Salei Is Skating With an Edge Again

Defenseman Ruslan Salei is back to playing with a physical abandon that made him a somewhat feared player three seasons ago.

Part of the reason is health--he missed 32 games because of injuries last season. But part of it is mental.

Salei was suspended 10 games after injuring Dallas’ Mike Modano in the 1999-2000 season opener. Salei seemed more timid after the incident. He didn’t bury Modano with a hit, but knocked him off balance and the Star forward went head first into the boards, suffering a concussion.

“I think that has been in the back of mind,” Salei said. “I thought about it over and over. It caused me to hold back a little when finishing my checks. It really bothered me.”

Salei was a minus-14 last season, the first time his plus-minus was negative since his rookie season in 1997-98. This season he seems to have reverted back to his former self.

“The last seven or eight games he has been competing with an edge,” Coach Bryan Murray said. “Actually, I’d like him to be a little dirtier at times. He backed off a little bit. He got a bad rap from one hit.”

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Right wing Marty McInnis, who is out because of a sprained right wrist, and enforcer Jim Cummins, who is out because of a torn muscle in his rib cage, practiced with the team Tuesday and during the morning skate Wednesday. McInnis said he hoped to play Friday against Detroit.

“It feels all right when I shoot, but I have trouble griping the stick,” McInnis said. “I need to get that strength back.”

Cummins said he hoped to be ready next week.