Alexander Burmistrov still has the chance to prove he belongs after returning from injury.

Coyotes center Alexander Burmistrov didn’t think he’d play again this season.

His body ached, and he wasn’t moving like he should. But he had hope. And motivation. Before getting leveled by the Bruins’ Colin Miller on Feb. 28 with an open-ice hit that sent Burmistrov to the hospital, the 25-year-old had been given the chance to revitalize his career with the Coyotes after stalling with the Jets.

With his contract up at the end of the season, it was important to him to prove he belonged – an opportunity that still exists as Burmistrov returned to the lineup Monday after a nearly month-long recovery from the collision.

“That’s the worst thing you want to have when your contact is done after the year,” he said. “I was thinking it was going well and going good. Then this happened, and I started worrying about my future and stuff. So I was pushing myself a little bit harder to get back.”

Early in the second period of that game in Boston, Burmistrov was crushed by Miller inside the Arizona blue line after accepting a pass from defenseman Jakob Chychrun.

After Burmistrov made a second touch on the puck to advance it, Miller hit Burmistrov as he reached for the puck – sending Burmistrov falling to the ice on his back.

“I think I was knocked out right away,” he said.

Medical personnel crowded around Burmistrov, who was eventually rolled onto a backboard and lifted up to a stretcher. That’s when he woke up.

“I was scared,” he said. “I was scared to move my body because I didn’t know what happened. If I move my neck, what’s going to happen? It was kind of scary.”

While still on the ice, Burmistrov was asked if he could move his toes and he did. He went through further evaluation at the hospital, receiving an Xray on his head and getting questioned by doctors.

Later that evening, he was released and able to accompany the team as it departed for Buffalo – the next stop on its road trip.

“I watched it. I think it was a clean hit,” Burmistrov said. “I think it wasn’t a dirty hit. I know that guy, too, that hit me. He sent me a text right after the game right away, so I told him right away, ‘It’s part of hockey, so it happens.’ ”

Burmistrov rehabbed for a week, stretching his body and icing his neck and chest – which were impacted the most, he said. During Week 2, he started doing workouts. On March 10, he got on the ice for the first time since the hit.

“Finally I started shooting better in Tampa (last week),” Burmistrov said. “After that, we started doing more extra work and it helps.”

He thought about the hit when he played Monday, but Burmistrov expects the memory to fade as he continues to play.

And he’d like those future games to be with the Coyotes, who plucked Burmistrov off waivers Jan. 2 after he had been a healthy scratch for 10 straight with the Jets.

Arizona will hold Burmistrov’s rights after the season, as he’s set to become a restricted free agent. If the team doesn’t tender him a qualifying offer, Burmistrov would become an unrestricted free agent.

“He’s one of those players we gotta get a good evaluation on him and just see where he’s at,” coach Dave Tippett said.

Through 20 games with the Coyotes, Burmistrov has a goal and eight assists.

His tenure with the team has included the scariest injury he’s ever experienced, but he’s also rediscovered his comfort level on the ice – a perk of the partnership he’s developed with the Coyotes that he’d like to maintain.

“I enjoy the team,” he said. “I enjoy the trust from the coaching staff. That’s given me a lot of confidence. It was a tough start when I came here. I had zero confidence in myself because I wasn’t playing for a while. When I came here, coaching staff gave me everything I needed.”

Vrbata nominated for Masterton

The Arizona chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association nominated winger Radim Vrbata for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which recognizes the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

“He’s exhibited all those by the longevity he’s had, his commitment to being just a real good pro, always committed to his team,” Tippett said. “He’s just a classy, good person. The ability to have an impact on the game after all these years, especially coming off a tough year last year, to come back and have the season he’s had, it speaks volumes for his character.”

Vrbata entered Wednesday leading the Coyotes in goals (18), assists (35) and points (53) after signing a oneyear, bonus-laden contract to return for his third stint with the organization following a down season with the Canucks. The 35-year-old reached the 1,000-game plateau March 9 with almost half of those games with the Coyotes, and he’s eclipsed 600 points.

“There was lots of unknown over the summer,” Vrbata said. “So how everything worked out, I couldn’t probably ask for it to be better. Coming back here, personally having the season that I’ve had, achieving the goals that I had for the season, just happy with how it went personally for me.”

Ice chips

» Captain Shane Doan missed his seventh straight game with a lowerbody injury but participated in Wednesday’s morning skate. “Shane looked good today,” Tippett said. “That was a key day for him today. He’s getting close. If he comes out of today looking like he was in practice, I would put him as probable for Friday.”

During a radio interview with Arizona Sports 98.7 Wednesday afternoon, Doan said, “It’s my groin that’s a little sore.”

» Winger Jamie McGinn did not play Wednesday, as he left the team Tuesday because of a death in the family. “He’s gone for a day or two,” Tippett said. “He’ll be back. I’m not sure if he’ll be here for practice (Thursday) but soon.”