Dean Arsene knows Sheldon Souray might wake up this morning and say "you know, my head is fine," which means Arsene's dream of finally playing an NHL game at 29, after 442 in the minors, will be cruelly dashed.

But the Springfield Falcons captain --who was summoned from the farm late Friday night to play against the Atlanta Thrashers today should the concussed Souray not be able to go for a 17th straight game--still looked like a kid on Christmas morning after practice on Saturday.

"You know, I've never even been called up from the minors. This is my ninth year of pro. I really didn't know what to do when (farm coach) Rob Daum told me I was coming up after our game with Bridgeport. Felt like I was a rookie, back in junior, again. I only slept about an hour before I had to get my flight (at 7 a.m.) ... I was anxious, nervous. It was pretty surreal to get the call," said Arsene, who has had two stops in the East Coast League, in Charlotte and Reading, and three in the American League in Hartford, Hershey and Springfield, never once even getting out for a pregame NHL warm-up.

"Yesterday was my dad's 65th birthday ... it was a pretty good present for him when I called him after the game to give him the news," said Arsene, who signed this summer after two AHL championships in Hershey, Washington's main affiliate.

The puck-mover Taylor Chorney and the abrasive Theo Peckham had been recalled from Springfield this season, but the stay-at-home Arsene hadn't. Until Friday, after Denis Grebeshkov (sprained knee) went down, and Chorney (sprained ankle) flew back to Edmonton. Souray might still play--he went through the drills at practice Saturday but has been erring on the side of caution for several days now--but Arsene has realized at least one goal. He's making NHL money, he's staying in an NHL hotel, he's practising with an NHL team in the season. All he has to do now, is PLAY one.

"I thought I had a pretty decent camp(he got into three exhibitions, his first three NHL pre-season games anywhere) and in my exit meeting they told me to go down as hard as I could," said Arsene. "I'm up now, and loving every minute of it."

At times, he might have warranted a call-up with the Caps but was injured. Plus, they had lots of bodies on defence. As the years ticked by, he seemed resigned to his minor-league lot in life.

"Every birthday that came around and every start of the season when you get sent down at camp, you wonder if you're ever getting a chance. I did think, 'am I too old?' '' said Arsene.

"I saw the writing on the wall in Washington, although they never said as much," he said.

"I was always happy when somebody I played with would get called up because you've been to war with them, but at the same time, I wished it was me. You dream of playing in the NHL. I was doing it when I was three years old, watching Hockey Night in Canada. It has just taken me a little longer than I thought-- a winding road."

Oilers coach Pat Quinn, who quit playing pro at 24 after several vagabond years in the minors, only to get a shot in Tulsa when the Leafs farm club had a run of injuries, knows what Arsene is feeling.

Quinn was 26 when he got to the NHL with Toronto.

"I can appreciate where he is right now. He's paid his dues, and while there's no entitlement in life, it would be nice if he gets a chance to play," said Quinn.

ON THE BENCH: Souray would possibly play with Steve Staios if he gets the green light... Liam Reddox, who has a sore wrist after crashing into the boards in Buffalo, is iffy. If he plays, Robert Nilsson probably won't.