  Senators tough guy Chris Neil injured his knee against the Devils last night. (Sun Media/Errol McGihon) |
Chris Neil still needs more tests on his injured knee, but the initial prognosis is the Senators winger won't be out of the lineup for too long.
"Probably a couple weeks ... 10 days to two weeks, by the looks of it right now," coach Cory Clouston said this morning at Scotiabank Place.
Neil left last night's 3-1 loss at the New Jersey Devils in the first period, after he was hit by New Jersey's Andrew Peters.
"To miss some games ... it's not as bad now as if it was closer to the playoffs," said Neil.
Neil's roster spot will be readily filled. Alex Kovalev returns tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets at SBP after missing the last three games while attending the funeral of his mother-in-law in Russia.
Meanwhile, the Senators will be without Mike Fisher for a second game. Fisher suffered an upper body injury at Tuesday's practice but said his condition has improved and that hopes to be in the lineup Saturday, when the Senators visit the Bruins.
In tonight's matchup, Ottawa, the NHL's most penalized team, will be facing the league's second-ranked power play. Columbus has, however, lost three games in a row, including a 5-3 decision to Montreal Tuesday after blowing a lead in the third.
"We're expecting a tough, angry team tonight," said Clouston.
