Sens LW Heatley expected back Thursday

Feb 6, 2008 - 7:47 PM OTTAWA (Ticker) -- The Ottawa Senators are expected to have All-Star left wing Dany Heatley back in the lineup when they host the Florida Panthers on Thursday, according to The Ottawa Sun.

The newspaper reported on its web site Wednesday that Heatley is ready for action, just four weeks after suffering a separated shoulder. The team had initially expected to be without their third-leading scorer for six weeks.

Though the best team in the Eastern Conference with 68 points, the Senators have gone 3-8-0 since Heatley went down with the injury and their once-sizable lead in the Northeast Division has dwindled to one point over the Montreal Canadians.

"It's always tough sitting out watching games," Heatley told the newspaper after Wednesday morning's practice. "It's an important time of the year. I'm excited to be back."

Heatley, who has 25 goals and 31 assists in 43 games this season, hopes to spark an Ottawa team that also has been without the services of leading-scorer Daniel Alfredsson.

Recovering from a nagging hip strain, the team captain has missed the Senators' last three games, including Tuesday's 4-3 loss to Montreal. Though he had a seven-point game January 24 in an 8-4 win in Tampa Bay, Alfredsson has played only three of Ottawa's last eight contests.

The Senators leader with 68 points, the 35-year-old Alfredsson told the Sun he hopes to be back for Saturday's home game against the Canadiens.