from Bill Beacon of the CP at Canada.com,

The airlift from Sochi, Russia was in full swing on Monday with the last of the NHL players returning from the Winter Olympics.

But there won't much time to rest up before playoff races resume for the league's 30 teams.

The regular-season schedule picks up Tuesday night after a 16-day break when the Carolina Hurricanes visit the Sabres. The game was originally scheduled for Jan. 7 but was postponed due to a snowstorm.

Four games are set for Wednesday night, including a trip to Montreal for Canadian gold medal winning coach Mike Babcock and the Detroit Red Wings. It is not known yet whether the Olympics' top goaltender Carey Price will be in the net for the Canadiens.

Returning players, especially those who played in Sunday's Canada-Sweden final or semifinalists like the United States and bronze medallist Finland, will need at least two or three days just to get over jet-lag and get their minds refocused on NHL hockey.

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