* His first Thanksgiving: Rookie forward Edgar Rybakov experienced his first Thanksgiving on Thursday. Until three days ago, he wasn’t aware the holiday existed. Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated in his native Lithuania. But after being told people are off from work and spend the day eating lots of food, he quickly appreciated it. “It’s good,” said Rybakov, who ate chicken instead of turkey earlier in the day to prevent falling asleep during Thursday’s game.

* Missing Thanksgiving: Forward Andrew Yogan missed the holiday at home in Boca Raton, Fla., for the second straight year. And after spending this past summer training in Windsor, Ontario, he especially missed watching parades and football on television and eating lots of food with his family.
But his family planned to watch the Internet Web cast of Thursday’s game, Yogan said. If he scored, Yogan said, “I’ll have to give them a shout out or something.”

* Around the rink: The Otters scratched defenseman Robyn Sertic (concussion) and forwards Shawn Szydlowski and Michael Liambas (hip flexor). … Belleville scratched center Cody Alcock and left wing Scott Howe.

– Victor Fernandes