Vancouver forward Alex Burrows will return to the Canucks' lineup Tuesday night at Edmonton after missing the first month of the season following offseason shoulder surgery.
Burrows, who led the Canucks with 35 goals last season, returned to full-contact practice last week, but must miss at least 10 games because he started the season on the long-term injury list. The Canucks' 10th game is Monday night against visiting New Jersey.
''It's been a long time, so obviously I'm really looking forward to it,'' said Burrows, who last played in the playoffs in May. ''It might take a couple of games to get back to game speed, I haven't been in any games or even scrimmages in a long time.''
Burrows had a career-best 67 points last season playing mostly on the top line with identical twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin. He isn't sure where he'll play when he returns, but is happy to be healthy after struggling with the shoulder since February.
''It s tough to say a number, I don t really say 100 percent,'' he said. ''But one thing is for sure, I feel better than last year.''
Vancouver will get defenseman Keith Ballard back for Monday's game against the Devils after missing 15 games with a head injury he sustained from being slammed into the boards Oct. 15 in Los Angeles. Fellow defender Dan Hamhuis remains out for a fifth straight game with a foot bruised blocking a shot.
