Silver Nuggets: Michalek's back, the Immaculate Deflection

• Looks like Milan Michalek is likely to return to the lineup tonight against the St. Louis Blues. (Sens)
• With Michalek back, Shean Donovan will take a seat, meaning that Zack Smith is going to get a chance to keep up his solid play. Alex Picard is the odd-man out on defence. (Twitter)
• Prediction panel for tonight's game: I'm not as optimistic as last time, everyone else is more optimistic than last time. (Citizen)
• They're calling it the "Immaculate Deflection": Brian Elliott's out-of-this-world, last-ditch-effort stick save on Marian Hossa on Tuesday. (Canwest)
• UPDATE: Thanks to their 4-0-0 week, the Senators broke into the SB Nation top 16 ranking... at number 16, no thanks to me (I forgot to vote). (SB Nation)
• Owner Eugene Melnyk has guts, I'll give him that. Yesterday he called the Senators one of the top-five teams in the league (even though they're barely in the top five in the East), and he also promised the city a long playoff run for the Senators. Confidence is one thing, but... (Sens)

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• "Dany Heatley thriving on garbage goals": What else is new? The guy's the best at potting goals when he gets chances, but don't ask him to single-handedly create any offence. (Because he'll demand a trade to a destination of his own choosing.) (Mercury News)
• UPDATE: You know that old knock on the Jacques Martin-coached Senators, that they lacked grit and toughness? Martin's not going to lose that reputation after basically firing Georges Laraque today. (Puck Daddy)