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DETROIT — The Ottawa Senators could be getting an early Christmas gift with the return of Matt Duchene from the injured list.

As expected, winger Bobby Ryan rejoined the team Thursday in time for the club’s skate in Detroit, but he might not be the only one who’s back before the Senators close out their pre-holiday schedule next Saturday at home against the Washington Capitals.

Duchene, who suffered a lower-body injury in the club’s 5-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens last Thursday at home, has resumed skating with the rest of Senators’ injured players at the Canadian Tire Centre and is trending in the right direction.

While the Senators could have defenceman Christian Jaros back in time to play Saturday night against the Montreal Canadiens to wrap up this road trip if all goes well, Boucher indicated that Duchene is closing in on a return.

“Right now, if I go one guy at a time, we’re hoping for Jaros, hopefully, Saturday or Monday and, hopefully, Duchene somewhere after that hopefully,” said Boucher following the club’s skate at Little Caesars Arena.

No, there aren’t any guarantees the club’s No. 1 centre will play before the break — and the Senators will take every precaution to make sure he’s 100 per cent before he does come back — but Boucher was certainly excited about the progress Duchene has made.

Asked if he was skating, Boucher said: “Oh, yeah, big time.”

General manager Pierre Dorion indicated Wednesday night in a Belleville radio interview that defenceman Mark Borowiecki has a chance to play next week as well.

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

Twitter: @sungarrioch