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Alfredsson, Fisher likely out when Senators host Bruins

Apr 4, 2008 - 1:38 PM Boston (40-28-12) at Ottawa (43-30-8) 7:30 pm EDT

OTTAWA (Ticker) - Moving one step closer to a playoff berth just got easier for the Boston Bruins.

The Bruins on Friday visit the Ottawa Senators, who will likely be without two of their more important players.

Boston (40-28-12) enters the contest tied with the red-hot Washington Capitals (42-31-8) for seventh place in the Eastern Conference, two points behind the Senators (43-30-8) but just one point in front of the Philadelphia Flyers (40-29-11).

However, the Bruins chances of picking up two points against the Senators improved on Thursday after captain Daniel Alfredsson and Mike Fisher were injured during an 8-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Alfredsson had a pair of assists before being knocked out of the game by a vicious hit from Mark Bell with 2:13 remaining in the first.

Bell delivered a shoulder to the side of the unsuspecting Swede's head after Fisher suffered a left leg injury in the earlier in the first period and did not return.

Alfredsson, who has missed time with a hip flexor this season, has 40 goals and 49 assists in 70 games and will likely sit out against the Bruins with what is reported to be a knee injury.

Fisher's status is uncertain and if he can't play it would be a huge blow to the team as the Senators second-line center has 23 goals and 24 assists in 79 contests this season.

The Bruins are looking to bounce back from a 3-2 shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday. Despite the setback, Boston is 3-0-3 over its last six games.

Tim Thomas will most likely be in net for the Bruins on Friday after posting a 3-0-1 record, including two shutouts, with a 0.49 goals-against average and .984 save percentage in his last four starts against the Senators.

The All-Star goaltender has not allowed a goal to Ottawa in the last 128 minutes, 24 seconds.