Sundin returns to NHL rink
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AP
OluÅŸturulma Tarihi: Ocak 09, 2009 00:00
EDMONTON - Swedish center Mats Sundin was understandably rusty in his Vancouver Canucks debut Wednesday, but it didn't matter as his team won 4-2 over the Edmonton Oilers.
"Physically, I felt better than I was hoping. It's good to get that first game out of the way," said Sundin, who signed with the Canucks on Dec. 18 and played in his first game in nine months. Sundin left the Toronto Maple Leafs at the end of the 2007-08 season after being the longest serving non-North American captain in NHL history.Â
His final stat line for Wednesday's game was: 15 minutes of ice time over 24 shifts, no goals, no assists, no shots on net, one hit and 9-for-18 on faceoffs. He admitted his hands failed him at times.
"It's timing, where you come in and shoot, you jam yourself a little bit. And when you're trying to make a pass (it goes) over a stick," Sundin said. "It felt exactly like where you are at the start of a season, where you're trying to get it back, but the only way to get it back is to play games."
Sundin, as per the plan worked out with Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault, saw limited action. He said he heard the boos from Edmonton fans before the game, but not during it. When asked if he had any idea why he was booed, he replied: "No, and I'm not going to worry about it either." He will make his home debut tonight when the Vancouver Canucks host the St. LouisBlues.
His final stat line for Wednesday's game was: 15 minutes of ice time over 24 shifts, no goals, no assists, no shots on net, one hit and 9-for-18 on faceoffs. He admitted his hands failed him at times.
"It's timing, where you come in and shoot, you jam yourself a little bit. And when you're trying to make a pass (it goes) over a stick," Sundin said. "It felt exactly like where you are at the start of a season, where you're trying to get it back, but the only way to get it back is to play games."
Sundin, as per the plan worked out with Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault, saw limited action. He said he heard the boos from Edmonton fans before the game, but not during it. When asked if he had any idea why he was booed, he replied: "No, and I'm not going to worry about it either." He will make his home debut tonight when the Vancouver Canucks host the St. LouisBlues.