Senators LW Heatley makes impressive return

Feb 8, 2008 - 6:59 AM OTTAWA (Ticker) -- The slumping Ottawa Senators welcomed back one of their superstars Thursday, and he did not disappoint.

Left wing Dany Heatley returned from a shoulder injury and scored two goals, including game-winner on the power play at 7:26 of the third period, as the Senators halted a three-game losing streak with a 5-4 victory over the Florida Panthers.

Heatley missed 11 games after suffering a separated shoulder in the third period of Ottawa's 3-2 triumph over the Detroit Red Wings on January 12. The injury originally was expected to sideline the All-Star for six weeks.

Unable to participate in the last month's All-Star Game after being voted as a starter for the Eastern Conference due to the injury, Heatley watched the Senators post a 3-8-0 record during his absence. But the 2002 Calder Trophy winner made an immediate impact upon his return, scoring Ottawa's first and last goals while also adding an assist.

"I felt pretty good out there," Heatley said. "I might have been a bit rusty at times, but overall, I'm happy with the way I played. Getting the win is the most important thing, especially the way things have been going for us lately. So it was great to be able to help out and score a couple of goals."

The return of Heatley, who has recorded 27 goals and 32 assists in 44 games this season, also provided a spark to the rest of the Senators.

"Obviously, he makes a big difference for our hockey club," said All-Star center Jason Spezza, who set up both of Heatley's goals. "We were pretty happy to hear the news he'd be coming back tonight. He's a 50-goal scorer and having him back in the lineup put a smile on a lot of faces around here."

"Getting Dany back in the lineup tonight gave us a boost, for sure," added defenseman Chris Phillips, who also netted a goal. "We've been struggling and trying to find our stride, so getting him back couldn't have happened at a better time. He could've had the hat trick tonight, and we've been missing that kind of scoring."

Senators coach John Paddock was extremely happy to have one of his stars back in the lineup.

"I don't know if it was getting (Heatley) back or not, but we definitely had a little more jump tonight," Paddock said. "That was certainly evident in the second period, and I think it showed in the third period when the game was on the line."

Drafted second overall by Atlanta in 2000, the German-born Heatley registered 26 goals and 67 points as a rookie in 2001-02. He made his first All-Star Game appearance the following season, winning the Most Valuable Player award after scoring four goals.

Heatley, who turned 27 on January 21, scored 41 goals in 2002-03 but missed a large portion of the next campaign due to injuries suffered in a car crash that claimed the life of Thrashers teammate Dan Snyder on September 29, 2003.

Following the lockout that canceled the 2004-05 season, Heatley was traded to Ottawa in a deal involving All-Star Marian Hossa in August 2005. He went on to record back-to-back 50-goal, 100-point performances in his first two campaigns with the Senators and helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Finals last spring.

With one superstar back, the Senators now await the return of All-Star Daniel Alfredsson, who has missed four straight games with a hip injury.

"It's great to have (Heatley) back, and now hopefully we'll get Alfie back sometime soon," Phillips said.

Ottawa, which leads second-place Montreal by three points in the Northeast Division, hosts the Canadiens on Saturday and hopes to have its captain back for the contest.