OTTAWA — Daniel Alfredsson figured he was going to cry Saturday night. The Ottawa

Senators' captain nearly did. He was trying to get through the speech for his 1,000-game

ceremony, but the nonstop cheering interrupted him and stirred the emotions.

"It's hard enough as it is," Alfredsson told the crowd. "I'm proud to have played 1,000

games, but I'm probably more proud that it's been with one team."

Alfredsson has been on the front line for the Sens Army since 1995, and the City of Ottawa

honored him for his extended service in a daylong ceremony. His No. 11 was between every ad on

the boards and painted behind the nets in Scotiabank Place. Red Alfie T-shirts were on every

seat.

But the real tributes couldn't be seen or worn. They were heard. The standing ovations and

repeated chants of his name showed how much the fans appreciate his stay in town.

"It's going to be something I look back at after and say that's one of the highlights

throughout my career, something I fondly remember," Alfredsson said. "It's just unbelievable

that a lot of people care about what you do that much."

Alfredsson immediately captured attention in Canada's capital, earning Rookie of the Year

in 1995-96. He has been captain since 1999. He played his 1,000th game Tuesday in Florida and

skated in No. 1,002 against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.

"He's been the heart and soul for the last 15 years," said Sabres goaltender Patrick

Lalime, who played in Ottawa from 1999 to 2004. "He's been huge in the community, on and off

the ice. He's a very professional individual, and I have a lot of respect for him."

Respect and professionalism were the prime words throughout the weekend. Alfredsson eschews

brash words in favor of hard work for his method of leadership.

"He's been anything and everything for the community," Senators General Manager Bryan

Murray said. "It's a great achievement for a guy like this, not only to get to 1,000 games

— a number of players get there — but to be with the same team in the same

community where hockey really matters. I'm sure each and every one of us appreciates that."

The Sabres can, although appreciation might not be the right word. Alfredsson has been a

pain for the Blue and Gold throughout his career, averaging more than a point per game during

the regular season. Saturday's meeting was the 76th, and he has 38 goals and 40 assists for 78

points.

The recent playoff meetings have been a tossup. He was beaten by Jason Pominville for the

series-clinching goal in 2006, but Alfredsson helped knock off the Sabres the next season to

put his team in the Stanley Cup finals.

"Unfortunately, we've been a big part of those 1,000 games for him," Sabres coach Lindy

Ruff said. "The playoff series where we upset them, he was a big disappointment in that. Then

he bounced back the next playoff series and was a big plus for them and a big reason they won.

"If you can get to 1,000 games in this league, you've done a lot of things right."

. . .

If the Sabres beat New Jersey in regulation today, they earn the No. 2 seed in the Eastern

Conference. A loss or overtime win puts them in the three hole behind the Devils.

Lalime had been scheduled to start in goal for the season finale, and Ruff said Saturday

night that won't change.

"No, we're not going to change anything," Ruff said after watching Ryan Miller make 26

saves in the 5-2 win over Ottawa. "We already put our schedule in place. I think we saw with

the rest we got a real good effort out of Ryan. It's important, I think, that we stick to our

schedule."

. . .

The Senators announced Saturday that right wing Alex Kovalev will miss the rest of the

season. He suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury Thursday in Tampa Bay, and it

threatens the 37-year-old's career.

"He has a completely torn ACL and a deep bone bruise that has caused him a fair amount of

pain," Murray said. "He will have surgery probably in two weeks. Certainly, this year is over.

"Obviously, in the top six all year and one of the guys we hoped at playoff time would be a

big factor for us. To lose him in the second-last game of the year, in a game that really

didn't mean very much, is very disappointing to us as an organization and certainly for Alex."

Kovalev had 18 goals and 49 points in 77 games, but the winger had been slumping. He

recorded just one goal and one assist in the 17 games since the Olympics.

"I thought he was a real fine player for us, a guy that occupied the good player on the

other team," said Murray, who signed Kovalev to a two-year, $10 million contract last

offseason but acknowledged the winger may not be able to finish it. "When you have ACL repair

and then four months of rehab, people come back and play, but it's a hard project. As you get

up in your career, it's more difficult."