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Byline: David J. Neal
MIAMI _ An interesting group of Montreal Canadiens players have been dipped in American Hockey League waters this season.
You'll find former Panther and last spring's waiver-wire pickup Bill Lindsay in Hamilton, Ontario. For a few weeks, Lindsay was joined there by 30-year-old Mariusz Czerkawski, a 30-goal scorer two years ago with the Islanders. Now, it's scoring pest Donald Audette.
Audette was sent down this week after getting only 12 points in 36 games. He was a healthy scratch 12 times. Just two years ago, the diminutive 33-year-old had a 34-goal, 45-assist season for Atlanta and Buffalo.
But he went to Dallas as a free agent, where he chafed under then-coach Ken Hitchcock's restrictive ways. By Thanksgiving, he had been dealt to Montreal. Just 10 days later, Ranger Radek Dvorak's skate severed most of Audette's left-forearm tendons.
Audette returned to pick up six goals and four assists in 12 playoff games, but he must have lost his production on summer vacation. He denied lingering effects of the Dvorak accident or problems with then-coach Michel Therrien.
``I'll be disappointed if I don't get some ice time in Hamilton, but it's not an easy situation because I'll be taking time away from some young guy who needs it,'' he said. ``I want to get my confidence back and get back to Montreal. I still think I can score 25 to 30 goals in this league.''