"The Vancouver Canucks are hoping to get two players back for the price of one Saturday night.

When Pavol Demitra returns to play his first game in more than eight months against the Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m., CBC, Team 1040), he will skate on Vancouver's third line with centre Kyle Wellwood.

Wellwood, whose offensive game has been missing just about as long as Demitra, was understandably more than a little pleased to have the 35-year-old Slovakian skating with him at Friday's practice.

"For me, you definitely look at a player's skill set," Wellwood said after practice. "The majority of the year playing with guys like (Tanner) Glass and (Steve) Bernier, we know what our job is out there. We are going to keep the puck on the walls and make it tough for the other team to play against us.

"With Demitra it is a whole different story. We are going to be looking to make plays and passes and try to catch the other team by surprise."

Wellwood has been mired in an offensive slump for most of the season. It took him 20 games to score his first goal this season and he has only had three since then. He has 12 points in 40 games.

He's tried to make up for his lack of offence by playing a responsible defensive game — Wellwood enters tonight's game plus-seven on the season — but clearly relishes the chance for more of an offensive role. Wellwood had 18 goals last season, his first as a Canuck.

"Pavol has excellent skills and playing with him will definitely be a change," he said. "You have to be a little quicker offensively because he makes such good, quick plays."