Vasicek expected to deliver

Laviolette, Hurricanes have high hopes for acquisition

ST. PAUL, MINN. -- The Carolina Hurricanes promised Joe Vasicek an opportunity in his second stint with the team, but it's a two-way street.

The Hurricanes re-acquired Vasicek on Friday -- sending Eric Belanger to the Nashville Predators seven months after they sent Vasicek there to get Scott Walker -- because they think he can provide the offense that has been missing at the third-line center position. But Vasicek has to be at his best to do that.

"He can be a real effective body down the middle," Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette said before Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Wild. "It's a new life for Joe, and he has to try and make the most of the opportunity. He's got skill, size, he knows the game -- and he'll get the ice time to show it."

On Saturday, Vasicek played almost 16 minutes, including time on both the power play and penalty-kill. He and Walker began the game together on Carolina's third line, creating the unusual spectacle of linemates who had been traded for each other only months earlier.

BAYDA BACK AGAIN: Vasicek wasn't the only player returning to the Hurricanes. Ryan Bayda played Saturday after he was called up from the minors for the third time this season.

From the moment Bayda arrived in training camp in the fall, Laviolette has been one of his biggest boosters. He argued for Bayda to make the roster -- only for Bayda to start the season in the minors when Belanger arrived in the Jack Johnson trade.

"I've liked him every time I've seen him," he said. "He got caught in a numbers game back in camp when he made the team and then something had to give when we traded for Belanger. That turned out to be Ryan."

Of Bayda's 27 points for Albany (AHL) this season, 21 came in his past 14 games. In seven games with Carolina, he has one goal and one assist. "Everything's clicking right now," he said. "I can't really explain it."

MOVING QUICKLY: Belanger's stay with the Predators lasted less than 24 hours. On Saturday morning, the Predators traded him to the Atlanta Thrashers for defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski.

Canes GM Jim Rutherford said David Poile, his Nashville counterpart, called Saturday to assure him it wasn't his plan to swing Belanger right back into the Southeast Division.

TAILWINDS: Multiple busloads of fans from Thunder Bay, Ontario, made the six-hour trip for the game to see natives Eric Staal and Trevor Letowski. Staal walked through the stands working the crowd like a politician after the morning skate.

* Ray Whitney's 100-second hat trick Thursday were the three fastest even-strength goals since Bill Mosienko set the NHL record of 21 seconds in 1952.

* Walker, who hurt his right hand in a fight Thursday with Boston's Andrew Alberts, played Saturday. Erik Cole (hip pointer) did not and remains day to day. Glen Wesley played only nine minutes after taking a shot off his foot during the morning skate.

* Andrew Hutchinson and Dennis Seidenberg were healthy scratches in all three games of this road trip.