Despite their early-season success, the Senators know they
need to improve their power play. They hope the return of defenseman Filip
Kuba can get them headed in the right direction.
Kuba is expected to return to the ice for Ottawa tonight in a matchup with the
Florida Panthers at BankAtlantic Center.
The 6-foot-4 Kuba hasn't played since the Senators' first game of the season
on October 3 due to a lower-body injury. He will aim to boost a power-play
unit that is second-to-last in the NHL at 11.4 percent (4-for-35).
Kuba had two goals and 24 assists on the man advantage last year.
"He'll make a big improvement, just as far as poise, confidence and experience
back there," head coach Cory Clouston told his club's Web site. "[Kuba]
doesn't have a booming shot, but he's able to get the shot through for the
most part. He's also very intelligent as far as reading [the play]."
Ottawa went 0-for-3 on the power play in Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to
Boston, the club's second in a row following a two-game win streak. Mike
Fisher had a goal and an assist, while Milan Michalek and Daniel Alfredsson
both scored.
With Pascal Leclaire battling illness, Brian Elliott made 25 saves in the
loss. Leclaire is expected to start tonight and is 1-1-0 with a 4.35 goals-
against average versus Florida, yielding nine goals on 81 shots.
While Ottawa is expected to get some key players back, the Panthers will be
without two of theirs tonight.
David Booth is sidelined indefinitely after suffering a concussion on a hard
hit by Philadelphia's Mike Richards in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Flyers.
Booth appeared to be knocked unconscious as he fell to the ice and was wheeled
off on a stretcher.
Booth was released from a Philadelphia hospital on Sunday morning and there is
no timetable for his return. He had scored Florida's lone goal in Saturday's
loss, his second of the season.
"I guess I have to be more careful," the forward told his team's site on
Tuesday. "You always think about what you can do different, maybe not cut in
the middle, having your head on a swivel. I don't know...it's all hindsight.
It's the game of hockey. It could have been a lot worse. I'm just thankful I'm
all right."
Meanwhile, Radek Dvorak suffered a knee injury versus Philadelphia and is
expected to miss at least two weeks. He won't need surgery however.
Tomas Vokoun, who gave up all five goals on 38 shots on Saturday in the
Panthers' third straight loss and seventh in eight games, is slated to start
again tonight. He is just 2-6-0 with a 3.48 GAA lifetime against Ottawa.
The Panthers won three of four from the Senators last year and has taken two
of the last three at home in the series.
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