STRALMAN CLOSER TO RETURN: Defenseman Anton Stralman (upper-body injury) was cleared for contact and skated Saturday in his normal black practice jersey.
"It's the next step in the process to coming back and be healthy," Stralman said. "It's a big test to have physical contact and see how it reacts. We'll see how it feels (today), and we'll go from there."
Stralman missed his seventh straight game Friday. He said the plan was to return at some point on the three-game trip that begins today and ends Thursday in St. Louis.
"I hope so. That's kind of the goal," he said. "But I guess it's a little too early to say if that's going to happen, but that's the goal and timetable we're working toward."
Said Cooper, "What's the line? He's out until he's not."