Back Nine Begins...

If you want to compare the Blazers season to a round of golf, it's safe to say they double-bogeyed the ninth on their way into the clubhouse.

Now, with a sandwich, a drink and a fresh slate, the Blazers have some renewed optimism as they sit on the 10th tee.

If you want to make a further comparison, the Blazers may be short three or four clubs in the bag to begin the back as seven regulars will be out of the line-up tonight. The list is as follows:

F Dalibor Bortnak - Slovakia WJ
F Bernard Keil - Germany WJ
F Logan Mcveigh - Team West U-17
D Brady Gaudet - Team West U-17
F Jordan DePape - game five of a five game suspension
D Brandon Underwood - one game suspension
D Josh Caron - collarbone (more below)

The Blazers enter the game with 15 skaters tonight against the Giants but their opposition is the last team you would expect sympathy from. The Giants have played without several bodies for most of the season and are now just starting to get some of them back.

As for D Josh Caron, visa problems delayed his trip to Minnesota to get evaluated by the Wild. It means he'll fly out either today or tomorrow with Visa in hand. He will spend a couple days before returning home.

The Blazers will have call-ups F Matt Needham and D Landon Cross in the line-up tonight. For Cross, it's his WHL debut. He will be the Blazers fifth defenseman and the coaching staff will try to work him into good situations in tonight's game.

The game kicks off a home-and-home set. The Blazers return home to host the Giants tomorrow night at ISC.

We're on the air tonight at 6:30pm on Radio NL with the pre-game show, play-by-play at 7.

jon