There have been a few horrific injuries in pro hockey. Penguins trainer Chris Stewart, reflecting on his career yesterday, feels fortunate he has not been working at games when those occurred.

"Maybe some broken bones and cuts that are pretty disgusting to see, and we've had to spineboard people, but, luckily, in 14 years of doing this, I haven't seen anything catastrophic," Stewart said.

In fact, the biggest challenge he has faced in stints with the Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL, Lowell of the American Hockey League and Carolina and the Penguins in the NHL came off the ice last month and earned him high praise from the Penguins.

That was when Stewart got Penguins president David Morehouse off the team charter jet on a San Jose tarmac and to a hospital, where it was discovered Morehouse was having a heart attack. He was treated with a minor surgical procedure and is back at work.

"That's probably one of the biggest ones because that's dealing with somebody's life," Stewart said. "It was just a good decision I made. I got him to where he needed to be."

The Penguins' game last night against Montreal at Mellon Arena was Stewart's 999th as a pro trainer. No. 1,000 comes tomorrow in a matinee against the Islanders in New York.

Stewart finds it interesting that he will be on the opposing bench from first-year Islanders assistant Scott Allen, who was the coach at Johnstown when Stewart worked there and was instrumental in getting Stewart to Lowell when he coached there.

Stewart, 38, is a Johnstown native and IUP graduate in his fourth season with the Penguins after former Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes winger Mark Recchi (now with Boston) recommended him to general manager Ray Shero. Here, he is reunited with equipment manager Dana Heinze, another Johnstown area native who was with the Chiefs when Stewart worked there.

Stewart has had a packed training room the past several weeks as the Penguins have had a string of injuries.

"He's great," said center and captain Sidney Crosby. "He's got a lot of experience, and he's seen a lot. We've kept him pretty busy this year, and even years past with how far we've gone [in the playoffs]. He's certainly a big part of our team and a big part in guys getting back as soon as they do."

One of those Stewart treated was defenseman Brooks Orpik, who played in his third game last night after missing four with a freak leg injury. He was surprised and impressed that Stewart has worked so many pro games.

"As a player, that's obviously a goal of a lot of guys, 1,000 games," Orpik said. "It's a huge, huge accomplishment. That's something he should be really proud of. I think he's really passionate and likes doing what he does."

Stewart -- who works with assistant Scott Adams, physical therapist Mark Mortland, conditioning coach Mike Kadar and various doctors -- has had to deal with nine injured players already, five of whom remain out.

"That was quite unusual, just because of who got hurt and how many were hurt at one time," Stewart said. "It happens. A little stressful at those points in time, but you get through it, and we have a great staff here."

In the latest on that list of injured players, right winger Tyler Kennedy (groin) continues to practice with the team and is "day to day," according to coach Dan Bylsma.

Defenseman Kris Letang was cleared for contact for yesterday's morning skate.

Still not practicing are winger Chris Kunitz (undisclosed) and defensemen Jay McKee (finger) and Alex Goligoski (undisclosed).

"Hopefully, they continue to get better and toward the weekend we'll have a better idea [of a timetable]," Bylsma said of those who are hurt.

Montreal, which beat Columbus, 5-3, Tuesday night at home, did not have a morning skate.

Like the Penguins, the Canadiens have been hit hard by injuries. Out are forwards Matt D'Agostini (concussion), Brian Gionta (foot), Scott Gomez (undisclosed), Andrei Kostitsyn (undisclosed) and Benoit Pouliot (hand), and defensemen Hal Gill (foot), Andrei Markov (ankle) and Jaroslav Spacek (undisclosed).

In addition, former Penguins enforcer Georges Laraque was serving the second game of a five-game suspension.

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