Published: February 05, 2009 11:34 pm      

Chiefs winger returns from Lake Erie

Andrew Sarauer expects to see his first game action in three weeks.

And, the 6-foot-4 left wing will make his return with the Johnstown Chiefs tonight at Elmira.

Sarauer had been on a professional tryout with the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters since Dec. 6 but has been sidelined with a lower body injury since last month. Prior to his AHL recall, Sarauer had 10 goals and 20 points in 21 ECHL games with the Chiefs.

“I just got cleared,” Sarauer said during a Thursday telephone interview prior to departing from Cleveland.

“The first two weeks I couldn’t even stride or anything. Lately we’ve been skating every day and getting it back. I’m still not 100 percent, but it’s good enough to play. They wanted me to get into some games.

“There’s no sense in me sitting up here (with Lake Erie) in the stands when I can play.”

The second-place Chiefs have won three straight games entering a challenging stretch of three road games in as many nights.

After visiting First Arena tonight, the Chiefs travel to Dayton for games against the Bombers on Saturday at Hobart Arena and Sunday at the Nutter Center.

“We approach them one game at a time,” Chiefs coach Ian Herbers said. “We have to look after Elmira first. They play well in their building. We have to come out and play a simple, smart road game. We have to use our speed. We need to make smart decisions and make the game easy for ourselves.”

Sarauer should help in those areas. The former Vancouver Canucks fourth-round draft pick (2004) had a six-point game in the Chiefs’ win over visiting Cincinnati on Nov. 12 and had his first pro hat trick at Wheeling on Nov. 26.

He had a goal and two points in 15 AHL games before his injury.

“There are a lot of good guys up (in the AHL),” Sarauer said. “The level of play is obviously another step higher, which is good because you always want to move up. It’s a good league. It’s one step away from the NHL.”

Sarauer views his return to Johnstown as an opportunity.

“I’m not taking it as a negative thing coming back,” Sarauer said. “I enjoyed my time there. It’s a great bunch of guys. Ian is a good coach. Hopefully we can put January away and get some chemistry back and get some wins.”

Notes: Herbers said forward Wes Clark (upper body) is day-to-day. ... A road schedule change has the Chiefs playing at Florida on Saturday, Feb. 28 instead of Sunday, March 1.