Dirty hit on backburner for Moose

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/10/2009 (6089 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ROSEMONT, ILL. — It’s not forgotten, certainly not with one player still out of the lineup and the other just returning tonight.

And no, the Manitoba Moose haven’t exactly forgiven the Chicago Wolves either for a pair of questionable hits the last time these two teams played on Oct. 10 that knocked Moose defencemen Brian Salcido and Lawrence Nycholat out of the lineup.

But with both teams set to do battle here again tonight for the first time since that notable clash, reps for both clubs said following their morning skates here this morning that they now have more important things to worry about than what happened two weeks ago.

For the Moose, it’s improving on a 2-2 record on this six-game road trip in which they’ve shown flashes of brilliant hockey and remarkable inconsistency, game to game, period to period and even shift to shift.

And for the Wolves, it’s getting back to basics after a week of turmoil that’s seen them replace their coaching staff and bring in a 47-year-old hall of fame defenceman in Chris Chelios to help them get back on track after posting a 1-5 record through the first two weeks of the season.

Listen in:
–”It’s a different situation. The coaches aren’t here and the player involved (Wolves forward Brett Sterling, still serving a four-game suspension for the hit from behind on Nycholat) still isn’t here as well. So for me, it’s happened, the league handled it the way they handled it. And it’s unfortunate we don’t have our player (Nycholat) for four weeks. But it’s always been the same rivalry between these two teams. The faces have changed but these two teams always play hard against each other.”

–Moose head coach Scott Arniel
–”You never know what’s going to happen. We do know it’s going to be a good game. They’re one of the top teams in the league. But for us right now, we need to worry about what we do. We need to work our system and play the style of game that has been successful for us.”

–Wolves centre Jason Krog
–”I don’t think it carries over. We’re more worried about getting two points than exacting revenge on somebody. We need a win and that’s all we’re really focused on. We’ll play hard on their guys but that’s the way hockey always is.”

–Moose defenceman Nolan Baumgartner
GAMENOTES…Salcido will be in the lineup tonight for the first time since he suffered a concussion against the Wolves in that Oct. 10 game…Arniel said Nycholat, who suffered a separated shoulder and a knee injury in the hit by Sterling, will be out of the lineup at least another week…10-year NHL veteran — and former Manitoba Moose — Manny Legace will get the start in net tonight for the Wolves.