NHL

It's been a slow start for Alexei Kovalev, with only two goals in his first six games.

BY IAN MENDES

sportsnet.ca

Alexei Kovalev isn't sure how the Montreal fans will receive him when he steps onto the ice at the Bell Centre wearing an Ottawa Senators jersey on Saturday night.

"It could be good moments or it could be bad moments. Could be booing or it could be happy. I can't expect anything," Kovalev said on the eve of his return to Montreal. "I still have to play a hockey game. I'm not playing for Montreal any more. I play for Ottawa. I just have to focus on the game and I know that might be hard."

Kovalev spent parts of five seasons in Montreal, where he became a fan favourite with his offensive flare. When the Canadiens were contemplating whether or not to re-sign the free agent this past summer, a number of fans staged a rally in Kovalev's support outside the Bell Centre. He ultimately decided to sign a two-year, $10-million deal with the rival Senators in early July.

The shifty winger admits that the nerves of returning to his old arena may catch up with him before he steps onto the ice on Saturday.

"I had some great moments there. Like I said, tomorrow, closer to the game there will be some emotions going through my head," said Kovalev. "I'm trying not to think about it."

While Kovalev is trying to put Saturday's return to Montreal out of his mind, head coach Cory Clouston believes that it won't just be a normal game for his star winger.

"It's human nature. He played there so many years. There's got to be some extra emotion for him," said Clouston, who declined to say whether he would put Kovalev in the starting lineup at the Bell Centre.

Kovalev made his comments on Friday afternoon in Ottawa, before the team took a bus trip to Montreal. Despite the heavy media interest in his return to the Bell Centre, Kovalev will not speak to reporters on Saturday until after the game.

In his first six contests with the Senators, Kovalev has yet to have one of his signature games that made him so popular with Montreal fans. He has been held to two goals and no assists, playing mostly on a line with Daniel Alfredsson and Mike Fisher.

Notes - Anton Volchenkov missed practice to rest minor bumps and bruises and will be in the lineup on Saturday ... Don't expect any lineup changes for the Senators, following a 7-1 win over Tampa. Peter Regin is ready to return, but Clouston said he really can't take anyone out of the lineup after Thursday's performance. "I don't think we had one guy play a poor game," said Clouston ... The head coach has been impressed with the play of the pairing of Alexandre Picard and Matt Carkner on defence. Picard leads the team with a plus-7 rating. "He and Matt have done a great job complementing each other," said Clouston. "Those two have created some good chemistry together."