The nerves will be jangling, of that Alex Plante is certain.
Set to play his first NHL game, he?ll step into the Oilers beat-up blue-line for Monday night?s game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
?I?m really excited and looking forward to it. I?ll just have to try and stay level-headed,? said Plante, recalled from the Springfield Falcons on Sunday, one day after veteran Sheldon Souray broke his hand in a fight with the Calgary Flames? Jarome Iginla.
Souray is to meet with medical staff on Tuesday to determine the course of action. Surgery is the most probable scenario.
?It?s never easy being on a struggling team, but in Springfield, we?re not doing so hot either. I?ll just come up and play my game and contribute as much as I can,? said Plante, who will play with steady veteran Jason Strudwick.
?He is a raw rookie, but if he?s handling everything OK and there?s no reason to think he won?t, we?ll give him an opportunity to show what he?s learned to this point,? said coach Pat Quinn.
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Short shifts ? Jeff Deslauriers will start in net; Mike Comrie will return to the lineup as will Zack Stortini. Marc Pouliot will sit. The other spectator has not yet been determined. ?As someone asked, is the roulette wheel still turning?? Quinn said.
Set to play his first NHL game, he?ll step into the Oilers beat-up blue-line for Monday night?s game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
?I?m really excited and looking forward to it. I?ll just have to try and stay level-headed,? said Plante, recalled from the Springfield Falcons on Sunday, one day after veteran Sheldon Souray broke his hand in a fight with the Calgary Flames? Jarome Iginla.
Souray is to meet with medical staff on Tuesday to determine the course of action. Surgery is the most probable scenario.
?It?s never easy being on a struggling team, but in Springfield, we?re not doing so hot either. I?ll just come up and play my game and contribute as much as I can,? said Plante, who will play with steady veteran Jason Strudwick.
?He is a raw rookie, but if he?s handling everything OK and there?s no reason to think he won?t, we?ll give him an opportunity to show what he?s learned to this point,? said coach Pat Quinn.
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Short shifts ? Jeff Deslauriers will start in net; Mike Comrie will return to the lineup as will Zack Stortini. Marc Pouliot will sit. The other spectator has not yet been determined. ?As someone asked, is the roulette wheel still turning?? Quinn said.
