NHL tidbits 3/23/07

CRISTOBAL GAZING

The Montreal Canadiens may be getting all-star goalie Cristobal Huet back earlier than anticipated.

The all-star netminder, who has been missing from the Habs lineup since Valentine's Day because of a hamstring injury that placed him on injured reserve, is once again practicing with the team. There is a chance the 31-year-old Frenchman may return to the lineup next week.

During his absence, Slovakian rookie goalkeeper Jaroslav Halak has taken over the reigns from veteran David Aebischer. On Thursday night on the road against the Boston Bruins, in the second game of a home-and-home series this week, Halak earned his third straight victory by stopping 32 of 35 Bruins shots. His record now stands at 6-4-0 in his first 10 NHL appearances.

Despite the 21-year-old Halak's recent strong play at the highest level, the Canadiens won't hesitate to put Huet back between the pipes if 100 per-cent healthy. In his second season with Montreal, the 31-year-old puck-stopper has again put up very good numbers (40 GP, 19-15-3, 2 SO, 2.74 GAA, .918 Sv%) and could be considered the squad's MVP for the second year in a row. That said, Habs management has to be encouraged with Halak's progress this season.

BLACKHAWKS

Czech winger Radim Vrbata is back in action, after a three-game absence because of a wrist injury. Vrbata returned to the Blackhawks lineup Wednesday night at home against the San Jose Sharks. Also, defenseman Dustin Byfuglien has been assigned back to the AHL's Norfolk Admirals, while veteran winger Peter Bondra is now out indefinitely due to personal reasons. In other Blackhawks news, the club has come to terms with University of Wisconsin right-winger Jack Skille on a three-year contract. The No. 7 overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft is a good bet to break camp with the big club next October.

BLUES

The Blues signed defenseman Steven Wagner to an entry-level contract on Wednesday. The 23-year-old blueliner recently completed his junior year at Minnesota State. He led the Mavericks in assists (23) and placed second on the club with 29 points in 38 games. Wagner bypassed his senior year in order to turn pro, and is expected to spend most of the 2007-08 campaign with the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL.

CAPITALS

Defenseman John Erskine will miss the rest of the regular season because of a thumb injury. The 26-year-old tough guy missed his seventh consecutive contest on Thursday night on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes. Erskine also missed 25 games earlier in the season because of a broken foot, and was a healthy scratch for Washington's first four games of the 2006-07 season. He ends his first season in D.C. with seven points, 69 penalty minutes, 14 shots on goal and a minus-13 rating in just 29 games.

COYOTES

Veteran right wing Owen Nolan missed Thursday night's home contest against the Anaheim Ducks due to a leg injury. Nolan is also expected to miss at least one more game. With Nolan out of action, fellow vet Jeremy Roenick returned to the lineup after a one-game absence. Also, enforcer Josh Gratton (shoulder) missed his third straight game against the Ducks Thursday.

FLYERS

With enforcer Todd Fedoruk (concussion) likely done for the rest of the regular season, following his brutal fight with the Rangers' Colton Orr Wednesday, the Flyers have recalled Riley Cote from the AHL's Philadelphia Phantoms to serve as the main tough guy in the 'City of Brotherly Love'. To make room for Cote, the Flyers assigned winger Darren Reid back to the Phantoms.

KINGS

The Kings inked defenseman Joe Piskula to a multi-year, entry-level contract on Wednesday. The 22-year-old Piskula recently completed his junior year at the University of Wisconsin, and decided to turn pro immediately. The 6-3, 210 pounder is considered a defensive defenseman in the making, as his 2006-07 numbers (38 GP, 1-4-5) suggest. He'll probably spent the 2007-08 campaign with the AHL's Manchester Monarchs.

LIGHTNING

Goaltender Johan Holmqvist did not dress for Thursday night's home game against the New Jersey Devils due to the flu. As a result, recent call-up Karri Ramo served as the backup to Marc Denis in the important 3-1 win over Jersey. Denis looked sharp in the victory, as he stopped 34 of 35 Devils shots. Therefore, he may have once again taken the lead over Holmqvist in the battle for the starting nod in the postseason (if Tampa Bay makes it).

RANGERS

With newly signed veteran Jason Strudwick taking over the No. 6 defenseman role this week, the Rangers decided to assign David Liffiton back to the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack on Monday. During his time at the big-league level, the 22-year-old Liffiton appeared in two games and recorded a plus-1 rating, seven penalty minutes and two shots on goal. He has a chance to stick with the big club on a permanent basis next year.

SENATORS

German defenseman/winger Christoph Schubert returned to the Senators lineup on Thursday night on the road against the Florida Panthers. He missed Tuesday night's road tilt at St. Louis due to a hip injury. With Schubert back in action against the Cats, Russian newcomer Oleg Saprykin was once again a healthy scratch in the 4-2 win over Florida. Saprykin has now missed five of 12 games since coming over from Phoenix at the trade deadline.

SHARKS

Rookie center Joe Pavelski, who missed four of San Jose's previous five contests due to a foot injury, returned to action on Thursday night on the road against the Atlanta Thrashers. With Pavelski back in the Sharks lineup, winger Patrick Rissmiller sat out as a healthy scratch for the first time in 2006-07. Rissmiller had only missed one other game this season--February 26 against the Anaheim Ducks because of a leg injury.

WILD

The Wild will not rush goalkeeper Manny Fernandez (knee) back until he's 100 per cent. To that end, Fernandez is expected to return to action only for the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs. In the meantime, Finn Niklas Backstrom is carrying the mail for Minny. On Thursday night at home against the St. Louis Blues, Backstrom stopped 22 of 23 St. Louis shots en route to his 20th win.