COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The normal jocularity was absent at the beginning of practice after experiencing a 4-2 loss to the Dallas Stars 13 hours previously. Coach Todd Richards was slightly more vocal as he put the guys through drills with a definite up-tempo feel to them. It's time to refocus, boys.
The guys came off the ice saying that it was a hard, fast-paced practice, but by no means a bag-skate. They knew they needed this and responded to the drills with a jump in their step.
Forward Ryan Johansen, after playing 20 minutes the night before, didn't seem the worse for wear Wednesday. He scored two goals and has been ahead of the expected curve of getting back to 'game shape'.
"It's still early in the season," said Richards, "and he's still working to get himself into the 'game shape' that I think he wants to get into."
As for playing 20 minutes against the Stars, Richards said about Johansen, "He's getting better. You can see he's getting stronger. There are still areas where you can see that he gets winded out on the ice. Just like anybody, after you spend 45 seconds skating around hard, it's going to drop off."
"But, each day... I think he's getting better."
As Johansen gets better, the team hopes to follow suit. The fact that they seemed to refocus this quickly after a loss shows that they are maturing as a group.
Like a fine wine, they will only get better with age.
This and that
Cam Atkinson did not participate in practice Wednesday. Richards said he was a "little nicked up," but fully expects him to be in the lineup on Friday for the game against the visiting Calgary Flames.
Ryan Murray will be seeing a doctor on Friday, looking to get clearance to play. He's been practicing with the team and taking part in contact drills. He said that the doctor wanted to see how his knee looks and feels after a full week of hard practice.
Does this lead to the potential of him making his season debut on Friday within the friendly confines?
"I think Friday is pushing it," said Richards. "My fingers are crossed, but Friday might be pushing it."
Although Richards acknowledged a few days ago that Murray isn't quite to the status of automatically going straight into the lineup when healthy, that could change.
"We'll see," Richards said. "He's earned a lot of trust. I think there's a great belief in him and what he can bring to this team. We'll have to make the right decision when the time comes."
Next game and a road trip
Columbus will host the visiting Calgary Flames on Friday at Nationwide Arena before heading out on a four game road trip. They visit the Senators north of the border in Ottawa on Saturday and then it's off to sunny California for games against the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks and the Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings.
