Dec. 09--Injured Ducks defenseman Ben Lovejoy and forward Dany Heatley rejoined the team at practice Monday, with each expected to accompany teammates on a five-game trip to Canada that starts later this week.
Lovejoy hasn't played since suffering a fractured finger against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 26 and Heatley (groin) has been out since Nov. 9.
"I've been skating a lot the last four weeks, feel like I'm in great shape [and] my finger feels good, been shooting awhile," Lovejoy said. "Right now, I'm full-go. I just need to prove to everybody that I'm good at hockey now."
Lovejoy typically plays next to Cam Fowler in the Ducks' top defensive pair.
"Today was the most fun I've had in six weeks, had a ton of adrenaline," Lovejoy said. "People with more degrees than I will make that [game return date] decision."
Heatley, a former two-time 50-goal scorer, tried to play after suffering his first groin injury in preseason, but was without at point in four games between Oct. 28 and Nov. 9, and was a healthy scratch four times before going to injured reserve.
"Don't know a time frame, but felt real good today," Heatley said. "As long as it keeps getting better, my conditioning gets better, hopefully really quick.
"[I] couldn't do what [I] really wanted to do," in trying to play previously. "You get by, but still feeling it. The time off really helped it. I feel good now."
JETS PLAYER SUSPENDED FOR HIT: Winnipeg forward Evander Kane was suspended by the NHL for two games Monday after boarding Ducks defenseman Clayton Stoner in Anaheim's overtime victory Sunday.
"From the moment both players pivot to pursue the puck ... Kane sees nothing but Stoner's number and throughout this play, Stoner never deviates from his path directly toward the boards with his back directly facing Kane," an NHL Department of Player Safety representative said in a video review of the play. "The onus is on Kane ... to avoid this check completely or minimize contact. Kane did neither."
Stoner continued playing in the game.
Kane loses $56,451.62 in salary for what was his first NHL player safety violation.
COREY PERRY CHECKUP: Ducks goals leader Corey Perry had his sore knee examined Monday and a diagnosis is expected Tuesday.
Perry injured his left knee after being hip checked by Minnesota Wild defenseman Keith Ballard during the first period of the Ducks' 5-4 win Friday.
Perry said Saturday he didn't believe the injury was serious.
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