The Mighty Ducks activated goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere from injured reserve Thursday after he missed seven games because of a strained hamstring. Giguere has a 6-3-4 record in 15 games this season, with a 2.49 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. Also, the Ducks placed defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh on injured reserve and loaned goalie Michael Wall to the Augusta Lynx of the ECHL. Wall dressed for eight games with Anaheim this season, but didn't play in any of them.
The Phoenix Coyotes sent goaltender Brian Boucher and defenseman Matt Jones to the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League on yesterday. Boucher was assigned to the Rampage for a two-week conditioning period. He strained a groin muscle during the preseason. In the season before the lockout, he led all Coyotes goaltenders in games played, shutouts and wins. Jones is in his first professional season and has played in three games for the Coyotes.
Columbus Blue Jackets center Gilbert Brule will miss four to six weeks with a broken right leg, the second serious injury he has sustained in his rookie season. Brule, the sixth overall pick in this year's draft, was placed on injured reserve yesterday. He was injured in Columbus' 3-2 shootout win at Minnesota on Wednesday night. Brule was sidelined for 17 games earlier this season with a fractured sternum sustained during Columbus' home opener on Oct. 7. He has two goals and two assists in seven games.
The Chicago Blackhawks recalled forwards Andy Hilbert and Shawn Thornton from Norfolk of the American Hockey League yesterday and reassigned forward Mark Cullen to Norfolk. The Blackhawks acquired Hilbert last month from Boston for a fifth-round pick in the 2006 NHL draft. He appeared in five games at Norfolk, where he had three goals and four assists.
