The return of the turtle

Claude "The Turtle" Lemieux returns to the Joe tonight, when the Sharks come to town to play the Red Wings. It's not the same Turtle - he's older, no longer one of the Avs and is attempting a career comeback - but for many Wings fans, he will always be hated.

For those who don't remember, Lemieux took a cheap shot to the head of Chris Draper during the 1996 playoffs. That cowardly hit left Drapes with a concussion and a broken jaw, cheek and orbital bones - those injuries required extensive reconstructive surgery. The next year (proving the adage "revenge is a dish best served cold"), Darren McCarty pummeled Lemieux during a slobberknocker of a game which had 18 major penalties for fighting and large patches of blood painting the ice. Even the goalies - Vernon and Roy - got into the bloody melee, much to the delight of the Hockeytown fans.

In case you missed the sheer beauty of the March 26, 1997 game, here are some highlights:



I'll watch tonight's game and will boo along with those in attendance each time Lemieux steps on the ice. Welcome back, Turtle.