Gretzky sparks Thunder

Tim Graham

Wednesday, Oct. 16, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Although the concern isn't as great as it was a few days ago, Brent Gretzky still wonders if his right foot will be amputated.

Not one of the 5,045 fans in attendance could have guessed as Gretzky glided across the Thomas & Mack Center ice Tuesday night. After all, he scored his first two goals of the season -- one breaking a Las Vegas Thunder record -- and added an assist as his team defeated the Houston Aeros 6-4 in an International Hockey League game.

It's even difficult to imagine when speaking with Gretzky about the topic. He mentions the cellulitis around his right ankle as if mentioning what he ate for lunch.

"For a while we were really worried it might have to come off," Gretzky said, lifting his leg upward and making a chopping motion with his flattened hand right above the ankle.

Cellulitis is an acute inflammation of the skin's connective tissues, resulting in a bacterial infection. Hockey players know the painful condition as "skate bite," sometimes caused by the laces digging into their skin.

If the cellulitis continues to progress, gangrene is possible. Once it reaches that point, amputation generally is the only recourse.

Gretzky, 24, missed all three games on the Thunder's recent road trip to rest the ankle, which has been bothering him sporadically since training camp. He has been taking antibiotics and packs his entire root foot in ice to reduce the inflammation after skating.

"We don't want it to get bad again," he said, noting cellulitis generally takes six to eight weeks to go away completely. "But if it gets down to the bone it has to be amputated."

Not at all glum, Gretzky talked about his problem with a smile. He was happy to be playing again.

The Thunder was glad, too.

"Brent Gretzky was the best forward on the ice tonight," head coach Chris McSorley said.

Showing no symptoms of his ailment, Gretzky scored his first goal of the season on a power play at 16:05 of the first period, making the score 2-0.

His second goal, however, was one for the record books. Just nine seconds after Martin Gendron put the Thunder ahead 5-2 in the third period (on a Gretzky assist no less), Gretzky scored off an Egor Bashkatov pass, breaking the Thunder's mark for the quickest two goals scored. The old record of 11 seconds was set in 1993, the Thunder's first year, by Radek Bonk and Steve Gotaas.

"Brent really was a factor," McSorley said. "Right from the get-go, he stood up and became accountable for the game."

But Gretzky, who has yet to record a hat trick in his eight-year pro career, gave his team the credit.

"We have a great team," he said. "I don't think there are any individuals on a team when every line is clicking."

Other goal scorers for Las Vegas were Patrice Lefebvre, who also added an assist, Sergei Zholtok and Blaine Moore. Chris Dahlquist recorded a pair of assists.

The six goals were a season high for the Thunder, which is 4-3-0 heading into tonight's game in Kansas City.

Thunder goaltender Parris Duffus stopped 26 of the Aeros' 30 shots, raising his record to 4-2-0. His counterpart, Frederic Chabot, saved 25 of 31 shots and now is 1-3-1.

Thunderbolts

* ZHOLTOK OUT: Thunder center Sergei Zholtok, who scored his fourth goal of the season Tuesday night, left the game at 16:51 of the first period with a strained right groin. He did not return. According to general manager Bob Strumm, Zholtok will not play while the team evaluates the extent of the injury.

* HELP HAS ARRIVED: The newest member of the Aeros, defenseman Dave Baseggio, touched down at McCarran International Airport just one hour before the game, but was able to hurry into the locker room and dress just before the opening puck drop. He eventually scored his first goal and assist of the season. Baseggio was acquired early Tuesday from the Cleveland Lumberjacks for future considerations.

* SLAP SHOTS: When Patrice Lefebvre opened scoring Tuesday night, it marked the first time all year (six games) the Aeros did not register the opening goal. ... The Aeros' penalty killers had stopped 87.5 percent of their opponents' power-play chances in the three games prior to Tuesday, but allowed the Thunder to score on its first two chances with the extra man. ... The IHL announced Las Vegas' Dec. 8 game at Detroit has been moved to Dec. 9, and will start at 4:30 p.m.