AZ Republic - NASH FEELS ENCOURAGED BY QUICK RETURN TO ICE

NASH FEELS ENCOURAGED BY QUICK RETURN TO ICE

David Vest
Jan. 3, 2006
© The Arizona Republic

Left wing Tyson Nash practiced with teammates Monday for the first time since undergoing surgery for a strained abdominal muscle last month.

"I was just going through the motions but I didn't feel anything (wrong), so I just kept on going," Nash said after the hourlong workout at Glendale Arena.

Nash, who had surgery to repair the strain on Dec. 7, said he's not certain when he'll play in a game but he plans to accompany the team on its three-game trip to Ottawa, Buffalo and Toronto next week so he can continue to practice with teammates. A home game on Jan. 16 against Washington appears to be the earliest Nash would return.

"I can't believe I've bounced back so quickly," Nash said. "... But we want to take it easy. We don't want to go crazy."

Nash said it felt good to be on the ice again.

"When you don't play, you don't feel like you are part of the team," Nash said. "It was nice to be out there with the boys working hard and laughing and joking."

Nedved to play Thursday

Center Petr Nedved said he would play Thursday in Los Angeles against the Kings.

Nedved has missed the past four-plus games because of a groin injury.

Meanwhile, the Coyotes reassigned center Pascal Rheaume to top affiliate San Antonio.

Rheaume was recalled on an emergency basis from San Antonio on Friday, and played 6:10 vs. Colorado on Saturday.

Ice chips

Left wing Ladislav Nagy was one of three runners-up to Washington's Alexander Ovechkin for the league's Offensive Player of the Week award.

Nagy notched one goal and seven assists in four games last week.

* Defenseman Keith Ballard did not practice Monday because of a sore knee, and center Dave Scatchard did not practice due to a sore groin.