BY IAN MENDES
sportsnet.ca

Four months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, Ottawa Senators winger Alex Kovalev has resumed skating and appears to be on track for a full recovery in time for the start of the upcoming season.

The 37-year-old says he does not anticipate any issues with the injury heading into training camp, which officially opens for the Senators in less than three weeks.

"I skated for the first time yesterday and I felt great. I was too excited, but I didn't want to go on it too much," Kovalev said on Monday, just prior to his annual golf tournament outside of Montreal. "I feel happy the way everything is going and we'll see how it goes at camp."

Kovalev suffered the injury in his left knee during the Senators 81st regular-season game last season at Tampa Bay, causing him to miss the Senators' six-game playoff loss to Pittsburgh in the opening round. He underwent surgery two weeks later, with recovery time expected to take up to four months.

In his first season with the Senators, Kovalev produced 18 goals and 49 points. At times he showed his trademark flash -- scoring a hat trick against Carolina in December and posting a four-goal game versus Philadelphia in January. However, his debut season in the nation's capital also produced some tough stretches. He went through a 12-game pointless streak around the Olympic break, during which he posted a minus-12 rating.

But the prospects of Kovalev having a rebound season in Ottawa in 2010-11 experienced a significant boost when the club signed veteran defenceman and fellow Russian Sergei Gonchar.

The addition of Gonchar is expected to vastly improve the Senators top power play unit, which should directly benefit Kovalev. During his five seasons in Montreal, the slick Kovalev had the reputation of being one of the most feared wingers on the power play. During his first campaign in Ottawa, Kovalev did not enjoy the same power play success as he did with the Canadiens and he felt like the chemistry was simply not there with the man-advantage.

"We have so much talent on our team, but we just have to find a solution how every player has to be used -- and to not get confused. Sometimes, when we see ourselves on the ice, it feels like everybody needs one puck each to make plays," said Kovalev. "(Gonchar’s) definitely going to be a big help. You've seen what he's done in Pittsburgh and how much he helps the power play."

Kovalev, who is entering the final season of a two-year, $10-million contract, is one of four key Senator veterans who underwent surgery in the off-season. Daniel Alfredsson (sports hernia), Milan Michalek (knee) and Filip Kuba (back) also had procedures done within the past four months.