Rumors, moves, injuries and newsmakers...

Ottawa's terrific trio; Lupul returns for the Flyers; Blake doesn't want to move to the East; Cleary fractures his jaw; Connolly expected back on Sunday; and more...

SIX FOR SPEZZA 
When the Ottawa Senators' top line is healthy, they are simply the best in the NHL.

On Saturday night at home against the Montreal Canadiens, the Dany Heatley-Jason Spezza-Daniel Alfredsson combination proved its dominance by exploding for 15 total points in an easy 6-1 victory. Spezza recorded his first career NHL hat trick, and added three assists for good measure. Alfredsson returned to action following a four-game absence due to a hip flexor problem, and promptly produced two goals and five points. As for Heatley, who was only playing his second game back after missing 11 due to a shoulder problem, he settled for a goal and three assists. The line also finished with a plus-12 collective rating.

Suddenly, the Sens have opened up a five-point lead once again on Montreal for first place in the Northeast Division--after flirting with second place earlier in the week. As inconsistent as Ottawa has been in 2007-08, they haven't had too many issues whenever the top line was healthy and together. Call them a one-line team, but since it's the best in the business it seems to work perfectly for the Senators.

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BLACKHAWKS 
Rookie center Jonathan Toews, who has missed the Blackhawks' last 16 games because of a sprained knee, was activated off injured reserve on Saturday. Toews is expected back in the Chicago lineup for Sunday's road contest against the Vancouver Canucks. Chicago went 5-10-1 without Toews, so head coach Denis Savard is happy to have him back in the lineup.

CANUCKS 
The Canucks recalled forward Ryan Shannon, who scored two goals but posted an ugly minus-7 rating in three early-season games, from the AHL's Manitoba Moose on Saturday. Shannon was in the lineup later in the evening on home ice against the Colorado Avalanche. He played right wing on an all-AHL line alongside Jason Jaffray and Mason Raymond versus the Avs.

COYOTES 
On Saturday, the Coyotes assigned winger Bill Thomas back to the AHL's San Antonio Rampage. Meanwhile, the club has signed enforcer Peter Vandermeer--the older brother of Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Jim Vandermeer--to an NHL contract. The 32-year-old journeyman may make his NHL regular-season debut on Sunday night against Nashville.

FLYERS 
Winger Joffrey Lupul, who missed 14 games because of a concussion and spinal cord injury sustained on January 5 when he collided with teammate Derian Hatcher, returned to action on Saturday afternoon against the New York Rangers. Lupul replaced Scottie Upshall (high ankle sprain) in the lineup. Meanwhile, defenseman Braydon Coburn left Saturday's contest early because of a lower-body injury.

ISLANDERS 
After missing one game because of a knee injury, Slovakian veteran winger Miroslav Satan returned to action on Saturday against the Minnesota Wild. Satan, the subject of several trade rumors in recent weeks, recorded one assist in the 4-3 overtime road loss versus the Wild.

KINGS 
Various reports suggest Kings captain Rob Blake is not interested in moving to a team in the East before the February 26 trade deadline. The 38-year-old veteran, who is currently on IR because of a slightly fractured ankle, should return to the Kings lineup just prior to the deadline. The Detroit Red Wings were rumored to have serious interest in Blake, but they are likely out of the running because of Blake's preference to remain out West.

MAPLE LEAFS 
After missing five games due to a shoulder injury, winger Alexander Steen was activated off injured reserve on Saturday--prior to Toronto's overtime home win over the Detroit Red Wings. To make room for Steen in the lineup, the Maple Leafs assigned energy forward Kris Newbury back to the AHL's Toronto Marlies. Meanwhile, winger Nik Antropov returned from a three-game suspension on Saturday and wound up scoring the game-winning goal on a deflection.

PANTHERS 
Veteran Finnish winger Ville Peltonen (foot), who had missed Florida's last 24 contests, returned to the lineup on Saturday night on the road against the Boston Bruins. He scored his fifth goal of the season in the 6-3 road victory. With Peltonen back in action, the Panthers assigned right-winger Anthony Stewart back to the AHL's Rochester Americans prior to game time.

PREDATORS 
Czech winger Martin Erat missed Saturday night's road contest against the San Jose Sharks because of back spasms. Erat is considered day-to-day. With Erat out of action, checking winger Jed Ortmeyer was reinserted into the Preds lineup for only the second time in five contests.

RED WINGS 
Winger Dan Cleary, who is enjoying his best season in the NHL in 2007-08, suffered a fractured jaw in Saturday afternoon's overtime road loss at Toronto. Cleary was standing in front of the Maple Leafs net when he caught a puck in the face. He has 20 goals and 40 points in 56 games this season. Detroit also played the contest without Czech winger Jiri Hudler (illness).

SABRES 
Right wing Drew Stafford is expected to miss the next few weeks of action because of a sprained right ankle. His spot in the lineup will probably go to the returning Tim Connolly (groin/hip), who has missed Buffalo's last 12 games. Meanwhile, defenseman Toni Lydman is questionable for Sunday's home game against the Florida Panthers because of a foot injury.

WILD 
The Wild welcomed back winger Mark Parrish (head) and defenseman Sean Hill (sprained ankle) on Saturday against the New York Islanders. Both Parrish and Hill are former Isles. Parrish returned after a two-game absence, while Hill was activated off injured reserve after missing 10 games. They replaced Matt Foy and Keith Carney, who were both healthy scratches Saturday.