The Abbotsford Heat welcome back a familiar face this weekend, as they host the Rockford IceHogs for a two-game set on Friday and Saturday.

Less than a month ago, Kyle Greentree was a member of the Heat. But just two days before the team's regular season opener, the Victoria-born winger was traded by the Calgary Flames to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenceman Aaron Johnson. Greentree was subsequently assigned to the IceHogs, the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate.

Greentree, 25, was the AHL's second-leading goal scorer last season with 39 goals, but he's off to a slow start by his standards with just one goal and four assists in 11 games with the IceHogs.

"I like Kyle Greentree," Heat coach Jim Playfair said. "I think he'll be excited to prove people wrong, and our responsibility is to make sure he's uncomfortable when he plays in this building."

HEAT WEATHER VACCINE-GATE

The Heat were at the centre of a media storm on Wednesday after it came to light that several players had received H1N1 flu vaccinations, but Playfair said he doesn't expect the drama to affect his team's on-ice performance this weekend.

"It's not a big distraction at all," Playfair said. "It's something we made a statement on yesterday, and I think it's really clear from our management where they are on it . . . Our focus is making sure our team is really well-prepared on Friday night to win at home."

KEETLEY, CUNNING NEARING RETURN

Four players – forwards Cam Cunning, John Armstrong and Riley Armstrong, and goalie Matt Keetley – remained in Abbotsford during the Heat's recent road trip as they nursed various injuries.

Keetley (leg) and Cunning (upper body) were on the ice for practice on Wednesday, and Playfair said that both players were close to returning to the lineup.

John Armstrong (upper body) and Riley Armstrong (lower body) are "still a little ways away," according to Playfair.

"They're maybe going to be with us on this coming road trip (Nov. 12-14), and if not, when we get back from the road trip," Playfair said.

PENALTY KILL IMPROVING

The Heat's recent six-game road trip was a Jekyll-and-Hyde show, as the team lost its first three games before bouncing back to win the last three.

The grueling schedule, at least in part, accounted for the Heat's slow start – the first three games were part of a five-games-in-six-nights marathon.

But while a couple days of mid-trip rest undoubtedly did the team some good, Playfair said that some tactical improvements were also crucial. In particular, the penalty kill, which surrendered eight goals during the first half of the road swing, was a flawless 13-for-13 in wins over the Milwaukee Admirals, Hamilton Bulldogs and Lake Erie Monsters.

"In fairness to (the players), they were really focused on the structure and getting the positioning proper," Playfair said. "The adjustment we made was moving past structure and getting some hard work going."

PRACTICE JERSEYS FLY IN WRONG DIRECTION

The Heat were wearing Calgary Flames practice jerseys on Wednedsay and Thursday, as opposed to their usual Heat-logoed duds, due to an airline snafu.

"The stuff just got re-routed in the wrong direction – it's waiting for us out on the road," Playfair said with a wry chuckle. "Calgary was kind enough to lend us some jerseys to get us through the gap."

A LOOK AT THE LINES

Forward line combinations at practice on Thursday were as follows:

Jaffray-Chucko-Stuart

Backlund-Germyn-Sutter

Murray-Lundmark-Van der Gulik

Carpentier-Grantham-Watt

Cunning-Vandermeer