Senators  4    Panthers  3

Ottawa Senators (5-2-2) at Florida Panthers (2-6-1), 7:30 p.m.

Sports Network | October 28, 2009

(Sports Network) - Despite their early-season success, the Senators know they need to improve their power play. They hope the return of defenseman Filip Kuba can get them headed in the right direction.

Kuba is expected to return to the ice for Ottawa tonight in a matchup with the Florida Panthers at BankAtlantic Center.

The 6-foot-4 Kuba hasn't played since the Senators' first game of the season on October 3 due to a lower-body injury. He will aim to boost a power-play unit that is second-to-last in the NHL at 11.4 percent (4-for-35).

Kuba had two goals and 24 assists on the man advantage last year.

"He'll make a big improvement, just as far as poise, confidence and experience back there," head coach Cory Clouston told his club's Web site. "[Kuba] doesn't have a booming shot, but he's able to get the shot through for the most part. He's also very intelligent as far as reading [the play]."

Ottawa went 0-for-3 on the power play in Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to Boston, the club's second in a row following a two-game win streak. Mike Fisher had a goal and an assist, while Milan Michalek and Daniel Alfredsson both scored.

With Pascal Leclaire battling illness, Brian Elliott made 25 saves in the loss. Leclaire is expected to start tonight and is 1-1-0 with a 4.35 goals- against average versus Florida, yielding nine goals on 81 shots.

While Ottawa is expected to get some key players back, the Panthers will be without two of theirs tonight.

David Booth is sidelined indefinitely after suffering a concussion on a hard hit by Philadelphia's Mike Richards in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Flyers. Booth appeared to be knocked unconscious as he fell to the ice and was wheeled off on a stretcher.

Booth was released from a Philadelphia hospital on Sunday morning and there is no timetable for his return. He had scored Florida's lone goal in Saturday's loss, his second of the season.

"I guess I have to be more careful," the forward told his team's site on Tuesday. "You always think about what you can do different, maybe not cut in the middle, having your head on a swivel. I don't know...it's all hindsight. It's the game of hockey. It could have been a lot worse. I'm just thankful I'm all right."

Meanwhile, Radek Dvorak suffered a knee injury versus Philadelphia and is expected to miss at least two weeks. He won't need surgery however.

Tomas Vokoun, who gave up all five goals on 38 shots on Saturday in the Panthers' third straight loss and seventh in eight games, is slated to start again tonight. He is just 2-6-0 with a 3.48 GAA lifetime against Ottawa.

The Panthers won three of four from the Senators last year and has taken two of the last three at home in the series.