The Ottawa Senators will get a big boost for Wednesday’s Battle of Ontario as Milan Michalek returns to the lineup to face the Maple Leafs.
According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, Michalek will draw back in -- for the first time in 10 games -- despite not being fully recovered from his knee injury.
Garroich notes that the 28-year-old sniper may require offseason surgery to clean out the knee, which was tweaked during warmup prior to Ottawa’s game against Pittsburgh on Feb. 14.
Michalek had 2G-6A-8PTS in 13 games this year prior to getting hurt and led the Sens in goals last year, with 35.
Ottawa has done well in his absence, posting a 5-3-2 record, but putting pucks in the net has proven difficult.
The Sens haven’t scored more than three in regulation in the 10 games without Michalek and potted just 16 goals total over that stretch.