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The Senators will face decisions about what to do with their blueline corps once they get healthy.
Filip Kuba could play as early as Tuesday vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Place, but Chris Campoli, who suffered an MCL sprain to his left knee on Feb. 11, is still two weeks away.
Brian Lee seems most likely to return to Binghamton of the AHL.
Getting Kuba (lower-body injury) back is key. He plays major minutes.
“He’s not a real fast guy, he doesn’t have the real hard shot, but he does a lot of things well,” coach Cory Clouston said before Saturday’s game. “He doesn’t do anything that stands out. He plays an important role in power play, penalty kill and he just plays with a lot of poise back there.”
Clouston won’t mind the luxury of trying to sort out his blueliners once the club gets everybody back.
Somebody is going to have to be a healthy scratch once Campoli is healthy, but the Senators would rather have that situation than not have enough capable players.
Standing by Cooke: Senators LW Jarkko Ruutu, an agitator and former teammate of Pittsburgh LW Matt Cooke, is one of the few NHL players who doesn’t believe Cooke should be suspended for his hit on Boston’s Marc Savard last Sunday. “I think (Cooke) is always going to be a marked man, the same way I am. That will never change,” Ruutu said on Saturday. “The league just followed through with the stands (set) on the (Mike) Richards hit (on David Booth earlier this season). I think (no suspension) was kind of expected. You have to be fair, (Cooke) didn’t have an elbow up or anything. The league was consistent with the call. There’s no rule on it right now and they make the call.” The NHL will have a rule to deal with the situation next season.
Off the glass: Being on the road for 14 games wasn’t easy for the Canucks, who are back home after going 8-5-1 on the road. “It was challenging,” said Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault. “Sometimes you would wake up and forget what city you were in and you’d get into hotels and not remember your room number. It was a long trip, but considering all the dynamics, we did a good job.” Vigneault admitted it was a long stretch for the team. “I’m not sure you become closer. You might become a little sick and tired being with one another for that long.” ... The Canucks honoured medal-winning Olympians before Saturday’s game, including G Roberto Luongo (Canada), RW Ryan Kesler (U.S.), D Sami Salo (Finland) and the Sens’ Ruutu (Finland) ... Vancouver C Henrik Sedin went into Saturday’s game needing only two assists to become the club’s all-time leader. He had 414 going into the game and was only one behind former captain Trevor Linden.
This ’n’ that
The Senators had C Chris Kelly back in the lineup against the Canucks. He missed Thursday’s game against the Flames in Calgary with a lower-body injury and was a game-time decision. His return meant F Shean Donovan was a healthy scratch ... The Canucks had D Kevin Bieksa back after he missed 17 games with an ankle injury when he accidently had his ankle cut by Phoenix’s Petr Prucha on Dec. 29. “It feels good. I’ve been out for a while. I’m happy to get back. It’s my first home game in a while so it should be a good atmosphere,” said Bieksa ... Vigneault scratched D Shane O’Brien ... Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson was a guest on Hockey Night in Canada’s After Hours following the game.
bruce.garrioch@sunmedia.ca