By GENE PRINCIPE
Sportsnet.ca
The flu bug continues to work through the Edmonton Oilers lockerrom, literally and figuratively, with the latest victim being Shawn Horcoff.
While the Oilers practiced the centreman was sent to his room… not for being bad but for feeling bad.
“He came to the rink and the medical staff just sent him back to the hotel,” Oilers head coach Pat Quinn said. “There was no sense in him practicing so we’ll just see how he feels tomorrow.” That’s when Edmonton takes on the New York Islanders.
Instead of Horcoff being on the first line at today’s practice it was Mike Comrie who had been hit the hardest by the flu. Comrie missed two games because of the illness. He came back and played a game but has missed the last two once again because of the flu.
“It’s just tough. I don’t have any energy,” Comrie explained. “I’ve been fatigued and achy. I’m trying to play and do so at a high level. I’m getting better but still not feeling great.”
Making matters worse for Comrie is that it was discovered in training camp that the Edmontonian has asthma. “It was just something they tested for,” Comrie said. “As a result of the flu it affects me even worse. I’ve had X-rays on my chest and I just use an inhaler to help.”
The flu has also hit Lubomir Visnovsky very hard. Ladislav Smid, who was diagnosed with H1N1 last week, sits beside Visnovsky in the room and is his blueline partner. Visnovsky has missed the last two games and left last Tuesday’s action against Colorado in the third period.
“I had no energy and couldn’t skate and I was worried if someone hit me I might get hurt,” explained Visnovsky.
He was never tested for the swine flu but that doesn’t mean he didn’t have it.
"The doctor said I probably had H1N1 virus. For the last three days at home I wore a mask. I have a 10-month-old baby and didn’t want to get anyone sick.”
Visnovsky is hoping he’ll be able to play tomorrow. Another blueliner, Steve Staios, has been cleared to play. Staios has been suffering from post concussion symptoms and missed 11 of the last 12 games.
