In the Crease
Sedin returning
The Vancouver Canucks cleared room for the return of high-scoring forward Daniel Sedin by sending forward Matt Pettinger to their AHL affiliate yesterday.Sedin has missed 18 games since his foot was broken Oct. 7 by a teammate's shot in the fourth game of the season. He has led the Canucks in goals in each of the last three seasons.
Sedin would be reunited on the Canucks' top line with identical twin Henrik, likely tonight at home against the Chicago Blackhawks.
"They're still good players when they're not with one another. Hank has proved that," head coach Alain Vignault said earlier this week. "But, obviously, I believe they're better together."
Daniel and Henrik were drafted second and third overall in 1999 by the Canucks and have played most of their careers on the same line. But Daniel's first serious injury - he had missed only 10 games before that in his nine-year career - has proven Henrik can produce offensively without his twin.
He recorded 18 points without Daniel, including 10 goals, and leads the team - and is tied for 10th in the NHL - in scoring with 24 points. With 13 goals already, Henrik is on pace to smash last season's career-best 23.
Scuderi on the mend
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi plans to skate on his own this morning for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury in Tampa on Nov. 14. He hopes to return to the Kings' lineup Wednesday in Edmonton.- Associated Press




