Jason Spezza could miss opener with injury
Ottawa Senators forward Jason Spezza could miss his club’s season opener on Friday night against the Buffalo Sabres with a groin injury. Spezza was taken out of practice on Wednesday and did not skate with the squad on Thursday.
The veteran missed 22 games last season and recently said he was keen to get the Senators 2010-11 campaign started. Unfortunately for the centre, the Sens have three games in four days to start off the season and the club may err on the side of caution when
dealing with his injury.
Nevertheless, head coach Cory Clouston did note that Spezza was a game time decision, stating. “We don’t think it’s going to be long term, if it’s any games at all. That’s why we’re not going to push Jason, and then all of a sudden he’s out four or five
games.”
Spezza had some difficulty with the Ottawa management and public over the summer. The youngster expressed his displeasure with general manager Bryan Murray’s plan moving forward. Unfortunately for the centre the comments were leaked and he was forced to
answer to the fans and media, making it clear that he did not want a trade.
Nevertheless, if Spezza is forced out of Friday’s game against Buffalo, the Senators will have to manoeuvre their first two lines. Originally Spezza was set to centre Milan Michalek and Daniel Alfredsson, while the second line would feature Mike Fisher at
the pivot surrounded by Alex Kovalev and Nick Foligno. In practice Fisher has been used on the top line with Alfredsson and Fligno, while the second line has seen Peter Regin move up to centre Kovalev and Michalek, in case of a Spezza injury.
In addition to the possible line juggling up front, the Senators coaching staff has not revealed who will be making the start in net against the Sabres. Both Brian Elliot and Pascal Leclaire were poor in the pre-season and neither of them were able to snatch
the starting job.
Last season with the Senators Spezza tallied 23 goals and 34 assists for 57 points.
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