation of the program and will play in today's game against the Penguins.
"He's a really nice guy," said Shean Donovan, who played with Fleury briefly as members of the Colorado Avalanche in 1999. "I don't know too much about what's going on with him now. I think it's getting overblown, but that's just the way things are now. The only thing on ESPN these past couple days for hockey has been about Theo, and it's too bad for Theo. He was a nice guy in Colorado so I hope he gets better."
Fleury has been candid about dealing with his substance abuse since an Oct. 8 suspension for violating the program was lifted Dec. 5. He has seven goals and eight assists in 24 games this season and is averaging 17:32 in ice time.
The Blackhawks changed their post-Pittsburgh itinerary in light of the strip-club incident. They were to remain in Montreal after their game there Sunday through Tuesday, when they would leave for Boston for a game Thursday.
NEED MORE POWER IN THE PLAY
Although not all of the Penguins' offensive troubles lately can be attributed to the power play, their lack of punch on the advantage certainly isn't helping. They went 0 for 7 in their 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Thursday, bringing their four-game total to 0 for 19. During that span, they've scored four goals and been shut out twice.
"Sometimes, it's just not working," Martin Straka said yesterday. "Sometimes, you hit those slumps during the year. The rebounds are there, we just couldn't get any in. We've got to shoot a little more. Some power plays, we look so bad, but some, we look pretty good and get some chances. We just need to score. Sometimes, that's the way it goes."
The Penguins have just one power play goal in the last seven games, and their overall percentage has slipped from 30 percent early in the season to 23.2. They still have the best record in the league, but St. Louis and Boston are closing in on them with a 21.2 percent rate and 21, respectively.
LEMIEUX AT LEAST DAYS AWAY
Penguins coach Rick Kehoe said Mario Lemieux will not play today, and although there is no timetable for his return, the NHL's leading scorer – for now – won't just pop back into the Penguins lineup.
"We won't know until he gets back on the ice and gets a couple practices in," Kehoe said. "He's not just going to come out and have a morning skate and start playing. Maybe 10 years ago, he could've, but he needs a couple practices now."
Lemieux was first injured on Jan. 7 against the New York Islanders. He tried to return on Jan. 13 but "tweaked" a different part of the groin and has not played since.
SLAP SHOTS
Forward Randy Robitaille and defenseman Andrew Ference will both be back in the lineup today. Robitaille practiced with Alexei Kovalev and Jan Hrdina yesterday but said he didn't know if that would be his actual line today. Ference has been a healthy scratch for the past seven games and nine of the last 11. Robitaille has been in and out of the lineup ever since breaking his ankle five games into the season.
