SUNRISE, Florida - Finally, help is on the way.
After missing two games with a hip flexor, Daniel Alfredsson practised here this morning and pronounced himself ready to play tonight against the Florida Panthers.
He'll be a welcome addition.
Over the last two years, the Senators are 1-7 without him in the lineup. Since Dany Heatley went out five games out with a separated right shoulder, followed by Alfredsson three games later, the Senators have gone 1-4, including a 6-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday, their worst of the season.
"It felt good this morning so I'm looking forward to tonight," he said, after a spirited morning skate that featured a brief scuffle between Wade Redden and Chris Neil."The soreness I had in the last game I played, I tried skating in Philly and could still feel it. The last two days I've taken it a little bit easier and it felt good this morning.
"I'll probably be a little bit cautious tonight because of the ice here, but it was a good test this morning and it felt good."
Coach John Paddock said it's unfortunate that Alfredsson has to be out of the lineup for people to realize how valuable he is to the team.
"He does everything and he adds a high level to everything," said Paddock.
"There's more potential to score, there's more consistent penalty, whatever he says and does in the room - that's all available to us."
Meanwhile, the Panthers may just be the tonic that the Senators, who have lost four of their last five, need.
The Senators have won six straight games against the Panthers, including two (4-1 and 5-4) this season.
They haven't lost to the Panthers since April 13, 2006, when they fell 5-4 win in overtime.
In their last 30 games against the Panthers going back to the 1999-2000 season, the Senators are 23-6-0-1.
Further, the Panthers are in a skid of their own. They're 3-8-1 in their last 12 games and struggling to stay in touch with the playoff race.
All that looks promising as you contemplate your Pro-Line ticket, but the Senators are not exactly cocky these days.
"Florida and Tampa (Thursday's opponent) are two teams we should beat," said Jason Spezza.
"But in this league it's clear that it's often not as easy as the standings show.
"They're fighting for the playoffs, and we know that Jacques (Martin) will have them playing a tight-checking system and not making too many mistakes.
"So we figure if we can counter with that same kind of effort, and not make too many mistakes, we should have a good chance to win."
Mike Fisher said the most important thing the players can do is forget about the 6-1 loss to the Flyers - without, of course, forgetting what has made them one of the top teams in the league this year.
"We've just got to put it behind us," he said.
"It's a new game and as a team we know we have a lot more to give, which is a good sign.
"We're in a stretch right now where we just haven't been able to find our game and it's been frustrating and disappointing and a lot of different things.
"But you go through streaks and slumps, individually and as a team. We've just got to find a way to get out of it now and start playing hard and consistent every night.
"We have to give ourselves a chance to win. It's hard work, sacrificing, doing a lot of the little things.
"It's following the game plan, discipline, all those good words or cliches you use, but that's the bottom line."
Ray Emery will be in goal tonight for the Senators. He was in goal for both of Ottawa's wins over the Panthers this year.
After missing two games with a hip flexor, Daniel Alfredsson practised here this morning and pronounced himself ready to play tonight against the Florida Panthers.
He'll be a welcome addition.
Over the last two years, the Senators are 1-7 without him in the lineup. Since Dany Heatley went out five games out with a separated right shoulder, followed by Alfredsson three games later, the Senators have gone 1-4, including a 6-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday, their worst of the season.
"It felt good this morning so I'm looking forward to tonight," he said, after a spirited morning skate that featured a brief scuffle between Wade Redden and Chris Neil."The soreness I had in the last game I played, I tried skating in Philly and could still feel it. The last two days I've taken it a little bit easier and it felt good this morning.
"I'll probably be a little bit cautious tonight because of the ice here, but it was a good test this morning and it felt good."
Coach John Paddock said it's unfortunate that Alfredsson has to be out of the lineup for people to realize how valuable he is to the team.
"He does everything and he adds a high level to everything," said Paddock.
"There's more potential to score, there's more consistent penalty, whatever he says and does in the room - that's all available to us."
Meanwhile, the Panthers may just be the tonic that the Senators, who have lost four of their last five, need.
The Senators have won six straight games against the Panthers, including two (4-1 and 5-4) this season.
They haven't lost to the Panthers since April 13, 2006, when they fell 5-4 win in overtime.
In their last 30 games against the Panthers going back to the 1999-2000 season, the Senators are 23-6-0-1.
Further, the Panthers are in a skid of their own. They're 3-8-1 in their last 12 games and struggling to stay in touch with the playoff race.
All that looks promising as you contemplate your Pro-Line ticket, but the Senators are not exactly cocky these days.
"Florida and Tampa (Thursday's opponent) are two teams we should beat," said Jason Spezza.
"But in this league it's clear that it's often not as easy as the standings show.
"They're fighting for the playoffs, and we know that Jacques (Martin) will have them playing a tight-checking system and not making too many mistakes.
"So we figure if we can counter with that same kind of effort, and not make too many mistakes, we should have a good chance to win."
Mike Fisher said the most important thing the players can do is forget about the 6-1 loss to the Flyers - without, of course, forgetting what has made them one of the top teams in the league this year.
"We've just got to put it behind us," he said.
"It's a new game and as a team we know we have a lot more to give, which is a good sign.
"We're in a stretch right now where we just haven't been able to find our game and it's been frustrating and disappointing and a lot of different things.
"But you go through streaks and slumps, individually and as a team. We've just got to find a way to get out of it now and start playing hard and consistent every night.
"We have to give ourselves a chance to win. It's hard work, sacrificing, doing a lot of the little things.
"It's following the game plan, discipline, all those good words or cliches you use, but that's the bottom line."
Ray Emery will be in goal tonight for the Senators. He was in goal for both of Ottawa's wins over the Panthers this year.
