Preds? goalie cleared, ready to return to ice

Nashville Predators goaltender Tomas Vokoun has been cleared by doctors to return to the team.

Vokoun was diagnosed in April with pelvic thrombophlebitis, a rare blood condition that caused blood clots in his abdomen.

?The information that we received indicates that his situation has stabilized and was likely a result of a childhood accident as opposed to a more recent development,? Predators general manager David Poile said in a statement Monday. ?While we will continue monitoring his status, there will be no ongoing treatment of the condition.?

He will no longer be required to take blood-thinning medication prescribed to clear the blood clots.

Vokoun won a career-high 36 games last season, even though his condition forced him out of the final eight games of the regular season and all five of the Predators? playoff games.

Vokoun?s playoff absence was obvious as the Predators won only one game in a best-of-seven series against the San Jose Sharks in which they were outshot 171-137, gave up 10 power-play goals and matched their longest skid of the season.

Earlier this month, the Predators re-signed backup goalie Chris Mason, who set a franchise shutout record of 143 minutes after taking over for Vokoun in April.