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Neil expected back in Senators lineup on Saturday

Chris Neil

Ottawa Senators’ Chris Neil gestures during hockey practice at the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. The Senators lead the Montreal Canadiens 3-1 in their best-of-seven games first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs hockey series. Game 5 is Thursday in Ottawa. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick)

AP

Chris Neil finally appears set to play his first game in the New Year.

The gritty forward is expected to return to the Ottawa Senators lineup when they host the New York Rangers on Saturday, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.

Neil, 34, suffered a lower-body injury on Dec. 30 when he went to deliver a hit on Washington Capitals’ star Alex Ovechkin. It didn’t work out so well for Neil, who hasn’t played since, missing out on the last six games.

In 42 games this season, Neil has five goals, six points and 99 penalty minutes. The Senators are fifth in the Atlantic Division, but they have four wins in six games so far in 2014, not to mention points in all six of those games.

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