Flyers fans give Lindros warm greeting

Visit our special Winter Classic section of Philly.com, with exclusive multimedia, video, photos and everything you need to enjoy the game: www.philly.com/winterclassic

Along with a chance to appreciate hockey nostalgia at its highest, one of the most remarkable aspects of the alumni game between the Flyers and New York Rangers was the renewed appreciation fans displayed for Eric Lindros.

It could be argued that Lindros drew the loudest pregame ovation on the applause meter from the crowd of 45,808 as the Flyers alumni defeated the New York Rangers, 3-1, Saturday at an emotion-filled Citizens Bank Park.

The score was inconsequential, although the booing of the Rangers during pregame introductions showed that the fans can't help displaying their dislike of New York, regardless of the stakes.

All weekend Lindros played the role of the prodigal Flyer who left the team amid rancor and returned a beloved figure.

The animosity between Lindros during his final days as a Flyer and then-general manager Bob Clarke has been well-documented.

Both parties appear to have put the situation behind them and, obviously, so have the fans. Lindros was also loudly cheered during an alumni team practice Friday before an overflow crowd at the Skate Zone in Voorhees.

About a half hour before Saturday's game, he was shown on the jumbo screen and the crowd erupted. The ovation was even louder during the pregame introductions.

The only Flyer who even approached such an enthusiastic response was goalie Bernie Parent.

"I had a good time and it was real nice to get back in town and hear that," Lindros said as he talked to wave after wave of reporters. "It was really special."

Parent himself was taken aback by the crowd's enthusiastic response to Lindros.

"I thought it was awesome," Parent said. "Let's remember, the first two or three years he played, he was the best hockey player in the world before he got hurt."

Lindros' career was marred by a succession of concussions. Lindros, now 38, retired after the 2006-2007 season with 372 career goals.

On Friday, he said he had put his feud with Clarke behind him. Clarke said the same thing after Saturday's game.

"We had our battles, but once he was gone it was over, I thought," Clarke said. "We're all Philadelphia Flyers."

Lindros said he talked to Clarke about, among other things, training tips. Nothing deep, but at least cordial.

Lindros was a six-time all-star and won the Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP of the 1994-95 season.

"Once Eric was gone, the wounds were over as far as we were concerned," Clarke said. "Eric was an MVP in the NHL for the Philadelphia Flyers and is a big part of the Flyers, and I'll always campaign for him to be in the Hall of Fame."

Lindros had the assist on the game's first goal, setting up John LeClair. Late in the game he missed a chance at an empty-net goal.

"Maybe in 15 years I will get another chance," Lindros said with a smile.

Lindros admitted that he had no idea what kind of reception he would receive.

"I didn't know what to expect," he said.

All in all, this was a happy ending to 2011 for Lindros.

"It was great," he said. "I am really happy to be back here in the city and see teammates and catch up with some of the other guys from the '70s."

And it was apparent this weekend that the fans were just as happy to show their appreciation.