`Brawler’ Clifford not concerned with status

Kyle Clifford certainly got in his work today. Clifford was on the ice for the entire morning skate, then stayed out for about a half-hour of conditioning skating with healthy scratches Davis Drewiske and Peter Harrold. By all indications, Clifford isn’t suffering from any type of concussion symptoms, which is the most important thing, and could be ready to return to full-team practice tomorrow with an eye toward playing Thursday. Here’s what Clifford said today about his return to the ice…

CLIFFORD: “I’m not having any problems. I guess it was just kind of a precaution, to make sure I heal up OK. From the first day, nothing was too out of sorts.”

Question: It must have been a little scary for a while there, though?

CLIFFORD: “No. It has happened before. That’s just the way I fight. I’m a brawler, so I’m always exposed. That’s the way it’s going to go sometimes. I’m not really a defensive fighter, so fighting the bigger guys, I’m going to be exposed sometimes. It’s not the first time.”

And here’s what Terry Murray said today about getting Clifford back…

MURRAY: “He progressed really good after yesterday. He had a hard bike ride and felt really good. The key today is going to be, how is going to feel two or three hours from now? He’s going to get some hard work, and then we’ll see where that falls. He will see our doctor again tonight and then maybe be ready for a full practice tomorrow.”