Corson

The left wing is not sure when he'll be able to play again, although it could be soon. But for now he's happy to be on his feet, digesting food and feeling strength come back to his body.

"I felt a lot of adrenaline out there on the ice," said Corson, who missed nine games with the illness. "I spent a lot of time at home, resting and tearing my hair out watching the guys play on TV."

Corson was first diagnosed with the disease when he was 15 and playing midget hockey.

There have been flare-ups before in his 15-year NHL career, but the latest "was a little more serious," he said.

In ulcerous colitis, a hereditary disease, victims are unable to keep food in their bodies, leaving them drained of energy.

"You have no energy and everything you eat goes right through you," he said. "None of the nutrients in the food gets to you, so you're tired all the time."

He said he first felt the latest bout coming on during the summer, and again during training camp, but played through it while doctors attempted to determine how serious it was.

Corson played in Montreal's season-opening loss to Toronto on Oct. 2 and accompanied the team on a trip to Edmonton, but had to fly home before the game when he began passing blood.

He was relieved to find it could be treated with medication. If his colon and large intestine were inflamed, he might have had to have them taken out.

The Canadiens are 3-7, partly because of several veterans out with injury or illness.

Defenseman Craig Rivet, who broke a cheekbone during a fight with Calgary's Derek Morris three games into the season, said he'll likely return, on schedule, for a Nov. 3 game in New Jersey.

"I've been hit a lot harder than that," Rivet said of the fight. "The punch didn't faze me.

"But when a guy has his hand taped like it's a cast, it doesn't take much. It's unfortunate, but that's the game. You have to take those."

Goaltender Jeff Hackett, who had his nagging back tested in a 3-2 loss in Toronto on Saturday night, said he plans to play Wednesday night against Chicago.