MONTREAL — The captain is on the comeback trail.
Coming off a 2-0 victory over the New York Rangers, the Senators could have one more reason to smile Saturday if winger Daniel Alfredsson is ready to return from a shoulder injury he suffered Dec. 23.
Alfredsson rejoined the Senators for practice Friday and could suit up tonight against the Montreal Canadiens.
Alfredsson won’t make his decision until after Saturday’s morning skate.
“You’ve just got to make sure that you’re comfortable and you put yourself in every situation that can happen,” he said. “Just based on skating by myself during the week (in Ottawa), I felt like I could play. You come to practice and it’s a little bit faster.
“There’s more contact and then you go, ‘Whoa.’ It’s a little bit of a wakeup call. But I got better as practice went on and I feel pretty good.”
Alfredsson has always been a quick healer.
“He looked really good. I talked to him at the end of practice and he said he felt pretty solid,” Senators coach Cory Clouston said following a 45-minute skate. “It’s more about how he feels (today). We don’t want to rush him. He’s a little ahead of schedule as it is right now.
“We don’t want to put him in a situation where all of a sudden (he) gets one hit and (he’s) out for two or three more weeks. We want to be smart about this and make the right decision.”
Alfredsson isn’t concerned about risking further injury, but admitted there was “some tightness” from taking part in the practice and wants to make sure he feels OK this morning before making any kind of a decision.
“It’s pretty much up to me when I feel comfortable enough to go,” said Alfredsson. “The doctors know if I feel comfortable they’ll give me the clearance. I don’t know if I’m going to be cautious. If that was the case, I’d wait another week to be sure it’s fully healed.
“The whole thing is about being comfortable going into situations and, honestly, if I play I don’t think I would play recklessly or throw myself into situations where I might get injured. As the game goes on, you probably get more and more brave and more, more confident.
“If not, I’ll just play the perimeter,” he added kiddingingly.
If he returns, callup Kaspars Daugavins will sit down.
Defenceman Filip Kuba (upper body injury) was also able to take part in the full practice.
