Now, Panthers Must Face Lemieux Premier Performer Should Add To Colorado’s Deadly Offense

As if the Colorado Avalanche don’t already have things going their way, now they have Claude Lemieux back for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals.

“He brings a lot of leadership and work ethic, and makes us better,” Colorado defenseman Jon Klemm said of Lemieux, who is returning following a two-game suspension.

It’s hard to imagine that the Avalanche can be any better than they were in winning the first two games in Denver, particularly in Game 2 Thursday night when they beat the Florida Panthers 8-1.

The addition of Lemieux for tonight’s game will add more punch to a lineup that has outscored Florida 11-2 in the first two games.

“In the last three days of practice, Claude has probably been our best player,” Avalanche coach Marc Crawford said Friday.

Although Lemieux has four goals in 17 playoff games, he scored 39 during the regular season and is regarded as a premier playoff performer. Last year, he was the playoff MVP while leading New Jersey to the Stanley Cup championship, one of two rings he has won.

Lemieux also has a dark side, making him a factor when he’s on the ice. In this year’s playoffs, he has been suspended twice for violent hits.

His latest suspension followed what the NHL said was an unwarranted hit from behind on Detroit’s Kris Draper in the Western Conference finals. Draper needed surgery to repair broken bones in his face.

Three teams in NHL history have come back to win the Stanley Cup after losing the first two games - the last the 1971 Montreal Canadiens against Chicago.