It's been month since my last blog (sorry it's been a little crazy!). Now that we have a couple days between games, it gives me a some time to catch up. The last time I wrote, I was anticipating my return so looks like I've got lots to talk about...



I didn't know for sure that I was going to be able to play against Edmonton in that first game but I had a feeling and I knew I wanted to. Being back on the ice is great, I feel good, my body feels really good so there are no issues there at all. I'm just trying to get used to the speed and the timing out there and that just takes playing a few games.



Our schedule hasn't been kind so it would be nice to play a game and have a couple days off, evaluate things, play another game but it's just been coming fast and furious. With the injuries, it's made it even more difficult to recover from games but as a team we're keeping our head above water and for us, when we got above that eighth spot line that's staring at us all the time in our dressing room, it's nice to see.



When I was rehabbing, it was so hard to watch your teammates and not be able to contribute on the ice but it was so much fun to get into those first few games. I just have to keep the focus and keep playing simple, trying not to do too much out there and getting more involved. I'm slowly trying to get back where I feel comfortable and the game feels easier out there.



A brand new experience for me this year was in Anaheim when I played up front because I've never had to play forward in the NHL but even in that game, I pretty much played as a third defenceman so it wasn't that much different. I actually enjoyed it because I got to be a little more aggressive, I think it helped me get some of my timing as far as playing guys one on one and being able to close the gap and stay aggressive when forwards come down the rush. I was able to get a few more hits and be a little more physical, which gave me more confidence on how I feel about my shoulder.



It was nice to get the first goal, especially in my second game back against Detroit but obviously you want it to be in a winning cause but at the time, it put us in the lead, so at that time, it was something to really celebrate. It's a big part of my job playing here is that when I get my opportunities on the powerplay is to get pucks through like that so I'm not going to waste those chances. It was certainly nice to get it early, sometimes it can get dragged out and go six, seven, eight games without scoring. Now I've got the first one and got the monkey off my back so now I can just relax and just play when I go out there.



This is the first really long trip that I've been on with the team this year and last year being in the East you don't often have a lot of long road trips - they're always one or two games and then come home. I think a lot of times it's good for a club to go out on the road. I don't want to use a cliché but all the Western teams that I've played on, there always seem to be good bonding. You basically live together for two weeks so it just happens that the group gets really close.



Abigail's birthday was last week on November 5th, which I missed but I'll definitely make it up to her when I get home. My wife organized a manicure and pedicure birthday party for her and her girlfriends. She's always spoiled rotten on her birthday and I'll have a surprise for her when I get home.



I think that's all I've got this time. I'll try not to take so long between posts next time!