Rumors, moves, injuries and newsmakers...

Alfredsson set to return to Sens on Saturday; Toews could be back with Blackhawks imminently; Murray back in Beantown after 19-game absence; Cole snaps nine-game goal-less streak; Souray likely done for year after shoulder surgery; and more...
TOGETHER AGAIN 
With Ottawa's Dany Heatley missing the last month with a separated shoulder and Daniel Alfredsson sidelined with a hip flexor for the past four games, the Senators have seen their once large lead in the Eastern Conference all but evaporate.

However, with Heatley's triumphant return on Thursday (two goals and an assist in a win over Florida) and Alfredsson projected back on Saturday, the Senators could be poised for another solid stretch.

Should the Ottawa captain return to the lineup against Montreal, he would team with Heatley and Jason Spezza to reform one of the NHL's most dangerous lines. The trio last skated together back on January 12. The first-place Sens currently lead the Habs by three points in the Northeast Division.

---

BLACKHAWKS 
Chicago's Martin Havlat has assists in four straight games, but he has failed to register a goal in his last nine games. That could change on Sunday against Vancouver if Jonathan Toews is able to return to the lineup after a six-week absence with a knee injury. The two would likely skate together on the power play, giving the Canucks' penalty-killing unit a tough assignment. The injury-prone Havlat has only six goals and 15 assists in 26 games in 2007-08. At his current pace, the slick forward probably won't hit the 20-goal mark this year--something he's done in four of his past five seasons.

BRUINS 
Boston sniper Glen Murray was back in the Bruins lineup on Friday after a 19-game absence due to a hip flexor. The 35-year-old did manage to hit a goal-post, but that was as close as he came to scoring in Boston's 3-2 shootout win over Buffalo. While Murray was out, young gun Phil Kessel did an admirable job filling in for him on a line with Marc Savard and Marco Sturm.

DUCKS 
Despite starring for New Jersey for 13 seasons, Anaheim defenseman Scott Niedermayer heard mostly boos in his return to the Garden State on Friday. The 2004 Norris Trophy winner turned down a big contract from the Devils after the 2004-05 lockout and instead signed with his little brother, Rob, in Anaheim where the pair won a Stanley Cup in 2006-07. While most eyes at the Prudential Center were fixed on Niedermayer, it was actually his young teammate Ryan Carter who ended up the hero for the Ducks. The rookie forward scored the first two goals of his NHL career as Anaheim won 2-1.

FLYERS 
Philadelphia winger Joffrey Lupul has reportedly been cleared to rejoin the Flyers. The 24-year-old has been on the shelf since early January with a spinal cord contusion. Lupul may even be back on the ice on Saturday when the Flyers face the Rangers and would likely slide onto a line with Mike Richards and Simon Gagne. In his first year in Philly after being traded from Edmonton last summer, Lupul has 16 goals and 19 assists in 39 games.

HURRICANES 
Carolina forward Erik Cole broke out of a long slump on Friday, scoring his first goal in nine games as the Hurricanes earned a hard-fought 2-1 decision over the Capitals. Cole now has 12 goals and 21 assists on the season. Now it is up to Eric Staal to get on track for Carolina. The burly forward has been held pointless in five consecutive games.

KINGS 
With Rob Blake expected to stay on injured reserve for at least two more weeks with an ankle injury, some of the other Kings defensemen are going to have to step up. Brad Stuart has already begun to pick up the slack. In the two games Blake has already missed, the 27-year-old has chipped in a goal and three assists. Another player who should see more responsibility is rookie Jack Johnson. The 21-year-old hasn't lived up to his immense hype thus far this season, but the next couple of weeks should give him an opportunity to show both his teammates and the coaching staff that he has the goods. The Kings take on the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Saturday.

LIGHTNING 
Since joining the Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis line four games ago, Tampa's Brad Richards has been on fire. The speedy forward has two goals and three assists over that stretch. Despite the good numbers, Richards--and virtually any of his teammates--could still be moved to a contender before the NHL trade deadline later this month. The Lightning face the Thrashers in Atlanta on Saturday.

OILERS 
Edmonton's Sheldon Souray has reportedly had arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder and may be finished for the season. After notching 64 points (26-38-64) for Montreal in 2006-07, the smooth-skating rearguard earned a five-year, $27 million contract from the Oilers in free agency last summer. Souray originally hurt the shoulder in mid-October and has struggled with the injury all season. In 26 games with his new team, the veteran has only three goals and seven assists. With Souray sidelined, Joni Pitkanen and Tom Gilbert will have to continue to try and generate some offense from the Edmonton blueline.

PENGUINS 
Pittsburgh defenseman Ryan Whitney had a tough outing in last Monday's 4-3 loss to New Jersey and Penguins coach Michel Therrien let him know it via some stinging post-game comments to the media. Despite the criticism, the 24-year-old came back strong in Pittsburgh's next game, scoring two goals and adding an assist in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Islanders. It was Whitney's first three-point game of the season.

SENATORS 
Canadian broadcaster TSN is reporting that Ottawa GM Bryan Murray has approached defenseman Wade Redden about waiving his no-trade clause after San Jose inquired about his availability. The veteran defenseman reportedly did not want to discuss the subject with Murray. Redden becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer and it is doubtful the Senators will have the resources to ink him to a lucrative long-term deal, making a trade a potentially attractive alternative for the club.