Blue Jackets right winger Derek Dorsett spent three days lost in the haze of a nonstop headache. But since early last week, his recovery from a concussion has been steady.

Yesterday brought about the best news yet.

Dorsett passed a neurological test in the morning and then rode a stationary bike for more than 20 minutes in the early afternoon, experiencing no ill effects.

"Hopefully, everything keeps going well in the next few days," Dorsett said. "The first three days were rough. I had headaches all the time. But since Tuesday, I haven't had any symptoms at all.

"It's an hour-by-hour thing, really. If I wake up (this) morning without any symptoms, then we keep going forward."

Dorsett was hurt Nov. 19 at Dallas when he was boarded from behind by Stars winger James Neal, whose elbow drove Dorsett's face hard into the glass.

Neal, in addition to a game misconduct and additional penalty minutes, was given a two-game suspension by the NHL. He has been back in the lineup for the Stars the past two games.

As for Dorsett, he will likely return to practice Monday or Tuesday, meaning the earliest he would play is Thursday against Toronto or next Saturday against Colorado.

"This is the first concussion I've ever had," Dorsett said, "so I don't know the whole process, but I feel pretty good. I feel pretty confident that I'm going to keep getting better and get back in there."

Asked if the fear of future concussions might cause him to play a less combative, rambunctious style, Dorsett didn't blink.

"Not one bit," he said.

The Blue Jackets have missed his energy and checking in the four games since he was injured. He's second on the club with 51 penalty minutes and three fighting majors.

Slap shots

Coach Ken Hitchcock indicated that goaltender Steve Mason will start tonight. The Flames might counter with backup goaltender Curtis McElhinney, who is 0-1-0 with an .894 save percentage in two career games (one start) against the Blue Jackets. No. 1 goalie Miikka Kiprusoff started last night at Detroit, the first of three games in four nights for Calgary. Left winger Tom Sestito was sent back to minor-league Syracuse yesterday. Sestito played Nov. 16 against Edmonton but was scratched for all five games of the Jackets' trip. Center Andrew Murray, out because of a shoulder injury since Oct. 20, will join the Jackets for tonight's pregame skate and is close to returning.

aportzline@dispatch.com