"Pavol Demitra's body is spotted with bruises. He believes they are why his shoulder finally feels good enough to play. That's expected to happen against Pittsburgh Saturday, his first game in nine months.

Demitra gave the Canucks the thumbs-up Thursday and now needs to be medically cleared after Saturday's morning skate. It's expected to be a formality.

He will play on a line with Kyle Wellwood. It's unclear who will play wing with the pair as Steve Bernier remains out with a groin injury.

It's been a long road to recovery for Demitra, who had one shoulder surgery in May to repair his rotator cuff. Then, another surgery in the fall because things weren't healing. That was followed by an infection. It all left him questioning his career, and seriously considering the option to shut it down for the year.

"If you asked me 30 days ago, and I was honest with myself, I would have told you I was done, done for the year, at least," Demitra said. "That's where things were going.

"I was always getting to 80 per cent and I'd get a setback. That happened many, many times.

"I couldn't get past that 80 per cent and for hockey it wasn't enough for me to play." "