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Erik Karlsson Confirms Return to Senators Thursday vs. Capitals

  • Frank Doyle's Author profile. Frank Doyle

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Against all odds, reigning Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson will return to the Ottawa Senators’ lineup Thursday night against the Washington Capitals, according to his official Twitter account. “BOOM.! FINALLY.! Back in the line up tonight,” Karlsson tweeted just after noon on Thursday.

Karlsson, who suffered a severed Achilles’ tendon in February, has been skating for more than two weeks and has the green light from team management to return when he feels ready. At Thursday morning’s pre-game skate, No. 65 looked more than ready. He led the team stretches and skated with his usual defence partner Marc Methot on the first pairing and didn’t look at all out of place throughout the workout. Karlsson also spent some time working with Sergei Gonchar on Ottawa’s top power play unit.

“I don’t think I’m rushing it. The last couple of weeks have been really good and it’s been progressing a lot,” Karlsson told reporters. “The scar has been healing as well as we hoped. Right now, it’s good enough to skate as well as almost everyone else.”

Karlsson’s return comes 10 weeks from the date of his surgery after originally estimates had him out of the lineup at least four months. While Ottawa didn’t want to rush their franchise player back into action, the Sens need help. Ottawa is just 4-6-0 in its last 10, slipping all the way to seventh spot in the Eastern Conference.

“I have no concerns,” Senators coach Paul MacLean told reporters Wednesday. “If he says he’s ready to play, then he’s ready to play. He’s done the work. I think he’s closer [to returning] but I don’t know. There’s always a chance. He practiced in a regular turn [Wednesday], so that’s another step in the process. We’ll see where it goes [Thursday].”

Karlsson was off to a great start before Matt Cooke’s skate cut him, scoring six goals with four assists in 14 games. Meanwhile, Ottawa has managed only 20 goals in its last 10 games overall with just two dates left on the schedule following Thursday’s date. The Senators are back home Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers before traveling to Boston for a make-up date against the Bruins on Sunday.