Fantastic, Fearless Fehr

It's easy to root for Eric Fehr, who's battled injury problems throughout his pro career. But he's back to full strength, armed with a new attitude, jersey number (he switched from No. 14 to No. 16) and is starting to make an impact.

"I feel great right now. It's probably the best I've felt in my pro career. I feel strong. I've had a lot of opportunities to put on some muscle and I feel great when I'm on the ice," he said.

Last night, while wearing the red hard hat issued to the team's player of the game, Fehr reflected on what it was like to get back into the lineup and score his first goal of the season.

"I've been ready to go, I've been working hard trying to get back in the lineup," he mused. "You see the game from up top [as a healthy scratch], they look so easy. I just wanted to go on the ice, look good and hope for some bounces. I've got two great linemates that are working hard."

During the post-game press conference, Coach Bruce Boudreau singled out Fehr and his linemates -- Brooks Laich and David Steckel (both of whom assisted on Fehr's first-period tally, which turned out to be the game winner).

"That was by far our best line," Boudreau said. "When we play with energy and you outwork the other team, you're gonna have success. They scored once, but they easily could have scored two or three."

Although Fehr only boasted four goals and eight assists in 53 NHL games prior to this season, the 23-year-old Manitoba native notched 50 goals and 51 assists in two-plus season with the Hershey Bears. And as a junior with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL, Fehr scored 146 goals in four seasons.

Now he's hoping to turn a new leaf and translate that success to the NHL.

"I hope I keep getting put in a position to go out there and perform," Fehr said. "When I get the call to go and play, I hope I'm ready for it."

As for Hershey (9-5-1), Fehr still follows the team with whom he won a Calder Cup.

"I've been watching them for sure. I keep tabs with a lot of the guys there," he said. "I talk to them all the time. They've been struggling a little bit lately but they've got a lot of skill down there. They're going to be fine and I'm sure they're going to have a good opportunity to make a good [Calder] Cup run."