Steve Pinizzotto is known as being an energy player and the Canucks can certainly use more of that these days.

Pinizzotto, an agitating fourth-line winger with a decent skill-set, will be recalled by the Canucks and travel to Vancouver on Thursday, as his two-week AHL conditioning stint with the Chicago Wolves expires.

“I’m starting to feel pretty good, getting back into the swing of things, getting my timing back,” Pinizzotto said Wednesday before the seventh and final game of his conditioning stint in Grand Rapids, Mich., against the Griffins.

When he gets into the Canucks lineup, it’ll be the first NHL game for Pinizzotto, 28, one that’s been a long time coming.

The Mississauga native missed the entirety of 2011-12 with a shoulder injury suffered after it appeared he had the inside track on a fourth-line job with the Canucks in the preseason. Healthy again, Pinizzotto then suffered a torn groin playing in the minors during the lockout, costing him three months.

Pinizzotto was originally signed as a free agent by the Canucks in July of 2011, following a losing Stanley Cup final appearance where they were pushed around by the Boston Bruins. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder is looking forward to getting a chance to show what he can do.

“That’s what I do, provide some energy and make sure people know I’m out there,” he said. “Not too many people like getting hit, especially defencemen.”

Canucks assistant GM Lorne Henning acknowledged it’s unlikely the winger would play on Thursday against the Nashville Predators after flying in, but wouldn’t completely rule it out.

“This gives us an extra forward,” said Henning. “We’ll have to see how it all fits in, but hopefully we can get him in there sooner than later.”

Pinizzotto, who spent four seasons in the Washington organization, got agonizingly close to playing an NHL game when he was scratched after a pre-game warm-up with the Capitals.

“I felt the same thing last year and again it didn’t happen,” he said. “At this point, I’m not going to think too much about it. That’s when bad things happen.”

Putting Pinizzotto into the lineup won’t force the Canucks to make any roster moves, as his coming off injured reserve two weeks ago required them to open up an NHL roster spot — with the resultant placement on waivers and loss of Aaron Volpatti to Washington.

Pinizzotto signed the same one-year, two-way $600,000/$275,000 deal with the Canucks that he signed with them the previous season. He has 4-8-12 and 27 PIMs in 23 games overall with Chicago this season and two assists in six games during the conditioning assignment.

Henning saw Pinizzotto play in Chicago on Saturday against Milwaukee.

“He’s still working on getting his timing,” said Henning. “I spoke with Scott Arniel (Wolves coach) and he said (Pinizzotto) has been better the last couple of games.”