Setback to recovery from concussion: Playoffs on line for Ottawa Senators Daniel Alfredsson-NHL News
The rest of the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs are on the line for Ottawa Senators’ captain, Daniel Alfredsson, as the player is reported to have suffered a ‘setback’ to his recovery from concussion.
The confirmation of Alfredsson’s setback came from Senators’ coach, Paul MacLean, who said to be unsure about the player’s participation in game 4 of the Eastern Conference playoff series.
MacLean said:
"We're going to evaluate it and see what it is in the morning. If [Alfredsson] is better and things go good, we'll evaluate the line-up and make decisions then.”
Given the nature of the injuries like concussion, it is always difficult for a player to be a hundred percent in his health and fitness in the shorter run, and the situation might prove to be equally bad for Senators’ captain.
Alfredsson missed game 3 of the series and skipped the team’s optional practice on Tuesday morning, and as the coach said, there is no surety of him coming back in game 4.
The captain was injured in game 2 of the playoff series against the New York Rangers after receiving an elbow hit to his head by Rangers’ left wing, Carl Hagelin, who was later suspended for three games by NHL authorities over the hit.
The latest status of Alfredsson’s recovery is unknown, as in spite of the coach’s statement that the player has suffered a setback in the recovery process, it is unclear what sort of setback he has received to his efforts to become healthy and fit again.
MacLean, however, noted with concern that the player’s absence will certainly have an impact on Senators’ performance.
He said:
"He's the captain of the team. He's the most experienced player on the team. It's a big loss for any team. I think the team stepped up and played really well. I thought Bobby [Butler] went in and played real well for us. That's what we need to happen. When
a team faces adversity, it's an opportunity. We're not replacing Daniel Alfredsson. We don't have that player."
The absence of concrete information has been feeding doubts about his chances of comeback in the playoff round this season.
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