Cloutier set to play
(Gordon McIntyre, the Vancouver Province, 2/22/02)
Dan Cloutier still feels a tinge of pain, but nothing that will keep him out of the lineup any longer.
The Canucks starting goalie hasn't played and has barely skated since injuring his ankle Jan. 21.
But after handling shots from Canucks returning from the Olympic break and alumni in a scrimmage at Burnaby 8-Rinks Thursday, he announ-ced himself game-ready.
"It feels really close to 100 per cent," said Cloutier. "Once you get to this stage, it improves so much every day. I could play [tonight] if we had a game."
The way Cloutier figures it, NHL shooters will be as rusty as he is.
"When you miss a week, it's the same thing as missing two weeks, I find," he said.
Andrew Cassels, who missed 20 games to injury earlier in the year, said the goalie seems fit.
"He's got to get to that point of knowing he's not going to hurt it again. That's the hard part," Cassels said. "He's been working really hard off the ice and he good out there."
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