Draper Requires Surgery

Fri., May 31, 1996

Compiled From Wire Services

Detroit Red Wings center Kris Draper, who was smashed into the boards by Colorado’s Claude Lemiuex in Game 6 of the conference finals, will have his fractured jaw surgically repaired today.

Draper already has 40 stitches in his right cheek and the right side of his face is swollen and bruised.

Lemiuex received a game misconduct and was ejected after hitting Draper from behind in the first period of Wednesday’s game, which the Avalanche won 4-1 to advance to the Stanley Cup finals.

Lemieux, who was suspended in Game 4 for sucker-punching Detroit’s Vyacheslav Kozlov, said his hit on Draper was no different than others he’s delivered.

“I’ve hit guys many, many times in the same position and nothing happened. He buried his head, looking down at the puck as I hit him, and that caused him to go into the board and caused the injury,” Lemieux said.

“The only thing that I can say about that is that in playoff hockey there’s not a lot of fights … so you can get away with more,” Draper said.

The NHL announced the hit was “under review.” A review doesn’t necessarily mean a suspension or a fine, but both are possible.

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Draper Requires Surgery

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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