Linesman Brad Lazarowich will be back on NHL ice tonight after a three-month absence.
The veteran official last worked in the National Hockey League back on November 4, when the Pittsburgh Penguins visited the Vancouver Canucks. Lazarowich was injured in the second period and did not come out for the third.
He’ll return to the ice tonight in Detroit as the Red Wings take on the Ottawa Senators.
Lazarowich recently officiated a handful of games in the American Hockey League, which is typical for officials returning from injury.
Lazarowich is in his 30th NHL season. The 53-year-old linesman made his NHL debut on October 9, 1986, working a 3-2 victory by the Winnipeg Jets over the Buffalo Sabres.
He leads all active linesmen with 1,952 regular season games worked. All time, he ranks eighth, trailing Ray Scapinello (2,500), Gerard Gauthier (2,345), Randy Mitton (2,109), Mark Pare (2,105), Dan Schachte (2,001), Leon Stickle (1,987), Kevin Collins (1,964). His 202 postseason appearances are third among active linesmen. He’s worked the lines for three Stanley Cup finals and two World Cup tournaments.
Prior to joining the NHL, Lazarowich, a Vancouver native, spent three years in the Western Hockey League, working the league finals in all three and being selected to officiate the Memorial Cup in his final season.
“When you walk onto the ice and you’re the first ones out there to start the game because the teams haven’t arrived yet, that’s the best feeling in the entire world,” Lazarowich said to NHL.com. “That’s one feeling I’ll never get over because it’s just the greatest.”
After a a three-month absence, tonight should feel pretty good for Lazarowich.
