hawks....
NOTE: The Hawks returned from Montreal late Monday night and did not skate Tuesday. Their work was limited to 30 minutes in the exercise room.
avs....
If Blake skates this morning, it will be the first time he has been able to stay on the ice for any length of time since suffering his groin injury in a Nov. 27 game against Florida. We're in no rush (to play Blake)," Hartley said. "We've played very well. Even if we would have played awful, this is a long season, and there's no way you can have a player that logs 30 minutes a game to play with a bad groin. We'll take the time we need with Robbie to bring him back at 100 percent. If he feels 90 (percent) or even 95, we won't play him."
columbus update.....
SUNRISE, Fla. -- For the first time in nearly two months, the Blue Jackets expect to have all of their forwards healthy at 7:30 tonight when they play the Florida Panthers in the National Car Rental Center.
Geoff Sanderson (deep back bruise) and David Vyborny (strained hip) have skated the last two days with good results, and both have been cleared to play.
The only player who might sit out is defenseman Mattias Timander (hip flexor), but even he might suit up if he decides the pain is tolerable.
"It's a little bit exciting to have a chance to be close to a complete lineup,'' coach Dave King said. "Especially up front. It gives us a chance to put three lines together that potentially can do some scoring. We haven't had that for some time.''
It also creates a question King hasn't had to face for a while -- where to fit everybody.
It looks as though Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre will shift back to defenseman after playing most of the last month up front. Kevin Dineen has skated with Blake Sloan and Serge Aubin the last two days in practice and might take Grand-Pierre's spot.
That, though, would leave the Blue Jackets with eight defensemen, two more than they need to play a game. If Timander can't play, that's one spot. Jamie Heward likely would be scratched to clear another. If Timander plays, though, King will have a tough call.
"We have guys who have played well in the interim when some of the injured guys have been out,'' King said. "Those choices are always tough, but we have to make them.''
Sanderson said his back feels much better than it did when he returned Nov. 17. He played in four games before shutting it down again, and sat out the last four before tonight.
"It's stronger, more range of motion, less pain,'' Sanderson said. "I just feel like I'm more on top of it and that there's much less probability of reinjuring it than before.''
From a guy who scored 30 goals last season for the Blue Jackets, that's welcome news. Sanderson has skated the last two days on a line with center Espen Knutsen and right winger Chris Nielsen.
Look for Ray Whitney, who has provided quite an offensive spark since his return from a collarbone strain on Nov. 9, to skate with center Mike Sillinger and right winger Grant Marshall. The third line likely will be left winger Robert Kron, center Tyler Wright and Vyborny.
"It's the first time we've had a full lineup in a long, long time,'' Sanderson said. "I just hope the injury bug that went through our team is gone. It's been a pretty depressing factor.''
EASY, BOYS -- Despite the fevered pitch that's almost guaranteed tonight, the Blue Jackets would do well to avoid the penalty box.
The Panthers don't have many strengths, but their power play -- ranked 10th in the league at 17 percent -- is perhaps the biggest.
"We're going to have to play hard but smart,'' King said. "They have a lot of skill. They have a lot of guys who can move the puck, guys that are really good power-play-type guys.''
On the flip side, the Blue Jackets might be able to cash in big time if their power play clicks. Florida is the most-penalized team in the NHL, averaging 23.7 minutes in penalties per game. The Blue Jackets are the third lowest, at 12.9 minutes.
[This message has been edited by wigs (edited 12-05-2001).]
