Senators to scratch Cowen against Canucks

OTTAWA - Ottawa Senators defenseman Jared Cowen will be out of the lineup for the first time this season for a game against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.

"I think Jared has struggled at times this year, and I think that it's time for him to watch a game and see if he can settle himself down and get himself back playing the way that we need him to play," Ottawa coach Paul MacLean said.

Cowen had hip surgery last November and missed most of last season after he was injured while playing for Binghamton of the American Hockey League during the lockout.

"I think we've been working with him, and being patient with him and continuing to put him on the ice, but his play has been inconsistent and, frankly, we need him to be a better player," MacLean said.

Senators defenseman Patrick Wiercioch is also a healthy scratch, while Mark Borowiecki and Eric Gryba return to the lineup.

Here are the probable lineups for the Canucks and Senators:

CANUCKS

Daniel Sedin – Henrik Sedin – Alexandre Burrows

David Booth – Ryan Kesler – Jannik Hansen

Chris Higgins – Mike Santorelli – Dale Weise

Tom Sestito – Brad Richardson – Zack Kassian

Alexander Edler – Jason Garrison

Dan Hamhuis – Christopher Tanev

Ryan Stanton – Kevin Bieksa

Roberto Luongo

Eddie Lack

Scratched: Jeremy Welsh, Andrew Alberts, Zac Dalpe

Injured: Jordan Schroeder (foot)

SENATORS

Milan Michalek – Jason Spezza - Mika Zibanejad

Clarke MacArthur – Kyle Turris – Bobby Ryan

Cory Conacher – Zack Smith – Chris Neil

Colin Greening – Derek Grant – Erik Condra

Marc Methot – Erik Karlsson

Chris Phillips - Joe Corvo

Mark Borowiecki - Eric Gryba

Craig Anderson

Robin Lehner

Scratched: Jared Cowen, Patrick Wiercioch, Matt Kassian