VANCOUVER -- Ryan Kesler no longer has to worry about wearing a grey jersey in practice. After having discarded the grey duds that signal an injured player, he is slated to put on a regular Canucks jersey Friday as Vancouver (8-2-2) hosts the Dallas Stars (7-6-1). Barring an unexpected change, Kesler will play for the first time since the opening round of last springs playoffs. He spent the off-season and NHL lockout recuperating from shoulder and wrist injuries that bothered him last season and required surgery. "My jersey colour changed, and I felt good out there," said Kesler after a practice Thursday. Kesler wore a blue jersey after instead of the grey one that had warned players not to hit him. The discarding of the grey jersey signalled that he has been cleared for contact. Coach Alain Vigneault confirmed he was also medically cleared to play a game. "Theres all indication that hes ready to go," said Vigneault. The Canucks freed up a roster spot for Kesler by placing Manny Malhotra on injured reserve Thursday for the balance of the regular season and playoffs. General manager Mike Gillis said Malhotra has not adapted sufficiently since suffering a career-threatening eye injury in March 2011, and therefore is at risk of a serious injury. Keslers hiatus was longer than expected. Vigneault noted he was expected to be out five months, but the centre has been sidelined upwards of 10 months. The coach said Kesler looked really good while playing a regular shift and on a power-play unit in practice. Kesler has also been practising at a full-pace after keeping his conditioning level extremely high during his recovery. But Vigneault plans to keep Keslers ice time at a "reasonable" level. Before his injury he was the most-used forward. Dont expect that to be the case against Dallas, Vigneault warned. "Well feel the game out (Friday), see how hes doing," said Vigneault. Kesler did not acknowledge that he was going to play. He was just glad to be one of the boys in blue. "It was good having a line out there, and it was good being involved in, really, my first full practice with the team and not being an extra guy out there," he said. Keslers return helps solidify a second line that has been in a state of shuffle as a result of injuries and the absence of winger David Booth (groin), who continued to wear a grey jersey Thursday as he took part in practice, and his return date is uncertain. Kesler skated between Chris Higgins and Zack Kassian and will likely do the same against the Stars. "(Kesler) and (Higgins), in the past, have played some good hockey together, and I like the way (Kassian) is playing right now," said Vigneault. "Thats a big line. Its a line that can bring that physical dimension, plus real good puck pursuit, plus real good speed." Kesler said he is looking forward to playing alongside six-foot-three Kassian in a game. The veteran centre is impressed by the 22-year-old wingers handiwork with the puck and his skating and passing abilities. "He does all those little things well," said Kesler. "If I do get a chance to play with him, I think well fit and work well together." Notes: The Stars returned six-foot-seven defenceman Jamie Oleksiak to Texas of the AHL on Thursday after deploying him for six NHL games. Oleksiaks nickname is "Big Rig." wholesale jerseys . Trailing 6-5, heading into the final frame, Justin Smoak scored off a Michael Saunders single. Saunders then scored off of Barons line drive to right field to seal the win. jerseys from china . LOUIS -- Up eight runs after three innings, Clayton Kershaw went right after the hitters. http://www.cheapjerseyssafe.com/ . -- Adam Scott and Steve Stricker dont have much in common except for how infrequently they play golf tournaments. cheap jerseys from china . -- Vanessa Davidsons goal midway through the second period proved to be the winner as the Montreal Stars defended their Clarkson Cup Canadian Womens Hockey League championship title with a 4-2 victory over Brampton HC on Sunday. cheap nfl jerseys . Brandon Jennings had 15 points and eight assists and Monta Ellis added 13 points to help the Bucks. Milwaukee led by 13 after the first quarter, 18 at the half and 25 at the end of the third. Leading 98-77 with 6:06 to play, coach Scott Skiles cleared the bench.VANCOUVER -- Roberto Luongo made 19 saves for his third shutout of the season and the 65th of his career Friday as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4-0 for their sixth straight victory. After losing a shutout bid in the dying seconds of Sundays win over the Colorado Avalanche, Luongo would not be denied against the punchless Oilers and is now just one back of Patrick Roy for 14th on the all-time list. Daniel Sedin, Zack Kassian, Chris Higgins and Dale Weise scored for Vancouver (19-10-5), which improved to 4-0-0 on its current five-game homestand. Jason Garrison added three assists, while Ryan Kesler chipped in with two of his own. Devan Dubnyk made 36 saves for Edmonton (11-20-3), which has lost two straight. The Canucks dont have long to celebrate with the Boston Bruins set to play at Rogers Arena on Saturday night for the first time since their victory in Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup final. Leading 1-0 after the second period, Vancouver doubled its lead at 2:26 of the third when Kassian deflected a shot from David Booth past Dubnyk for his sixth goal of the season and first point in nine games. Higgins then stretched the lead to three at 6:07 when he took a feed from Ryan Kesler and beat Dubnyk with a lightning-quick release for his ninth of the campaign. Higgins now has two goals and five assists during his four-game point streak. Luongo made a big glove stop on Oilers defenceman Justin Schultz midway through the period before Weise had a chance to make it 4-0, only to see his shot hit the post. Luongo then shot out his left pad on Edmonton forward Ryan Jones to preserve the shutout with under six minutes remaining. Weise finally found the mark on the power play with 34.8 seconds left on the clock for his third of the season. After a scoreless first that saw the Canucks carry the play, Vancouver came out strong again in the second and took the lead on a 4-on-3 power play midway through the period. Implored by Canucks head coach John Tortorella this week to shoot more, Sedin snapped a five-game goaalless drought with his 11th of the season when his shot from the point went in off Oilers defenceman Nick Schultz at 8:41.dddddddddddd Higgins had just hit the post behind Dubnyk moments earlier, with Edmontons Mark Arcobello going off for slashing to give Vancouver the man advantage. The goal energized the Oilers, who were playing their second game in as many nights, with Luongo robbing David Perron with his glove a few minutes later. Weise and Kesler then found themselves in alone on Dubnyk on a 2-on-0, but the Oilers goalie stopped Kesler. Vancouver beat Edmonton 6-2 at Rogers Arena on Oct. 5 and came out firing in the first period on Friday. The Canucks hemmed the Oilers in their own zone off the opening faceoff and led 6-0 on the shot clock when Edmontons Ryan Nugent-Hopkins finally directed his teams first effort at Luongo with just under seven minutes gone. Dubnyk, who was pulled after giving up three goals in Thursdays 4-2 home loss to Boston, had to be sharp a few moments later with big stops on Kassian and Jannik Hansen. Not to be outdone, Luongo kept out Edmontons best chance of the period with a sprawling stick save off Ales Hemsky on a 2-on-1. The Oilers had the only power play of the period when Canucks captain Henrik Sedin was whistled for goaltender interference with under four minutes to go, but Vancouvers No. 1-ranked penalty killing unit had the best chance when Dubnyk just got a piece of Keslers effort. Notes: Fridays matchup was Kassians first against the Oilers since his eight-game suspension for hitting Sam Gagner in the head with his stick during the pre-season. The Edmonton forward missed 13 games with a broken jaw. ... Oilers forward Boyd Gordon returned to the lineup after missing six games with a shoulder injury. ... Edmontons four-game road trip continues Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks. ... After Saturdays meeting with the Bruins, the Canucks open a three-game road trip against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. ... The third of five meetings between the Oilers and Canucks goes Jan. 21 in Edmonton. cheap nfl jerseys ' ' '