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Diasabra 23 aPriL 2022

Hockey Hall of Famer Guy Lafleur dies at age 70

move both the upper lobe of Gary Bettman said in a state- druple bypass surgery in Sep-
his lung and lymph nodes. ment. “As distinctively stylish tember 2019 after it was dis-
as he was remarkably talent- covered four of his coronary
Lafleur, however, received ed, Lafleur cut a dashing and arteries were fully blocked,
bad news in October 2020 unmistakable figure when- and a fifth was clogged close
that the cancer was back, ever he blazed down the ice to 90 percent, during a rou-
forcing him to resume his of the Montreal Forum, his tine medical exam to have
treatment. long blond locks flowing in his helicopter pilot’s license
his wake as he prepared to ri- renewed.
“I get the immunotherapy fle another puck past a help-
the first three weeks, and less goaltender — or set up a Once the cancer was discov-
then the fourth week I have linemate for a goal.” ered, he had one-third of his
the big chemo,” Lafleur said right lung removed by doc-
in an interview with The Ca- Named one of the NHL’s tors two months later.
nadian Press in November. 100 greatest players of all-
time in 2017, Lafleur finished A chain smoker up until
“It’s the chemotherapy that with 560 goals and 793 assists those health scares, Lafleur
(AP) — Hockey Hall of tive pride. He was one of the really hurts you badly.” in 1,126 games in his 17 sea- had been partnering with
Famer Guy Lafleur, who greatest players in our orga- sons. Merck Canada as part of its
helped the Montreal Ca- nization while becoming an Lafleur’s family released a “Be The MVP” campaign to
nadiens win five Stanley extraordinary ambassador for statement earlier this month He holds the Canadiens’ all- raise awareness about early
Cup titles in the 1970s, has our sport.” thanking fans for their em- time record for assists and lung cancer detection.
died at age 70. pathy and “the outpouring of points. He scored at least 50
Prime Minister Justin love” shown the Canadiens’ times in six straight cam- “There’s not too many peo-
The No. 1 pick in the 1971 Trudeau, a noted Canadiens great, adding he was being paigns from 1974-75 to 1979- ple that have a chance to grab
NHL draft, Lafleur registered fan, said Lafleur was “unlike monitored closely by doctors 80. it from the beginning,” Laf-
518 goals and 728 assists in 14 anyone else on the ice.” and had occasional hospital leur said in his November
seasons with Montreal. With checkups, but was at home. Lafleur won the Art Ross interview with CP. “Most
the flashy forward leading the “His speed, skill, and scor- Trophy as the NHL’s lead- people when they find out,
way, the Canadiens won it all ing were hard to believe,” Lafleur, who retired from the ing scorer three straight years it’s Stage 4.
in 1973, and then four more Trudeau posted on Twitter. NHL in 1985 after Montreal from 1976 to 1978, the Hart
times from 1976 to 1979. “A record-setter and a five- denied his request for a trade, Trophy as league MVP in “It’s not too late, because
time Stanley Cup champion, was inducted into the Hock- 1977 and 1978, and the Conn there’s miracles out there,
Canadiens President Geoff he inspired countless Que- ey Hall of Fame in 1988. But Smythe Trophy as playoff and there’s people that are
Molson said the organization becers, Canadians, and hock- he made a comeback later MVP in 1977. surviving.”
was devastated. ey fans around the world. that year with the New York
Rangers and then played two “As a boy in Montreal, Guy Lafleur, who had his No. 10
“Guy Lafleur had an excep- Nicknamed “The Flower,” more seasons with the Que- was larger than life to me,” sweater retired by the Ca-
tional career and always re- LaFleur was diagnosed with bec Nordiques before hang- fellow Hall of Fame forward nadiens in 1985, hadn’t been
mained simple, accessible, lung cancer in 2019 when ing up his skates for good in Mario Lemieux said in a out in public much in recent
and close to the Habs and tumors were discovered by 1991. statement. “I idolized him as years following his cancer di-
hockey fans in Quebec, Can- doctors performing emer- a player, I respected him as a agnosis and the COVID-19
ada and around the world,” gency quadruple bypass heart “You didn’t need to see Guy person, and always cherished pandemic, but did get a thun-
Molson said in a statement. surgery. Lafleur’s name and number him as a friend. He will be derous ovation at the Bell
“Throughout his career, he on his sweater when ‘The missed.” Centre during Montreal’s
allowed us to experience Two months later, he went Flower’ had the puck on his improbable run to last sea-
great moments of collec- under the knife again to re- stick,” NHL Commissioner Lafleur underwent his qua- son’s Cup final.

Grizzlies claw back from 26 down, beat Wolves in Game 3

(AP) — Ja Morant and The Grizzlies tied their fran- Grizzlies, who seized back to regroup,” said Towns, who
the Memphis Grizzlies chise record for the biggest home-court advantage from Russell went 0 for 3 and was had five blocks.
arrived in Minnesota, de- comeback victory, down by a stunned Wolves team that scoreless in the fourth. Karl-
termined to seize control 26 early in the second quar- won Game 1 on the road 130- Anthony Towns, Minnesota’s After taking a 47-21 lead early
of the series from a young, ter. They were also down by 117 and took an ugly 124-96 other max-contract player, in the second quarter with a
confident Timberwolves 25 late in the third. loss in Game 2. had another clunker on of- deafening roar in the 32-year-
team that looks and acts a fense with eight points, five old downtown arena as the
lot like them. Brandon Clarke scored 16 “No one said it as going to fouls and only four shots. soundtrack, the Wolves were
of his 20 points in the sec- be easy. We don’t want it outscored 15-0 over the final
The Grizzlies are growing up ond half for Memphis, which to be easy. We want it to be “It’s really tough. We’ve got 5:45 of the second quarter.
a lot faster. closed the game on a stagger- extremely hard, and it was,”
ing 50-16 run over the final said Patrick Beverley, who
Desmond Bane made seven 15:10. had 14 points for the Wolves.
3-pointers and had 26 points
and Memphis overcame a “That’s why we’re really the The Wolves were outscored
26-point deficit to beat the deepest team in the league,” 23-12 in the second quarter
Minnesota Timberwolves said Ja Morant, who had the and 37-12 in the fourth, piti-
104-95 on Thursday night franchise’s first postseason fully putting to waste some
for a 2-1 lead in the first- triple-double with 16 points, superb basketball in the first
round playoff series. 10 rebounds and 10 assists — and third periods.
and told his team afterward
“We found a way to get some he needed to play better. “When we get too high, it
stops. Our offense started comes back and it haunts us,”
clicking a little bit more,” Tyus Jones hit two dagger said D’Angelo Russell, who
Bane said, “and the rest is 3-pointers against his for- had 22 points and eight as-
history.” mer team down the stretch to sists as the key driver of Min-
finish with 11 points for the nesorta’s third-quarter surge.