Albany Devils forward Thompson likely to return

PHOTOGRAPHER: Patrick Dodson

Paul Thompson returned to practice with the Albany Devils this week, and he is likely to get back into game action this weekend.

After missing the last five games while recovering from a shoulder injury, Albany Devils forward Paul Thompson is likely to return to action this weekend.

Thompson, who was the second-leading goal-scorer in the AHL last season with 33 (and added 22 assists), was tripped by Binghamton’s Zack Stortini on Oct. 25 while the two were pursuing the puck approaching the boards behind the Albany net. Thompson looked as if he slammed head-first into the boards, but he was able to turn his head quickly enough to place the brunt of the impact on his right shoulder.

He skated with the team this week, taking contact for the first time Wednesday.

“Today was the first day I got bumped a few times, and it felt good,” Thompson said after that practice. “It was a positive day, so hopefully tomorrow, I’ll feel good in the morning and we’ll see how it goes.”

Albany has three games this weekend, all on the road, at Providence tonight, Lehigh Valley on Saturday and Springfield on Sunday.

“He hasn’t been involved in a lot of practice time, other than this week,” Albany coach Rick Kowalsky said. “If we can get a game out of him, that would be good. If we can get two out of him, that would be great.”

Thompson’s conditioning was aided by training skates led by assistant coach Sergei Brylin. When Thompson first got back on the ice, he said it took a little time for him to get comfortable shooting again.

“It was sore the first couple days,” he said. “I didn’t

really shoot, just kind of skated. Then I kind of gradually built up, and now it’s almost back to normal.”

This season, Thompson has a goal and an assist in six games. Taking five games off may make him a little rusty, but he thinks he can shake that off pretty quickly.

“I think that’s something that just comes with playing the game,” Thompson said. “Whenever I do play again, it’ll probably take a shift or two, but once I get back in a rhythm, I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

Reach Gazette Sportswriter Bill Cain at 395-3154, [email protected] or @Bill_Cain_ on Twitter. Read his blog, “The Devils’ Details,” at www.dailygazette.com/weblogs/devils/.