We'll start with the good news, Bobby Ryan, Mark Borowiecki, Nate Thompson and Johnny Oduya are all set to return from injuries against the Blues.
Borowiecki, who has been sidelined for nearly two months with a concussion, looked to be ready prior to the team's week-long break but admitted that the extra time helped him to be certain that he's ready to go.
"Was I ready to play? Probably but there was still some doubt in my mind," said Borowiecki. "I had put that date in my head as a time to come back and really fixated on it and I just don't think that was the right way to approach it."
The injuries to Ryan, Thompson and Oduya were all relatively minor and each only missed a handful of games before having the bye week to really get ahead of their setbacks. Thompson, who has been out of the line-up for the past 3 games, also credits the break with helping to reset mentally before the second half of the season.
"Not only do you get a break physically," said Thompson. "But I think the biggest thing with the bye week is the mental break where you're able to recharge and come back rejuvenated and ready to go."
Unfortunately, a new injury has popped up after Jean-Gabriel Pageau left yesterday's practice after feeling the lingering effects of an upper body injury he sustained against the Maple Leafs last week. As a result, Filip Chlapik has been recalled from Belleville and will draw into the line-up tonight against the Blues. Chlapik has appeared in 7 games for the Senators this season and has recorded 2 assists over that span.
Sens head coach Guy Boucher met with the media this morning after the team's skate and shared a few more line-up related thoughts which you can check out here...
