Sterling looks to get his scoring touch back
Brett Sterling is a goal scorer. He has proven that throughout his career.
He was among the best in the nation at it in college. He finished third all time in Colorado College's history. A season ago as a rookie with the Chicago Wolves, he led the league in goals.
Given an opportunity to do the same at the NHL level to start the season, Sterling wasn't able to locate his magic touch.
He scored once in 10 games with the Atlanta Thrashers, and Monday night he found himself on a flight back to Chicago to rejoin the Wolves.
"He wasn't scoring," Wolves coach John Anderson said. "If he was scoring goals, he would still be in their lineup."
The plan is for Sterling to return putting pucks into the net with an eye toward a flight back to Atlanta.
"It's a tough league," Sterling said. "I've used all the cliches -- bigger, faster, stronger. They're all true. I feel I can play at that level. There's adjustments to be made. That's true at any level. I just need to work on everything. If I keep working hard, everything will take care of itself."
After a brief conversation with Sterling before practice Tuesday, Anderson wasn't worried about Sterling's confidence being shattered despite being sent down for the first time in his career.
"I think it happened soon enough," Anderson said. "He's a good kid. He's hurt by it a little bit, but he's not devastated by it."
Anderson planned to put Sterling alongside Jason Krog, one of the two linemates that led to his success last season. The other, Darren Haydar, is with the Thrashers.
With Sterling back and Alexandre Giroux also in the lineup, the Wolves have last season's top two AHL goal scorers. Giroux's 42 goals were second to Sterling's 55.
No movement: John Anderson still hasn't heard anything about the Atlanta Thrashers' job opening. Thrashers general manager and interim coach Don Waddell told Anderson he would begin his hiring process after last week's road trip.
"I have not talked to him," Anderson said. "Whatever happens, happens. I can't tell him to call me."
Hot start: The Wolves are off to their best start in franchise history -- 7-0-1-0 in their first eight games. Their only loss came in overtime to Milwaukee. Prior to Wednesday's games, the Wolves and the Toronto Marlies were the only two AHL teams that hadn't lost in regulation.
"It's a little surprising," John Anderson said. "I thought we had a really good team. Best team ever? Time will tell."
Beginning with Wednesday's game at Quad City, the Wolves will play in four different road cities in five days.