MONTREAL (CP) - The Montreal Canadiens sent goaltender Yann Danis to the team's AHL affiliate in Hamilton on Thursday.

Danis won both games he started for Montreal, including a shutout in his NHL debut in Atlanta, but the Canadiens plan to give him extra work during a busy stretch of Hamilton's schedule. The 24-year-old is to play games for the Bulldogs on Wednesday and Friday and return to the Canadiens on the weekend.

"Yann is young and it's important that he sees some action," general manager Bob Gainey said.

The Habs will have Crostobal Huet back up starter Jose Theodore on Thursday night in Pittsburgh. Huet is returning from knee surgery. The French goaltender will also likely play some games in Hamilton before getting his first start with Montreal, Gainey said.

"It felt good to practise with the guys," said Huet, who was obtained after the 2003-04 season from Anaheim. "The knee is not a problem now, but I'm not in top shape.

"I'm not far off. It's a matter of a few weeks."

The Canadiens left for Pittsburgh on Wednesday without winger Pierre Dagenais, who has the flu.

Winger Jan Bulis, who has a sore left shoulder, also stayed behind, but centre Radek Bonk made the trip and is expected to return to action after missing five games with a groin injury.

The club also put enforcer Raitis Ivanans on waivers and hope to send him to Hamilton in a few days. Ivanans is recovering from a fractured orbital bone.

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There should be a rule against other teams being allowed to claim other players off waivers if they are only going down for conditioning after an injury. At least an unwritten rule withing the GMs. i hope Ratis can work his way back up because he is a great fighter, or was before the Chara cheapshot.