Craig Anderson (finger) might return as early as Friday. Anderson participated in Ottawa's morning skate on Saturday. The doctors who operated on Anderson's baby finger don't want him rushed back, so it looks like Friday is the earliest he can return. If he doesn't play on Friday, there's still a good chance he'll start on Saturday March 24.

Craig Anderson (finger) was on the ice with the Senators Thursday afternoon. Anderson manned one of the nets and faced shots. He's close to returning, but he shouldn't be counted on to participate in Friday's game. "Only practising once with them after sitting for three weeks, I need more than just one day of practice to get back into the rhythm of the NHL, the speed and the shots," Anderson said. "I need a few more days."

Ottawa goaltender Craig Anderson (finger) will not play Friday against Montreal, but Saturday is a possibility. Anderson did not rule out Saturday's home date with Toronto and he could certainly return for Tuesday against the visiting Devils. He last played Feb. 22 against Washington before tearing his finger while preparing a meal, as the AP has reported.

Craig Anderson (finger) might start practicing with the Ottawa Senators before the end of the week. Anderson has been recovering from a cut tendon in his pinky finger. He hasn't played in a game since Feb. 22.

Craig Anderson skated before practice on Thursday with a full-sized stick in his injured hand for the first time. He is still on the mend from a cut tendon on his pinky finger, but this should be viewed as an encouraging development.

Craig Anderson (finger) was on the ice Tuesday morning for a skate after Ottawa's practice, while wearing partial equipment. He did not have a stick in his injured hand, but instead was holding a short piece of the handle. Anderson might be getting his stitches out soon, but coach Paul MacLean was uncertain when that was scheduled to occur. There's no timetable for his return.

If there still exists any suspicions over how exactly the right-handed Craig Anderson sliced a tendon in his right hand, the Senators' No. 1 goalie did nothing to squelch them when facing the media for the first time one week after the incident. "I really don't care to talk about the details of it all," Anderson said, hiding his wounded hand with a dark coat. "(It was a) freak accident. Happened in the kitchen. Leave it at that. Something you learn from. Unfortunately, it was a costly mistake."

Craig Anderson doesn't know when he will be able to return from his finger injury. "It's hard to say ... obviously the timeline is wide open right now," Anderson said. "All I can do right now is make sure I stay in shape. I'm able to go out there and skate with my gear on. The main thing right now is keeping my legs, keeping everything strong, so when I do have a chance to come back, I'm physically ready to go." The Ottawa goaltender required surgery to repair a severed tendon to his pinky and he's still not able to grip his stick. Robin Lehner is expected to make his third consecutive start on Friday night against Chicago in Anderson's absence.

The Ottawa Senators got some good news regarding Craig Anderson's cut finger on Friday. "We were told (Thursday) it was going to be some period of time. (Friday) we got a little better news. As soon as he feels comfortably he can handle a stick, he'll be back on the ice, probably as early as next week," said Senators GM Bryan Murray. Anderson was hospitalized after cutting his finger while making dinner on Wednesday.

Craig Anderson's cut is on his small finger. Anderson hurt himself while making dinner on Wednesday. The Senators don't have a timetable for his return. According to a previous report, he might have suffered tendon damage.