Senators' Alfredsson out vs. Kings

Mar 7, 2008 - 12:14 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Ottawa Senators are continuing to be cautious with Daniel Alfredsson.

The team captain will miss his second consecutive game on Thursday, when the Senators take on the lowly Los Angeles Kings.

Alfredsson also sat out Wednesday's 3-2 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks.

The 35-year-old Swede injured his back during Monday's 3-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks after he was cross-checked by defenseman Francois Beauchemin early in the third period.

"He feels better, but he still has a little bit of (tightness) to it," Senators coach Bryan Murray said on Thursday. "I guess if it was a playoff game, he'd play, but I just don't want to put him in that position right now."

Although the Senators are 1-5-1 in their last seven games, Murray feels confident that rest is just what the doctor ordered for the All-Star.

"I think it's the right thing to do, give him two more days (of rest) and we'll see if he can play in Phoenix (on Saturday)," Murray said. "When he comes back, he'll certainly be closer to 100 percent than he is now.

"More than anything, what he needs right now is rehab and a little bit of rest. By doing that, I think we'll benefit from it and, when he comes back, he'll certainly be closer to playing (at the level) we think he can play."

Alfredsson has recorded 37 goals and 42 assists in 60 games this season. A sixth-round pick in 1994, he has collected 328 tallies, 837 points and 377 penalty minutes in 843 career contests.