Senators D Kuba returns vs. Rangers

Jan 11, 2009 - 12:22 AM OTTAWA (Ticker) -- The struggling Ottawa Senators welcomed back a key defensive player on Saturday.

After missing a dismal eight-game road trip with a groin injury, defenseman Filip Kuba returned to the ice for the Senators' first home game in over three weeks, a meeting with the New York Rangers.

Due to Scotiabank Place hosting the World Junior Championship from December 26-January 5, Ottawa may have buried its playoff hopes while being forced to play away from home.

The Senators went 1-6-1 on their trip without Kuba, shrinking their overall record to 13-20-6. Getting back the 32-year-old veteran, their top-scoring blue-liner with 22 points, will surely help.

A native of Ostrava, Czech Republic, Kuba broke an NHL record for defensemen with an assist in a 3-2 loss to Toronto on October 25, giving him at least one point in each of Ottawa's first eight games. The previous mark was set by Brad Park, who recorded a point in each of the Boston Bruins' first seven contests in 1981-82.

Kuba has registered one goal and 22 assists in 31 games this season.

An eighth-round pick of the Florida Panthers in 1995, Kuba has collected 56 goals and 173 assists in 562 contests with the Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Tampa Bay Lightning and Senators over his 10-year career.