Daily Primer Dec. 1: Alfredsson returns to Ottawa

Daniel Alfredsson will be in a very familiar place Sunday night.

The 40-year-old right wing will return to Canada's capital city when the Detroit Red Wings visit the Ottawa Senators (5:30 p.m., NHLN-U.S., TSN, RDS, FS-D+). Alfredsson spent his first 17 NHL seasons with the Senators before signing with the Red Wings as a free agent last summer.

Alfredsson is the Senators' all-time leader in games played (1,178), goals (426), assists (682) and points (1,108).

"I think I'm anxious to play the game," Alfredsson said after practicing with the Red Wings at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday. "What happens is going to happen. It's a very different situation from anything I've ever gone through before, so I don't know what to expect or what's going to happen, but I'm hopeful that it's going to be a good night."

Here's a closer look at the action Sunday:

Vancouver Canucks at Carolina Hurricanes-- Vancouver has split the first two games of its four-game road trip; the Canucks earned a 5-2 win against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, but suffered a 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday in John Tortorella's return to Madison Square Garden. Vancouver (13-10-5) has won two of its past 10 games. Carolina (10-11-5) will play eight games in the first 14 days of December, beginning with Sunday's game against the Canucks. Seven of their first eight games are against Western Conference opponents.

Detroit Red Wings at Ottawa Senators-- Detroit will try to continue its winning ways on the road; the Red Wings are 5-1-1 in their last seven games away from Joe Louis Arena. Since a seven-game winless streak, Detroit is 4-1-0, including 14 goals in its past three games after a 5-0 win against the New York Islanders on Friday. Once they're done welcoming Daniel Alfredsson back to Canadian Tire Centre, the Senators will focus on avenging a 5-2 loss to the Canucks on Thursday. Ottawa allowed four second-period goals in under nine minutes.

Edmonton Oilers at Dallas Stars -- Edmonton is wrapping up a string of three road games in four nights; the Oilers beat the Nashville Predators 3-0 on Thursday before dropping a 4-2 decision to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday. The Stars will begin life without defenseman Stephanie Robidas, who fractured his leg Friday in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. The 36-year-old veteran has not missed more than 10 games in a season since 2003-04. He's expected to miss four-to-six months.