After a hectic couple of days away from the site, it's time to get back on track and look at the week that lies ahead for our Ottawa Senators.
The Sens are back on the ice today for a 3:00PM skate at the Bell Sensplex and return to game action when they host to the Montreal Canadiens tomorrow night at Scotiabank Place.
Heading into post holiday action, the Sens sit 8th in the ridiculously tight Eastern Conference Standings. Ottawa is two points clear of the 9th place Winnipeg Jets and have a three point buffer over the Washington Capitals who are holding down the 10th spot.
Both those teams have games in hand on the Sens.
After tomorrow's tilt with the Habs, the Sens will have another couple days off before weekend games with the Flames and the Sabres to close out the 2011 schedule. Ottawa has done a great job staying in the thick of things in the East but obviously have no room for error with the standings as close as they are.
Tomorrow will be a fun night at SBP as the new Bell HD scoreboard will make its debut. Crews have been working hard over the break to get the thing put together so it will be exciting to see it for the first time.
Paul MacLean's group will also get a boost from the return of Milan Michalek.
Prior to the break, Michalek passed all his baseline tests and has been cleared to return. Michalek was leading the league in goals when he was knocked out of the line up and is just two back heading into tomorrow night.
Christmas may be over but another holiday tradition is just getting started. The yearly World Junior Tournament kicks off for Canada today and Sens prospect Mark Stone figures to be a huge part of that team. Mika Zibanejad and Fredrik Claesson will suit up for Team Sweden and Jakub Culek for Team Czech Republic.
Canada open's the round robin at 3:00 PM against Team Finland.
