REST: LW Simon Gagne joined the team from Montreal, where he had a followup procedure for a nerve injury in his neck that kept him out of 18 games in October and November.

Coach Guy Boucher said he expected Gagne for Friday's game with the Hurricanes, or perhaps earlier, Tuesday against the Islanders.

"We could have done it later," Boucher said of the procedure, "but that would be close to the playoffs, and we wanted to give ourselves a little bit of time. We want to win every game, but we want our guys healthy, even if we have to sit some guys down in the short term."

HEALING: W Ryan Malone, in another step in his recovery from a mid-body injury that has kept him out of 17 games, skated in line rushes at the morning skate, though he wore a red jersey. Malone is expected back in the lineup around the beginning of April, Boucher said.