Michael Peca's five-game suspension for "abuse of (NHL) officials" is now finished.

But Peca, a Blue Jackets center and alternate captain who will return for a game Friday against the New York Rangers in Nationwide Arena, still is simmering.

"I can't hold bitterness anymore," Peca said. "I still feel like five games is an unfair amount of games. But if I put myself in the commissioner's position, obviously he wants to make sure his officials are looking at him as though they're protected by him and the league.

"From that perspective, I have to accept it, based on the letter of the rules. You can't touch these guys no matter what."

Peca grabbed NHL referee Greg Kimmerly by the right arm to argue a noncall early in the second period of a season-opening victory over Dallas on Oct. 10.

It took a week for his appeal to be heard, but Peca had his suspension reduced from a minimum of 10 games to five.

"The biggest problem nowadays in the game is that players -- especially guys with a letter on their jerseys -- aren't capable of having relationships with (referees)," Peca said. "It almost seems like a lot of their identity is being taken away because (the league) is always looking at missed calls, things they could have done better.

"The radar these days is on extra-sensitive mode."

Modin improving

Left winger Fredrik Modin said his groin strain is improving.

Modin, placed on injured reserve Monday, said he suffered the injury when a Nashville player fell on his left leg as he was beginning to stand.

"I've never hurt it that way before," Modin said. "It's always been (while skating). The guy landed right on my hip, and it tweaked it."

Modin, who played 23 games during the 2007-08 season, could return for a game Monday against Anaheim.

Fine line

The best line on the ice during the 4-2 win Tuesday over Vancouver was the No. 2 line -- left winger Jason Chimera, center Derick Brassard and right winger Jake Voracek.

The two rookies -- Brassard and Voracek -- set up Chimera for six shots on goal and three scoring chances. Only 2:32 into the game, Chimera took a feed from Brassard and beat goaltender Roberto Luongo to make it 1-0.

"That was their best game," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "They've got lots of skill. But when they're that competitive with the puck, it's a dangerous line. Just about every shift they took, the puck ended up near the net."

Slap shots

The Blue Jackets will have to scratch a forward to get Peca back in the lineup Friday. Alexandre Picard could return to minor-league Syracuse. The Blue Jackets had an optional skate yesterday, with 16 players taking the ice.

aportzline@dispatch.com