New York Rangers forward Brandon Dubinsky will be a game-time decision for tonight's meeting with the Ottawa Senators.
Dubinsky took a hard hit during Tuesday's game against the Phoenix Coyotes and did not participate in Thursday morning's practice. He had X-rays on his right shoulder, but they came back negative.
"It's going to be sore, obviously," Dubinsky told reporters at the team's practice facility in Greenburgh, N.Y. "It's just a matter of how well I can deal with that and take it from there."
If Dubinsky can't go, Wojtek Wolski will play his first game since having sports-hernia surgery in early November. He's been a healthy scratch the past couple of weeks as coach John Tortorella hasn't wanted to mess with the lineup as the Rangers have won five straight and 10 of 11.
Wolski has played just six games this season and has 2 assists.
His first game back could be a memorable one. On Oct. 29, Wolski delivered a shot to the head of Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson that caused a concussion. Alfredsson missed five games after the hit.
The two teams met again Nov. 9, but both Alfredsson and Wolski were out of the lineup. Alfredsson said Thursday after practice that he wasn't aware of the fact that Wolski could return, but the Senators likely haven't forgotten about that hit.
Follow Dave Lozo on Twitter: @DaveLozo