Red Wings-Senators Preview: Alfredsson's Return

Daniel Alfredsson returns to Ottawa tonight as a member of the Red Wings. The Senators are giving him a video tribute, which is what the Senators should do. He and the Sens did not entirely leave the best of friends. Both sides pointed fingers at each other over contract negotiations. He was, however, a big part of Senators history after being taken in the first round in 1994. He won the Calder Trophy as a rookie in the 95-96 season, served as captain for 14 years and leading the team to its only appearance in the Stanley Cup Final in 2007.

Today, as a Red Wing, he is the third-leading scorer and told a Swedish station he believe he's playing well enough to make the Olympics. Whether or not he's good enough will tell us in the next couple of games. But right now, he's focused on returning to Ottawa and playing the best that he can do. Let's look at some moments in Ottawa for Alfredsson:

5. 1,000 Points
On Oct. 22, 2010, he scored a hat trick against the Sabres to hit the milestone of 1,000 points. He finished his career there with 1,108 points.

4. Controversial Moments
He had some moments in his life. In Game 4 of the 2007 Stanley Cup Final, he fired a shot that hit Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer. The Ducks thought it was intentional, but no penalty was called. Alfredsson said after that game that it was an accident. In another one, he hit the-then Maple Leafs' Darcy Tucker in the 2002 playoffs that went uncalled. Alfredsson scored while Tucker lied on the ice.

3. Seven-point Night
Jan. 24, 2008 was when he had three goals and four assists in a 8-4 win against the Lightning. All the goals were scored at even strength, power play, and short-handed. The seven points remain a franchise record for the Senators.

2. 2012 NHL All-Star Game
What a fitting thing for the Senators. They host the All-Star Game in 2012 and it feels like love fest for Alfredsson. He was voted a starter and was named captain. He chose his Senators teammates and scored two goals in the game. However, there was no victory. Team Chara won 12-9.

1. The biggest goal of career
Back to the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs. On May 19, 2007, Alfredsson scored in overtime of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Sabres. That led him to the Stanley Cup Final for their only time in franchise history. Probably the best moment I have ever seen from a Senators playoff.

So Daniel Alfredsson returns to Ottawa and it should be fitting that the Senators would give him a video tribute. I know they didn't have the best terms when they were together for contract negotiations, but in any case, I think Alfredsson gave the Senators some of their best moments. As for the game itself, the Senators are having winning games right now. They don't seem to score enough goals, Bobby Ryan has been ineffective for many of the games, and the goaltending doesn't seem to be strong. I can't see them winning against a team that put a pounding on the Islanders and could possibly do it again against the Senators. That said, I think the Red Wings and Alfredsson will come out and win this game. I also expect Alfredsson to score at least a goal against his former team.