Blazers notebook: Josh Patterson on the road to recovery

While Oklahoma City has had minor injuries throughout the season, there was nothing minor about the right knee injury to forward Josh Patterson.

Patterson had his right knee operated on in October and is getting closer to returning to the team.

"It’s been tough watching the guys, but I know I just have to be patient,” Patterson said.

Patterson is supposed to get a new knee brace this week, which will allow him to do more than just ride the exercise bike in the upcoming weeks.

"It’s going to be fun to do something new,” he said.

There is no timetable for his return, though trainer Wade Sundbye said Patterson is doing well with his recovery and could return in either February or March.

MCHUGH A POWER-PLAY SPECIALIST

With his power-play goal Friday at Mississippi, Oriel McHugh ended a streak of 14 consecutive games without scoring a goal.

McHugh, a defenseman in his first year in Oklahoma City, has seven goals this season, and all have been on the power play.

"Last year, I started to shoot more. It’s all about the weight transfer on the shot,” McHugh said.

McHugh has two game-winning goals and 11 assists this season.

DIVISIONAL TROUBLE

Oklahoma City is in the toughest division in the CHL as three teams have at least 38 standings points.

Entering Sunday’s game vs. Arizona, the Blazers are only 4-6-1 against the Northeast division — including three consecutive losses to last-place Tulsa — and saw their division lead shrink to two points over Mississippi.

By Robert Przybylo