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Senators’ Spezza, Cowen scratched Monday, ‘day-to-day’

Ottawa Senators v Pittsburgh Penguins

PITTSBURGH, PA - FEBRUARY 03: Jason Spezza #19 of the Ottawa Senators skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the game at Consol Energy Center on February 3, 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Justin K. Aller

The Ottawa Senators managed to squeak by with a 2-1 shootout win against Carolina on Monday to record their third straight victory and keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

The news wasn’t all good though. Senators captain Jason Spezza and defenseman Jared Cowen were both kept out of the game because of “day-to-day” injuries.

“We anticipate that, by the weekend, we will have both of them available,” Senators coach Paul MacLean told the Ottawa Citizen. “I think they’re both probable for the (New York) Islanders game (Wednesday), but, at the same time, it’s probably more realistic for the weekend.”

In other words, MacLean doesn’t consider either injury to be long-term, but they both might spend more time on the sidelines. Given that the Senators need to win all of their remaining seven games just to finish with 92 points, that’s significant.

MacLean also used the word “precautionary” to describe the reason for scratching them, but with the Senators’ situation dire, it seems reasonable to assume that the decision to keep them out of the game wouldn’t have been made unless it was necessary.

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