OTTAWA -- The Edmonton Oilers have called up another reinforcement from the Springfield Falcons in the form of forward Ryan O'Marra for their game against the Ottawa Senators tonight.
With the team already short-handed heading out on their current five-game road trip, the club was forced to call up O'Marra as defenceman Taylor Chorney and winger Robert Nilsson went down with injuries.
Chorney sprained his ankle in the 5-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche Sunday, while Nilsson is suffering concussion-type symptoms after taking a hit in the contest.
O’Marra has two goals and two assists in 15 games for the Falcons this season.
On a positive note, Ladislav Smid will be back in the lineup tonight, returning from the flu.
He'll play on the blue line, taking Chorney's spot. “I feel a lot better than I did a few days ago,” Smid said.
“The biggest thing was breathing. It still a little painful to breath, but I feel a lot better. I feel good enough to play.”
Smid was diagnosed with the H1N1 flu a few weeks ago, but was able to recover and didn't miss a game because of it.
However, he came down with the regular flu a few days later and has been out of the lineup for the previous two games.
“I was kind of surprised I got sick again, but after I talked to the doctors they weren’t really surprised, because they had a few cases just like me,” Smid said.
“It’s not fun to come back and play after the flu, you’re still really low on energy, but I’m going to try and fight through it.”
Meanwhile, Steve MacIntyre, who the Oilers put on waivers yesterday in order to send him to the minors, was claimed by the Florida Panthers.
MacIntyre had dressed in just four games for the Oilers this season.
“I'm happy for him,” said Oilers head coach Pat Quinn. “He's a terrific kid and it just didn't seem to work out here, we didn't get to use him very much and now he's going to get an opportunity. You're always happy about those things.”
derek.vandiest@sunmedia.ca
