"Daymond Langkow, in typically understated fashion, was chatting about his return.

Admitting to being nervous. Owning up to being excited.

Post-game, he acknowledges, will bring a sweeping wave of relief.

But if he was bursting with emotion, you'd have to trust him on that count. Because, as always, the man's keel is even.

Despite the magnitude of his comeback.

When the Calgary Flames pivot suits up today against the St. Louis Blues, it will mark his first National Hockey League appearance in 376 days.

"We'll see how it goes," Langkow said in the lobby of the team hotel. "Once I get a shift or two under me, I think I'll be fine."

And worried about his neck? No way.

"If I was at all (worried) . . . there's four games left, why would I risk it?" said Langkow. "You know, we've given it more than enough time in my mind. Obviously, I'm 100 per cent confident that I'm physically ready to play."

However, tonight does present a unique situation, in terms of personal meaning.

All Langkow could think to compare this to is his first NHL contest (versus the Flames, by the way, on Oct. 7, 1995).

And, really, that doesn't even come close."