Playoff goals and other forms of post-season success are the cure-all in pro hockey. Suck for 80 games? No problem. Wash down a series winner or two and that regular-season funk swirls away like used tissue.

For Greg Classen, a free agent disappointment through 62 games, the playoffs lie out there on the horizon like a balm for his diseased scoring touch. Classen can wipe away his struggles as quick as one can say Lonny Bohonos with a little offence down the stretch and into the playoffs. Knock a goal in with one's posterior to cap off an overtime thriller and folks will begin to say things like 'clutch' and 'big game' rather than bust.

The Manitoba Moose, travelling to Hershey, Penn., today for a two-game set with the Bears this weekend, signed Classen last off-season to provide second-line scoring and experience up the middle.

It hasn't panned out. Classen admits it but is hoping his history as a playoff performer -- he scored 16 points in 20 games during the Milwaukee Admirals championship run in 2006 -- will bear fruit for himself and the Moose over the next couple of months.

"I think it's accurate to say things haven't gone as planned. Coming in I had expectations of being the second-line centre behind (Brad) Moran and to provide some secondary scoring. I've had a few stretches where I've had some production but other than that it's been a dry well," said Classen, who has seven goals and 11 assists in 62 games. "It's been a struggle this year and mentally it gets on you, but you just try to move forward."

Classen is in his eighth pro season and has played 90 games with the Nashville Predators over that time as well as last season in Hamburg. The 28-year-old has lived the ups and downs of professional sports. "I've had some playoff success which doesn't mean anything now but it's something you can look back on for confidence," said Classen. "There's lots of games left and if I can provide some secondary scoring, there are still positives to be had.

"This is the best time of the year and everything is on the line right now. You don't want to be the team that is knocked out of the first round of the playoffs. Hopefully it can add passion to my game. I've been trying to find it but it's been tough. You get into a seven-game series and you play against the same guys, you want to do better than them and it heats up."

Moose GM Craig Heisinger says both the team and player are looking for an upturn.

"Were expectations higher? Yeah probably. But coming back from Europe can be challenging for a player. I don't think things have gone as well as he'd hoped or as well as we'd hoped," said Heisinger. "He's still played a valuable role in the faceoff circle and on the point on the power play and he's logged his share of icetime.

And Heisinger isn't limiting his wait-and-see remarks to those three.

"The offensive side of it hasn't been great but sometimes that's due to the role you're given on a team. Has he given us enough? Can he give us a little more? We think he can and he does too and hopefully down the stretch and in the playoffs, he'll be able to do that."

Classen has been a healthy scratch on a number of occasions this season and for a veteran like himself, there's little worse. But he's managed to keep a positive attitude and has refused to pack his season in.

"For me, this is a chance to rebound and forget about the rest of the season with a good finish. It would erase the tough times," said Classen. "It's been a struggle but I'm hoping to turn things around from here on out." Manitoba's regular season doesn't begin until Oct. 11 at MTS Centre against Grand Rapids.

Notes: The Vancouver Canucks re-assigned defenceman Nathan McIver to the Moose on Thursday... Goalie Drew MacIntyre was not able to practise due to illness but is expected to travel with the team this weekend... Forward Alex Bolduc is expected to miss at least 10 days with what the club is calling an upper body injury.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca