Havlat finds humour in injury
Winger takes responsibility for being in wrong spot
By KEN WARREN - The Ottawa Citizen

Martin Havlat was laughing at his own expense yesterday.

The morning after taking teammate Wade Redden's slap shot off the right foot during the second period of Thursday's 3-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Havlat, the Senators' star 20-year-old right-winger, said it was his fault for being in the wrong place.

"It was funny," said Havlat, who is questionable for tonight's game against the Devils with a bruised foot. "I saw it on TV (yesterday) morning. It was funny. I was looking back, watching for him to shoot the puck in, and all of a sudden it hit me. I shouldn't be there, in that spot on the power play. Obviously, I should have been in a different place."

Despite the foot injury, Havlat finished the game, hobbling noticeably on his bad foot during stoppages in play. He wasn't on the ice for yesterday's practice at the Corel Centre, but X-rays revealed no broken bones and he was walking in street shoes.

Havlat, who leads the team in scoring with three goals and four assists, will decide whether he can play following tonight's pregame skate.

Canadiens have Senators talking tough
By DON BRENNAN -- Ottawa Sun
BUFFALO -- A lot can change in 112 days, but right now the next Ottawa Senators-Montreal Canadiens meeting looks like it could be a nasty one.

Senators players expressed a "bring it on" attitude yesterday in response to promises made by Habs coach Michel Therrien that Martin Havlat will pay for bumping Montreal goalie Jeff Hackett late in Thursday's game at the Corel Centre.

"I'm sure we'd feel the same way if somebody ran or hit our goalie," said defenceman Shane Hnidy. "At the same time, Marty will have his whole team behind him.

"Payback goes both ways. We're not going to let them just take shots at him. Things can blow over (before the Jan. 26 rematch at the Molson Centre) but if that's their plan, to attack Marty, then they're going to have to go through the whole team to get him."

The all-for-one and one-for-all stance would be a refreshing change for an Ottawa team that has showed a definite lack of toughness in the past. But recent additions Zdeno Chara and Chris Neil give the Senators a couple of more bodyguards to go along with Hnidy and Andre Roy.

Ottawa and Montreal combined for 97 penalty minutes on Thursday, with much of the aggression coming late in the third period. Roy pretty much started things when he took a boarding major for crushing Yanic Perreault.

"I saw (the replay) on the news, it wasn't that bad," Roy said. "I was coming with some good speed and I'm way bigger than Perreault. I had the angle on him and he didn't see me coming. I think I squeezed his head pretty hard against the glass, but I have to finish my checks. That's my game."

Moments later, Havlat bumped Hackett, who was in the corner to play the puck. Therrien, already angry over the Roy hit, later told reporters, "We will have to respond in the future. That's not a warning, it's a fact."

The Canadiens were considering taking the Roy matter before the league, but there was no word yesterday of any planned disciplinary action for statements made or hits laid.

"I don't think it was a big hit, I just touched (Hackett) a little with the shoulder," said Havlat

"The goalie was diving. It looked like he was dead, but he wasn't. I don't know how long he was laying there, but all of a sudden he got up really quick."

A half-minute later, Chara went after Montreal tough guy Gino Odjick. Chara said yesterday it was because Odjick had speared Wade Redden.

"(Odjick) basically had to do something, it was payback for the hit on the goalie," said the towering defenceman. "That's hockey. I understand. I had to do my job, too."

Chara has made an immediate impact with the Senators. He has averaged over 25 minutes of ice time in the two games as Redden's blue-line partner, both on even-strength and man-advantage situations.

"It's always great to get some experience on the power play," said Chara. "But my role in the league hasn't changed from my first year. I have to play physical and be aggressive on the ice. I have to stick up for my teammates."

Chara and the Sens plan to do just that should the Habs seek revenge in 31/2 months.

"Therrien can say what he wants ... that it wasn't smart for Marty to hit the goalie," said Roy. "But does he think it was smarter for Gino to spear (Redden) and punch Marian Hossa in the head?

"We can battle with any team in the league. And if they want to go after our guys, we'll get power plays and score some goals. If we can suck them in, we'll win the game."