Where’s Daniel Alfredsson?

With the Ottawa Senators’ season fading away, the injured captain remains silent.

While coach and general manager Bryan Murray said Saturday that the team’s injury situation was status quo, rumours persist that Alfredsson might attempt to return for Monday’s Game 3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference quarter-finals to help give his team an emotional lift. The Senators are down 2-0 after losses in Pittsburgh.

Alfredsson didn’t skate Saturday — only 12 players and goaltenders Martin Gerber and Ray Emery were on the ice — but he did attend the team’s video meeting before practice.

Alfredsson, who is believed to be suffering from some combination of knee, neck and back injuries following the hit he received from Mark Bell of the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 3, said earlier this week that he wouldn’t be talking until he resumed skating. “I don’t think there’s anything new or different (on injuries),” said Murray.

Alfredsson, who had played in all 99 of the Senators playoff games before the start of the Penguins series, is the club’s all-time leader in post-season goals (43), assists (37) and points (80).

Last year, he tied with linemates Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza for the playoff scoring lead and scored the series-clinching overtime goal to give the Senators their Eastern Conference title victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Until the Senators’ five-game Stanley Cup final loss to the Anaheim Ducks, Alfredsson was on target to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Gerber in high gear

Ottawa coach and GM Bryan Murray suggested that officials in Pittsburgh might have been a little too liberal in crediting the Penguins with 54 shots Friday, but says there’s no question goaltender Martin Gerber gave his club a chance to steal the victory with his outstanding play.

Gerber said facing that many shots makes it easy to get into a game and claims that he’s as comfortable as he has ever felt since joining the Senators as a free agent in July 2006.

“There are a lot of things going on in the game and after a while, you feel more comfortable because you’re right into the series, right into the game,” he said.

It’s hard not to be when you’re being peppered with pucks left and right. But Gerber said he saw plenty of hope stemming from the Senators comeback.

“It was definitely nice to see that after they scored the third goal, we actually controlled the action and scored right after,” he said. “From that point on, we played a lot smarter. We played hard before that, but it just didn’t come out the way we wanted.

“We played physical and got involved. We did the simple things. It’s good to see guys getting in front (of Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury) and getting pucks at the net. You’re not going to score pretty goals. You have to grind it out. Especially with the few chances we get, we really have to do our best to put it in.”

Rookies earn good reviews

The Ottawa Senators on Saturday recalled 22-year-old Alexander Nikulin from the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League.

While GM/coach Bryan Murray said it’s possible that Nikulin could play in either Game 3 or Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarter-final against Pittsburgh — “there’s a chance, depending on what happens,” — he said the main reason for recalling Nikulin was to give him some exposure to the excitement of the NHL playoffs. Binghamton was officially eliminated from playoff contention on Friday.

The club is expected to recall at least a couple more players — perhaps centre Sergei Zubov and defenceman Lawrence Nycholat — in the next two days.

Murray also continues to rave about the play of rookies Brian Lee, Cody Bass and Nick Foligno.

“They are as good as anyone right now,” he said. “Brian Lee goes back and gets the puck and he can make the first pass. It’s a year early for him, really. We were hoping to keep him in the minors for the rest of the year and let him play himself onto the team in training camp.”

Playoffs an eye-catcher

For players, there are typically two camps at this time of year — ones who are glued to their television sets, soaking up as much playoff action they can and ones who don’t give a hoot about who’s doing what to whom.

“Well, I’m in between,” said the Calgary Flames’ David Moss. “I’ll flip through and watch some games — certainly more Western Conference because those are the teams you’re playing. Obviously, most guys are watching this time of year to see who’s winning.”

Flames rookie Eric Nystrom said he tuned into Friday’s match between Minnesota and Colorado.

“I’ve had my eye on all those games,” said Nystrom. “It’s great watching playoff hockey. The intensity is so high. You can just tell — after every goal, the celebrations — it’s a special time of year.”

At the far end of the viewing spectrum is Flames defenceman Rhett Warrener.

“I’m pretty indifferent,” said Warrener. “If it’s on in the background . . . but I’m not sitting down with a bowl of popcorn and taking it all in, that’s for sure.”

Flames blue-liner on the mend

Rhett Warrener of the Calgary Flames skated Saturday morning alongside his mates — a first since breaking his right foot in Chicago four weeks ago.

“Actually, it feels good,” said the defenceman. “I mean, there’s a little bit of ache there . . . but it certainly isn’t anything that holds you back. It’s a matter of working, getting a few more skates in.”

The hard-rock defenceman stuck it out through the entire practice at Murray T. Copot Arena, with one interesting addition to his gear — a hard shell of black plastic covering his entire skate.

“Wood-working 101 with Gus (Thorson, the equipment manager) — he whipped it up,” said Warrener. “I’ll be even faster, I’m sure.”

No need asking Warrener about the notion of missing contests — “It sucks,” he volunteered unnecessarily — because his actions Thursday said plenty. Stuck slumming with reporters in the press box during Game 2 of the Western Conference quarter-final against San Jose, he was, to say the least, an antsy observer.

“Oh, I get into it,” said Warrener. “I was saying to someone, I don’t know if I’d be a very good coach. I think I’d yell and scream a little too much. I guess that’s my way of feeling a part of it.”

Warrener, by the way, was nominated by his teammates for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which goes annually to the NHL player "who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice, and has made a noteworthy contribution to his community."

Past Flames winners include Lanny McDonald (1988), Joe Nieuwendyk (1995), Jarome Iginla (2004).

Conroy dumps the visor

After wearing a visor for more than four months, Calgary Flames forward Craig Conroy has unscrewed the shield from his helmet.

“I tried to wear the visor when (Anaheim’s Corey) Perry hit me in the eye (on Nov. 29),” said Conroy. “I just feel a lot better without it, so off it goes.”

The veteran centre has given the eye-protector a go on at least one previous occasion.

“I tried,” he said. “I did try. And I really left it on a long time this time, but it doesn’t feel comfortable. But I feel when I have the puck, when I look up, I lose the puck sometimes. Without the visor? No problem.”

Ice Chips:

The Edmonton Oilers have signed forward Robert Nilsson to a three-year contract. The right-winger had career highs in 2007-08 with 10 goals and 31 assists in 71 games to finish sixth on the Edmonton scoring list. . . . Not practising Saturday for the Calgary Flames were Owen Nolan (recovery day) and Mark Smith (neck, head).