Cavalry arrives after NHL bye week

The rest and relaxation may be good for the walking wounded.

As the Ottawa Senators prepare to return to the ice Wednesday for practice at the Canadian Tire Centre, there’s a chance they may not have to call up anybody from their American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville because all of the club’s injured players could be ready to return Thursday against the St. Louis Blues.

While nothing can be confirmed until the players report to the training room Wednesday before practice, the hope is forwards Bobby Ryan (hand) and Nate Thompson (undisclosed) are able to make their return to the lineup along with defencemen Mark Borowiecki (concussion) and Johnny Oduya (undisclosed).

If that’s the case, then forwards Colin White and Filip Chlapik and defenceman Ben Harpur, who were all re-assigned to Belleville before the break, will remain in the AHL unless some of those four players aren’t ready to come back.

Ryan left the club’s 8-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks Jan. 9 with another hand injury; however, the hope is the week off will allow him time to recover.

As for Thompson, coach Guy Boucher told reporters before the break he wouldn’t be ready until after the eight days had passed.

As for Borowiecki, his return has been much anticipated.

He suffered a concussion on Nov. 19 against the New York Rangers and hasn’t suited up since.

The Senators hoped he would be available to return before the break. He’s passed a baseline test, but the club’s medical staff thought it would be in his best interests to wait until this week to make his comeback.

Getting Borowiecki back would bring a rugged presence on the blue-line that the Senators badly need. As for Oduya, he suffered an ailment on Jan. 6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at home and hasn’t played since.

He did skate with the team before the break and should be available to return.