NHL Senators lose two key players

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

OTTAWA (AFP) — Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson and center Mike Fisher will be sidelined for weeks of the National Hockey League playoffs after suffering knee injuries that could hurt the Senators' Stanley Cup hopes.

Alfredsson and Fisher were both hurt in an 8-2 victory Thursday at Toronto, sidelining them for Friday's home game against the Boston Bruins, the Senators' final regular-season contest.

"I don't know the time frame, but it's going to be awhile," Senators coach Bryan Murray said Friday. "We're talking weeks for both of them."

The Senators, sixth in the Eastern Conference, have 94 points but need to at least force overtime to claim a single point and clinch a playoff berth.

A loss leaves Ottawa vulnerable to being passed by the Bruins,...