Karlsson Back for the Playoffs?

If the Ottawa Senators do end up making the playoffs, they may just get an extra shot in the arm.

Tuesday night, Senators general manager Bryan Murray said that injured  Norris Trophy defenceman Erik Karlsson has taken some significant steps in his continuing rehabilitation.  He also indicated that a Karlsson return to the lineup in the next couple of weeks is not out of the question.

“He’s obviously getting close. He is skating, he is working hard, he’s really committed to trying to get back. We have our fingers crossed that (he’ll return) maybe come playoff time but we’re just going to be open-minded about it and he’s going to tell us if health and mobility allow him to play,” Murray said.

Karlsson suffered a horrific 70 per cent cut of his Achilles tendon when he was cut by the skate of  Pittsburgh Penguins Matt Cooke. The play received much coverage, most of it calling for Cooke’s head. At the time of the injury in February conservative estimates had suggested that he would miss at minimum between four-to-six months.

Head coach Paul MacLean said there were no plan as of yet  for Karlsson to begin practicing with his Senator teammates, but the 15th overall pick in 2008 was scheduled to continue skating on his own,working with the club’s skating coach Marc Powers.

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