Off Suspension, Fleury Gets Goal

CHICAGO — Veteran Theo Fleury played his first game of the season Friday for the Chicago Blackhawks after serving a suspension for violating the NHL’s substance abuse aftercare program.

Fleury, 34, scored the Blackhawks’ first goal in a 4-3 loss to the Mighty Ducks and was a crowd favorite the entire game.

“I feel like a little kid at Christmas,” said Fleury, a seven-time All-Star who signed a two-year, $8.5-million contract with Chicago on Aug. 15.

He missed 25 games.

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Duck rookie right wing Jonathan Hedstrom was sent back to Cincinnati of the American Hockey League before Friday’s game. Dan Bylsma, a healthy scratch in four of the previous five games, returned to the lineup.... Defenseman Ruslan Salei did not play for the fourth time in five games because of a back strain.

-- Lonnie White