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Halpern Ready To Go Tonight

By ERIK ERLENDSSON

eerlendsson@tampatrib.com

Published: December 18, 2008

TAMPA - As he jumps over the boards tonight for his first shift, Jeff Halpern said he is not sure what is going to go through his mind.

It has been seven months since Halpern ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee while representing the United States at the World Championships.

Through all the rehabilitation that followed reconstructive surgery in June, the one thing Halpern has missed is playing in the NHL.

He will do that again tonight, when the 32-year-old makes his season debut at the Forum against the Colorado Avalanche.

"Hopefully, the first shift or the first period will be good and I can settle in from there," he said. "The quicker I can stop worrying about the surgery and the rehab, the recovery and getting in shape to just thinking about the game and reacting to the game, the better.

"Who knows? It can happen the first shift or it can take some time. It's hard for me to sit here and say it will be easy."

The most difficult part for Halpern to accept during the recovery process, however, was the circumstance of the injury.

"I would say just the frustration of how and when the injury happened, it wasn't the NHL," Halpern said. "Then, to go through the summer knowing that I would be missing a bulk of the NHL season and being here watching the games, it's been frustrating and disappointing, because I love playing in the NHL, I love being in the NHL. And even though I was here every day, it wasn't the same thing as being in the games and being with your teammates.

"That's what I most look forward to."
Interim coach Rick Tocchet said he's looking forward to having Halpern's presence on the ice, on the bench and in the locker room.

"Basically, we're looking him for to do all the little things we are asking all the other guys to do, which Halpy has done in his career most nights, which has made him a consistent player," Tocchet said.

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