Thunder starting to come together

Tim Graham

Friday, Feb. 7, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Not everything is quite in place. Yet for the Las Vegas Thunder, there's no better time for it all to come together.

The Thunder resumes its second-longest homestand of the season tonight at 7:05 against its heated IHL Southwest Division rival, the Utah Grizzlies. Forward Joe Day makes his long-awaited Las Vegas return and defenseman Kerry Huffman comes back from rib and spleen injuries.

"This is a very good hockey team right now," Thunder head coach Chris McSorley said. "With the injection of Huffman and Day into our lineup, we are now capable of beating any team in the league."

Tonight's contest is the second of the Thunder's six-game string at the Thomas & Mack Center, where it will play eight games this month.

"It's always great to get guys back, let alone be on a homestand," said Day, who retired from the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim organization two months ago. "I'm anxious to get back."

Day claims he still is skating his way back into playing shape. But his talents, however atrophied, should be a boost. Day tallied 11 goals and 17 assists in 29 games last season after he and Guy Larose were acquired from the Detroit Vipers for Dan Shank and Todd Simon.

McSorley was asked how long it will take before Day displays his old form.

"Game One. First shift," replied McSorley, who eventually wants Day to center a line for wingers Patrice Lefebvre and Ken Quinney. "There are no numbers on his speedometer other than zero and 100. There are no school-zone speeds on Joe Day's speedometer."

But if the additions of two key players aren't enough to get the Thunder's juices flowing, the mere sight of the Grizzlies, led by former Thunder coach Butch Goring, should help.

Utah is second in the Southwest at 29-24-4 for 62 points. Las Vegas is four points behind at 27-21-4, but has five games in hand.

"It was a tremendous emotional boost the last time we were in Utah, the way everyone sewed their jerseys together and played as one," McSorley said of their last meeting, a 4-3 shootout loss Jan. 18. "With the injection of talent that's now in our lineup, Butch will have a game on his hands."

Thunderbolts

* GRIZZLIES MOVE: Just in time for tonight's game, the Utah Grizzlies acquired former NHL all-star Gary Leeman Thursday. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound right wing was loaned to the Grizzlies by the St. Louis Blues. In 1989-90, he scored 95 points (51 goals, 44 assists) in 80 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 665 NHL games, Leeman has 199 goals, 266 assists and 531 penalty minutes.

* GRETZKY CORRECTION: In Thursday's story regarding Brent Gretzky's placement on waivers it was stated, based on information from an IHL spokesman, that if Gretzky cleared waivers by 9 a.m. today he would become a free agent. In fact, if the 5-11, 180-pound center goes unclaimed, he will remain property of Las Vegas, but most likely will be farmed out. Also, the Thunder would have to honor the remainder of his one-year contract. Gretzky practiced with the Thunder Thursday and will continue to do so until his status is certain.