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“If everything goes smoothly, that will be on him, but he’s a first-time father. We’ll see how he is, but it’s an emotional time. We’re going to let him enjoy it with his family.”

With Borowiecki out, the Senators recalled Andreas Englund from Belleville of the American Hockey League. Barring an injury or illness, however, Englund is expected to be a healthy scratch against Winnipeg. Cody Goloubef, who has been a healthy scratch for the past nine games, will step into the lineup versus the Jets.

BRACING FOR BELLEVILLE

It’s not often that a player in an NHL dressing room is pumped, full of excitement about returning to the AHL.

Then there’s the case of defenceman Christian Wolanin, who can’t wait to get back to Belleville next week, preparing to play his first game since representing the United States at the world championship last May.

Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photo / Getty Images

Wolanin, who suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder on the eve of training camp, could make his return against the Toronto Marlies on Valentine’s Day.

“I’m spending the weekend here (in Ottawa) and getting my stuff together,” he said. “I’ve been really stagnant for half a year here now, but I will leave Monday and join the guys for the practice on Tuesday.”

While Wolanin says he feels mentally and physically prepared after skating with the parent Senators for the past couple of weeks, he recognizes there’s no substitute for game experience, whether it’s at the NHL or AHL level.

“It’s similar to a training camp feeling,” he continued. “You can prepare as much as you want in the summer or be prepared as much as you want now, but when you hit that first game, there’s just that step above that you can’t imitate in practice. I know there’s going to be a couple of growing pains here and there throughout the process, but I’m ready to go.”