PHILADELPHIA -- Eric Lindros stepped out of the dugout to a roar he hadnt heard in Philadelphia in almost 12 years. Big E had his standing O. Lindros pointed his stick toward nearly 49,000 fans and took his long-overdue walk toward the infield ice to join his Flyers teammates. One of the great players in a franchise loaded with them was back in the orange and black. With a packed Philadelphia crowd standing and going wild in appreciation, Lindros made a triumphant return to the city in a Philadelphia Flyers jersey, a bitter parting more than a decade ago forgotten from the moment No. 88 hit the ice for warmups. The red reserved for the Phillies at Citizens Bank park gave way to 40,000 fans in Flyers orange -- so many who paid just to see Lindros play in the alumni showcase, a prelude to Mondays Winter Classic between the Flyers and New York Rangers. Lindros assisted on the first goal of the game, connecting with former Legion of Doom linemate John LeClair, to help the former Flyers beat the old-time Rangers 3-1 Saturday. "It really felt special here," Lindros said. "Its nice to be back and heading out to restaurants and hearing the well wishes around town. Im happy to be here and catch up with some people I havent seen in a while." Lindros last appearance for the Flyers was in May 2000 when he was laid out by New Jerseys Scott Stevens in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals. He would be traded 15 months later to the Rangers because of a nasty falling out with former general manager Bobby Clarke. All was forgiven Saturday. Lindros and Clarke, who won two Stanley Cups with the Flyers in the 1970s, chatted and skated together during warmups. Clarke received a huge ovation from the 45,808 fans who filled a reconfigured ballpark. Lindros also took a seat on the bench during intermission with youth teams playing on an auxiliary rink. The two Flyers greats -- who led a triumphant final lap around the ice when the team left the Spectrum in 1996 -- hadnt talked since the trade until this weekend. "Its good. We talked this morning and everythings great," Lindros said. Clarke, still an adviser to the Flyers, stood by his comments that all ill will toward Lindros evaporated the day of the New York trade. "Hes 38. He can make a comeback," Clarke said, laughing. After Lindros, the loudest cheers were reserved for goalie Bernie Parent. "Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!" echoed throughout the park for the affable goalie, who sparked the phrase in the 70s, "Only The Lord Saves More Than Bernie Parent." Parent played five minutes 32 seconds and stopped all six shots. Each save made the "Bernie!" chants return. "I felt the pressure," Parent said. "Once you get on the ice, you want to perform, you want to do well in front of your fans." Shjon Podein and Mark Howe also scored for the Flyers and Pat Quinn was behind the bench. Flyers founder and chairman Ed Snider dropped the puck for the ceremonial faceoff between honorary captains Clarke and Mark Messier. Messier, Brian Leetch, Adam Graves and Stephane Matteau were among the former Rangers who returned for this reunion, also having won the franchises last Stanley Cup in 1994. Mike Keenan coached the Rangers. "These were successful players who had successful runs," Keenan said. Glenn Anderson scored in the second period for the Rangers. "Once you get to a certain age and have bypassed your prime, theres a lot of mistakes and its pretty funny to watch," Anderson said. Wins and goals hardly mattered Saturday. This was all about Lindros homecoming. Lindros and the Flyers had been estranged since their breakup more than a decade ago. Lindros won a Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, made six all-star teams, and led the Flyers to the Stanley Cup finals in 1997. His career was shortened by a series of concussions, and clashes with management paved his way out of town. From the moment No. 88 peeked out of the Phillies dugout, the crowd stood and started cheering. The fans went wild when Lindros took the long walk to the infield rink that stretched from first base to third base. He raised his arms in triumph and broke into a wide smile after his feed to LeClair put the Flyers up 1-0. LeClair, Lindros and winger Mikael Renberg comprised the popular and productive Legion of Doom line in the 1990s that helped the Flyers out of their darkest era in franchise history and into the finals. The game served as opening act for a weeks worth of games. High school, college and minor league teams will play at Citizens Bank Park and theres an open skate for fans. Saturdays start time was pushed back two hours to 3 p.m. for more ideal temperatures for the outdoor game. The NHL expects Mondays game to start at its scheduled 1 p.m. time. "We have a pretty big window to get the game in," said NHL chief operating officer John Collins. Collins addressed other topics on the future of the Winter Classic: --The NHL isnt likely to stretch much beyond the Midwest for future Winter Classics because it likes the 1 p.m. ET window on Jan. 1 or 2. --The NHL has considered Citi Field, MetLife Stadium, the Yale Bowl, and even West Point as potential sites in New York/New Jersey. Detroit is in the mix as potential future site. --The NHL and HBO have not yet talked about a "24/7" going forward for 2012. --Canadian teams could become part of the Classic. --Collins on the Jan. 1 day off: "Its not ideal that we have this dead day tomorrow. But its kind of nice in that it stretches the event over a couple of days and I think there are more fans who have the ability to come out and touch it and feel it." Pittsburgh Steelers Joe Gilliam Jersey . -- Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Sidney Rice tweeted an apparent goodbye after a report about his pending release. Pittsburgh Steelers Louis Lipps Jersey . The Canadian defensive tackle suffered the injury on Monday and had tests done on Tuesday. He was a potential starter on the defensive line but head coach Mike OShea said he wasnt even thinking about the ratio when he got the news. http://www.cheapsteelers.com/. Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins (5) – He was locked in all night, made huge stops on Benoit Pouliot, Raphael Diaz, Ryan Mcdonagh, Carl Hagelin, Rick Nash (twice) but none better than the three saves on Mats Zuccarello. Cheap Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys Online . -- The way Ted Ligety carved into turns looked so easy. Pittsburgh Steelers Mike Wagner Jersey .ca. Kerry, In Mondays Habs/Bruins game, there were three questionable/brutal calls against the Habs late in the game - Tomas Plekanec, then Douglas Murray, then Brendan Gallagher.DETROIT -- The offensively challenged and banged-up Detroit Red Wings proved to the defending Stanley Cup champions that theyre still tough to beat. Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. "Were a little depleted, but we still have a great team and we showed that," said Patrick Eaves, who had the second of his teams three goals in the shootout and a game-tying goal in the first period. "It was nice to get rewarded for playing well." The Blackhawks faced Detroit for the first time since beating the Red Wings in overtime in Game 7 of their second-round series last year to complete a comeback from a 3-1 deficit. They are only scheduled to play one more time in the regular season because the Red Wings were moved to the Eastern Conference this season as part of the NHLs realignment. "Any time you play the Red Wings, its going to be an intense game given the rivalry and whats happened in the past," Chicagos Patrick Kane said. "Theyre playing through some injuries and havent had any luck as of late in that area, but its still a dangerous team. Sometimes you get these young guys that come up from the minors, they want to prove themselves and prove they belong." Chicago captain Jonathan Toews scored on his teams first attempt in the shootout and Patrick Sharp scored on the second before Kane was stopped with a chance to win a game the Blackhawks led 2-0 in the first period. "They played better as the game went along," Toews said. Gustavsson, playing for the injured Jimmy Howard, made 31 saves in his first game in nearly a month. "It was a good test and I felt good," said Gustavsson, who has been on injured reserve three times this season with a groin injury. "I didnt feel any pain." Corey Crawford gave up four goals on the first 17 shots hhe faced and finished with 27 saves for the Blackhawks.dddddddddddd "We werent very good," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "They worked hard. They were a hard-working team." Chicago took a 2-0 lead when Marian Hossa and Shaw scored 1:45 apart midway through the first period and it looked like the Red Wings were in trouble. Tomas Tatar, though, scored less than a minute later and Eaves tied the game at 2 late in the opening period. "To make it 2-1 was a key in the game," Eaves said. Sharps slap shot just seconds into a power play early in the second put the Blackhawks ahead again, but Kyle Quincey responded 1:17 later in the period with a game-tying goal. Detroits Gustav Nyquist was set up perfectly in front of the net on a go-ahead goal off Henrik Zetterbergs third assist of the night after Justin Abdelkader hustled for loose puck in a corner. "Abby played hard and chased down the puck and set up Z," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. The Red Wings were without injured forwards Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen, Daniel Alfredsson and Joakim Andersson. They did get defenceman Jonathan Ericsson in the lineup for the first time since Dec. 23 when he broke ribs in a game against the New York Islanders. "Getting Big E back made a huge difference for us matchup-wise," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. NOTES: Datsyuk missed his eighth straight game with a lower-body injury, but has begun to skate again and said he will "for sure" play for Russia has its captain next month at the Winter Olympics. ... Crawford hadnt given up four goals since Dec. 5, 2013, since a 4-3 loss to Minnesota and had allowed five goals in two games earlier in the season. ... Chicago was 9-0-1 in its previous 10 regular season games in Detroit. ... Kane hasnt scored in 11 games, the longest streak without a goal since going 12 games without a goal during the 2008-09 season. ... Detroit plays March 16 at Chicago. Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '