Game 2, Round 1 - Ottawa @ Montreal

Then, of course, there is this one, that claims he's going to be back Sunday:

http://www.985sports.ca/hockey/nouvelles/spezza-de-retour-dimanche-face-au-ch-236984.html

Or selon Mike Boone, du quotidien montréalais The Gazette, le redoutable attaquant de 29 ans serait prêt à affronter le Tricolore dans le match numéro trois. Si tel était le cas, les hommes de Michel Therrien devraient certes accorder une attention particulière à cette nouvelle menace offensive de l’adversaire.

Mike Boone is a respected sports writer. I still remember him from back when I lived in Montreal.

Not much to it, but Boone mentions there's speculation:

There is speculation Jason Spezza will be back for the potentially pivotal game 3 on Sunday.

The Ottawa centre has been out so long MacLean may have forgotten Spezza’s number.

Goo goo g’joob

wprager wrote:Not much to it, but Boone mentions there's speculation:

There is speculation Jason Spezza will be back for the potentially pivotal game 3 on Sunday.

The Ottawa centre has been out so long MacLean may have forgotten Spezza’s number.

Goo goo g’joob

Like I said when Cowen came back, Karlsson will (and has) and Spezza will come back seemingly out of the blue.

Yeah, that would change everything to say the least.

SpezDispenser wrote:Yeah, that would change everything to say the least.

Huge word of caution, of course, that this has not been mentioned anywhere else. An almost off-hand remark at the end of the article, then "reported" by a radio station (and I also saw int mentioned on rotoworld).

SeawaySensFan wrote:
Like I said when Cowen came back, Karlsson will (and has) and Spezza will come back seemingly out of the blue.

Didn't see this thread and posted this elsewhere but Spezza hasn't practiced with the team at all and has only been doing recreational skating (as PMac put it).

If they somehow slot him in for game 3 it would be a sheer act of desperation to him back with no practice time. Cowen skated with the team for weeks.

Yeah, doesn't sound right.

Hoags wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:
Like I said when Cowen came back, Karlsson will (and has) and Spezza will come back seemingly out of the blue.

Didn't see this thread and posted this elsewhere but Spezza hasn't practiced with the team at all and has only been doing recreational skating (as PMac put it).

If they somehow slot him in for game 3 it would be a sheer act of desperation to him back with no practice time. Cowen skated with the team for weeks.

Not disagreeing, but it was a little over 2 weeks for Cowen. He practiced with the team on the 27th of March, and I remember a couple practices later PMac saying he wasn't close. Then a week and a bit later (April 16) he was in the lineup. Given the time of the year, once Spezza begins practicing with the team (assuming he *does* begin) I think it'll not take longer than 3 practices.

practicing with the team doesn't really matter. when he is cleared for contact he will play the next game

Ev wrote:practicing with the team doesn't really matter. when he is cleared for contact he will play the next game

Normal injury where he misses a few games? Sure. He's missed practically the entire season.