Madferret
2-17-06, 10:43 PM
Forsberg declares himself fit to play
Canadian Press
TURIN, Italy (CP-AP) - Peter Forsberg will play for Sweden on Saturday s game against Latvia, surprising many who believed the superstar centre would pull out of the Olympics.
Forsberg, who missed the last eight NHL games before the break with a groin injury, skated with Sweden in practice Friday and decided afterwards he was fit to go.
"I skated. I felt fine," said Forsberg. "No problem at all with the groin. It was better than I expected.
"I practised yesterday morning and it also felt great."
The 32-year-old has 15 goals and 47 assists in 42 games this season but hasn't played since Jan. 25 after aggravating a groin injury.
His return is good news for a Swedish team smarting from a 5-0 loss to Russia on Thursday.
Forsberg, who missed that game and a 7-2 win over Kazakhstan, is expecting to play on the fourth line with P.J. Axelsson and Samuel Pahlsson.
He was determined to play in these Games after missing the 2002 Olympics when he took the entire year off to recover from spleen surgery. He played in the 1998 and '94 Games, scoring the winning goal against Canada in shootout in Lillehammer, Norway.
"I'm looking forward to my first game in three weeks," Forsberg said. "It's proven to be a good decision to have waited a bit longer than I needed to. Maybe I rested a few more days than necessary, but it's better to be safe."
Sweden is also playing without forward Markus Naslund, who also has groin injury and won't play at the Olympics.
The Flyers signed Forsberg to a $10.7-million-US, two-year contract last year and are nervous about him trying to play in Turin following his second groin injury of the season. He missed six games with a torn right groin less than a month into the season.
"I was wondering if I'd have to pack up my things and go home today, but now I can stay," the Swede said.
Forsberg, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with Colorado, is second in scoring for Philadelphia with 62 points, including 15 goals.
http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20060217/forsberg_48041.jpg
Sweden is against the ropes, Floppa comes back early?
Canadian Press
TURIN, Italy (CP-AP) - Peter Forsberg will play for Sweden on Saturday s game against Latvia, surprising many who believed the superstar centre would pull out of the Olympics.
Forsberg, who missed the last eight NHL games before the break with a groin injury, skated with Sweden in practice Friday and decided afterwards he was fit to go.
"I skated. I felt fine," said Forsberg. "No problem at all with the groin. It was better than I expected.
"I practised yesterday morning and it also felt great."
The 32-year-old has 15 goals and 47 assists in 42 games this season but hasn't played since Jan. 25 after aggravating a groin injury.
His return is good news for a Swedish team smarting from a 5-0 loss to Russia on Thursday.
Forsberg, who missed that game and a 7-2 win over Kazakhstan, is expecting to play on the fourth line with P.J. Axelsson and Samuel Pahlsson.
He was determined to play in these Games after missing the 2002 Olympics when he took the entire year off to recover from spleen surgery. He played in the 1998 and '94 Games, scoring the winning goal against Canada in shootout in Lillehammer, Norway.
"I'm looking forward to my first game in three weeks," Forsberg said. "It's proven to be a good decision to have waited a bit longer than I needed to. Maybe I rested a few more days than necessary, but it's better to be safe."
Sweden is also playing without forward Markus Naslund, who also has groin injury and won't play at the Olympics.
The Flyers signed Forsberg to a $10.7-million-US, two-year contract last year and are nervous about him trying to play in Turin following his second groin injury of the season. He missed six games with a torn right groin less than a month into the season.
"I was wondering if I'd have to pack up my things and go home today, but now I can stay," the Swede said.
Forsberg, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with Colorado, is second in scoring for Philadelphia with 62 points, including 15 goals.
http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20060217/forsberg_48041.jpg
Sweden is against the ropes, Floppa comes back early?