Today In Selfish Thoughts:

Thanks to yesterday’s Jakob Silfverberg game six series clinching overtime goal, Brynas has moved on to the next round of the Swedish Elite League playoffs.

As much as I would like to revel and bask in the glory of Jakob Silfverberg’s heroics and verbally fellate his value to Jake Gardiner-like levels, I just can’t. Yes, he was selected by his peers as the SEL’s most valuable player and yes, he has posted a ridiculous line of five goals and nine points through six games played, but so long as he keeps playing games in Brynas, I’ll continue to be disappointed.

I’m selfish like that.

As funny as it would be for another one of Ottawa’s Swedish prospects to deny Bud Holloway – yes, the same Bud Holloway who was stymied on a penalty shot by Robin Lehner in overtime during last year’s AHL quarterfinals – some measure of playoff success, I just want him to join the Senators as quickly as possible.

With a year already coming off of his entry level contract because of his age, assuming that the organization would ask Silfverberg to forego the World Championships and join their playoff roster, it would be nice to see him get acclimated to the size of the rink and his teammates as quickly as possible.

According to the SEL playoff schedule, if Brynas loses their series to Farjestad, the latest that Jakob could come over would be April 7th. Conveniently, that would be the same day that Mika Zibanejad is eligible to return as well.

So with all this being said, go Farjestad!

Anderson To Start on Friday?

With the beat writers acknowledging that Craig Anderson was in the “starter’s end” for this morning’s practice, it stands to reason that Anderson may be ready to start against Montreal on Friday night.

Nevermind, Paul MacLean has confirmed to the media that Anderson will indeed start tomorrow night.

Since sustaining a severed tendon to his right pinky finger, Anderson hasn’t played since his victory over the Washington Capitals on February 22nd.

In consideration of how well Ben Bishop and Robin Lehner have played in his absence, it will be interesting to see how much leeway Anderson is afforded to get back into form. With the Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals both only being four points back of the Senators, the team can ill afford to let their number one guy to work through any potential struggles.

Speaking of Returns…

After missing the New Jersey game with the flu, Jason Spezza returned to practice this morning and is ready to play against Montreal. With an offence and power play that have both sputtered of late, Ottawa needs a productive Spezza to have any chance of success down the stretch.

Here is a look at Ottawa’s forwards and how they have struggled recently:

– Spezza: 1 goal and 4 assists in last 9 GP
– Alfie: 0 goals and 3 assists in last 11 GP
– Michalek: 0 goals and 2 assists in last 6 GP
– Foligno: 1 goal and 3 points in last 10 GP
– Smith: 1 goal and 2 points in last 19 GP
– Turris: 2 goals and 1 assists in last 10 GP