The Ottawa Senators may get an important physical presence back on their blue line.
Tyler Kleven practised in a non-contact jersey on Friday, and Senators coach Travis Green didn’t rule out his return for the team’s series opener against the Carolina Hurricanes Saturday when speaking with reporters.
“He’s closer to playing, obviously, he’s out with the group,” Green said.
Kleven, 24, has been out since April 2 after sustaining an upper-body injury against the Buffalo Sabres. He was injured in the first period when a hard slapshot careened up and appeared to hit him in the head.
The left shot blue-liner has three goals and 18 points while appearing in 69 games this season and leads all Ottawa defencemen with 126 hits.