BY IAN MENDES
sportsnet.ca
Cory Clouston has demoted Alex Kovalev to the fourth line for Thursday's game against the New York Rangers.
And the head coach admits he's not sure which version of Kovalev will show up tonight at Scotiabank Place. The veteran winger has been inconsistent this season, fluctuating between dominant and invisible on a nightly basis.
"I'm more concerned with the teammates. They're the ones out there working with him and playing with him. Sometimes they don't know which guy is going to show up," Clouston said Thursday morning. "We just need him to be more consistent. And when he is, he's a big part of our team, he's a very good hockey player and he helps us win games."
Kovalev, who hit the 1,000-point milestone earlier this season, has been limited to just seven goals and seven assists in 29 games. Tonight, he will be paired with Jesse Winchester and Peter Regin, forming the club's fourth line. On Wednesday, Clouston hinted that he could make the veteran winger a healthy scratch if he does not re-discover his scoring touch.
"I'm sure it's been the same situation throughout his career. When he plays, he's very dominant. Obviously, other nights, he's not," added Clouston. "If you're asking specifically about him, he just needs to be more consistent. You guys see the games. You can see which games he's on and which games he's not."
Daniel Alfredsson stated that the club has no internal issues with Kovalev inside the locker room. And other teammates were quick to point out that Kovalev should not be isolated for his slow start. The Senators have scored just 62 goals so far this season, giving them the 27th-ranked offense in the NHL.
"I don't think he's alone. We've all be inconsistent," said Mike Fisher. "He's a guy who's high-skill, but he's not the only one who's struggling. When he's going, he's going. We have to make sure we're all pushing and helping him get better.
Kovalev did not make himself available to the media on Thursday morning.
