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Senators-Panthers Preview

Apr 6, 2010 - 1:20 AM By CHRIS ALTRUDA STATS Editor

Ottawa (43-31-5) at Florida (31-35-12), 7:00 p.m. EDT

Daniel Alfredsson has seemingly been part of every milestone the Ottawa Senators have reached in franchise history. On Tuesday night, he will mark a personal one playing for the only team he's known.

Alfredsson will play his 1,000th game as the Senators continue to prepare for the playoffs with a road contest against the Florida Panthers.

A sixth-round pick in 1994 by the Senators (43-31-5), Ottawa's captain won the Calder Trophy as top rookie in 1996. He was on the first playoff squad in team history in '97, helped the club win its first playoff series in '98 and led the Senators to their only Stanley Cup finals appearance in 2007.

Alfredsson leads all players drafted in 1994 in games (999), goals (375), assists (614) and points (989), but the Swedish forward is more concerned with getting the win in his milestone game.

"I don't think it matters from the perspective that the 1,000th game has to be something special," he told the Senators' official Web site. "For me personally, you approach in it a way that you want to have a good showing.

"I just want to try and play all the games that are left to be as prepared as I can be and the team can be going into the playoffs."

This season, however, may be one of the most rewarding for the 37-year-old Alfredsson. After missing the playoffs for the first time in 12 years in 2008-09, the Senators have clinched a postseason spot. That is due in large part to Alfredsson, who has recorded team highs of 48 assists and 68 points while scoring at least 20 goals for the 12th time in his career.

Alfredsson, though, was held off the scoresheet in a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders that ended a six-game winning streak.The defeat all but relegated Ottawa to the fifth seed, with the Senators likely to face the runner-up of the Atlantic Division - Pittsburgh or New Jersey - in the first round.

Ottawa can secure at least the fifth seed with a point Tuesday.

"We don't want to relax just because we're in a spot," center Mike Fisher said. "We've had a good run and we'll be ready and regroup."

Alfredsson has 22 goals and 25 assists in 49 games versus Florida, and has recorded two goals and one assist in two meetings - both wins - this season.

While Alfredsson has been in the playoffs nearly every season of his career, the Panthers (31-35-12) will miss out for the ninth straight time after being eliminated with a 4-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday. Florida allowed four goals in the third period in losing for the fifth time in six games.

The Panthers were held to two goals or fewer in each of their last six games, and their forwards failed to score in the last two.

"We got one goal again, and it was from another defenseman," coach Peter DeBoer said. "You're not going to win many games in this league if your forwards and best players don't find a way to score."

Defenseman Keith Ballard has both of Florida's goals the last two games and three in his last four overall.

Ottawa has won two of three meetings this season, taking the most recent 3-2 on March 27. The Senators have won 13 of the last 16 road games in the series.