Thunder prepares for the return of key players

Tim Graham

Tuesday, March 3, 1998 | 9:46 a.m.

The waiting is the hardest part.

But the waiting soon will be over for the Las Vegas Thunder.

Las Vegas has lost 10 of its last 12 games and has dropped into eighth place in the IHL's nine-team Western Conference.

But as the injury-riddled Thunder (27-29-6) prepares for today's 5 p.m. game at Milwaukee (33-25-4), it finds solace in the fact it shouldn't be shorthanded much longer.

According to general manager Bob Strumm, several key players are on the verge of returning to action.

"We were shooting for March 7 for everyone to be back," Strumm said. "We're going to be close.

"We're doing everything we can to put our top lineup out there for the last three or four weeks (of the regular season)."

Winger Jamie Linden is expected to return from his nagging groin injuries Wednesday, while potent center Jesse Belanger and defenseman Ilya Byakin are scheduled to start skating a week from today. Belanger and Byakin could be ready to play by next weekend.

The return of Belanger alone could shake the Thunder out of its doldrums. Before going down with knee injuries, Belanger was the team's leading goal scorer. He still ranks third in scoring with 26 goals and 28 assists in his 41 games; his +9 leads the team.

Byakin has missed the past four games with back problems.

Las Vegas would receive another jolt with the return of second-line left wing Jeff Christian, who underwent serious back surgery Jan. 29. He could come back as soon as April 3, a date Strumm deemed "realistic." That would give Christian six games to gear up for the postseason.

Although Christian played in only 29 games, he still ranks sixth in scoring for the Thunder with 11 goals and 12 assists. He also was a major factor on the Thunder's power play, netting seven of his goals with an advantage.

Thunderbolts

* YOU DA MANNY: Las Vegas Thunder goaltender Manny Legace is taking full advantage of his stint with Springfield of the American Hockey League. Legace is 3-0 with a 2.33 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. He was sent to his former team last week for 10 days to give him more playing time in preparation for the homestretch. He will rejoin the Thunder Saturday in Houston. "Manny is getting it done over there," Las Vegas general manager Bob Strumm said. "Let's hope he brings it back with him." Legace went 12-12-1 with a 3.09 GAA and a .912 save percentage in 26 games with the Thunder.

* SPECIAL TEAMS: The Thunder possesses the most potent power-play in the IHL over its last 13 games. During that span it has converted 23.6 percent of its extra-man opportunities. For the season, Las Vegas ranks third on the power play at 19.4 percent. ... Thunder winger Ken Quinney shares the IHL lead in power-play goals with 14. He is tied with former Thunder players Martin Gendron of Milwaukee and Dan Shank of San Antonio. ... Thunder center Joe Day currently ranks second in the league with five shorthanded goals, three shy of Quinney's team record.

* LOOSE PUCKS: The Thunder is 14-8-3 against teams outside the Southwest Division. Four of its next six games are away from its division. ... Winger Patrice Lefebvre continues to lead the IHL in scoring. He has 89 points, including a league-high 70 assists, in 58 games. ... Day needs six points and defenseman Steve Bancroft needs 11 to become the ninth and 10th players in Thunder history to attain 100 career points.