The Carolina Hurricanes started this season knowing they would be without Cory Stillman and Frantisek Kaberle for so long it wasn’t worth thinking about getting either back from their offseason shoulder surgeries.
By the time they took on the Boston Bruins on Saturday in the 28th game of the season, a 5-2 Carolina win, that all had changed.
Stillman’s return is imminent, ‘Canes coach Peter Laviolette said, while Kaberle will join the team on its upcoming four-game western trip, traveling with his teammates for the first time this season even as he remains out indefinitely.
Last season, Stillman was tied for second on the team with 76 points, while Kaberle led Carolina defensemen with 44 points.
Stillman scored the goal that eliminated the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs; Kaberle scored the Cup-winner in Game 7 against Edmonton.
Laviolette said Stillman will return to action on the road trip, barring an unexpected setback. “It’s possible I’ll play by the end of the road trip,” an optimistic Stillman confirmed.
The ‘Canes visit Calgary, Stillman’s first NHL team, on Tuesday before traveling to Edmonton on Wednesday, Vancouver on Friday and Colorado on Dec. 11. It is the longest trip of the year.
Oilers: Ryan Smyth of Edmonton is out indefinitely with a broken right thumb, sidelining a player who has 16 goals in 24 games.
The forward hurt his thumb during the first period of a 4-0 loss to Columbus on Saturday night.
To fill the roster spot, the Oilers on Sunday recalled left wing Alexei Mikhnov, a 6-foot-5 Ukrainian, from Wilkes- Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.
Mikhnov, the Oilers’ first choice in the 2000 entry draft, had three goals and seven assists in 13 games. He has appeared in one NHL game – on Oct. 23.
Blues: St. Louis goalie Curtis Sanford will be sidelined six to eight weeks with a pulled groin, the team said.
Jason Bacashihua was recalled from Peoria, Ill., of the AHL.
Sanford, the backup goalie behind Manny Legace, had to be helped off the ice early in the first period in Chicago on Friday after a play that led to the game’s first goal. After moving to stop a shot that was wide, Sanford crumpled to the ice and Jeff Hamilton had an easy tap-in with the rebound.
