Hossa headed back to Senators?

Here's something to consider.

With Dany Heatley expected to miss up to six weeks with a shoulder injury, the Ottawa Senators may be looking for someone to step in to that high-powered offense.

Someone familiar with the team and their philosophies. Someone like, say, Marian Hossa.

Hossa registered a natural hat trick on Tuesday night in Atlanta's 5-1 rout of the league-leading Detroit Red Wings. After setting career highs with 43 goals and 57 assists last season, Hossa has 19 and 23 through 44 games.

With the trading deadline coming up on Feb. 26, it's not a stretch to think that Hossa could be headed back to Canada's capital city. Hossa's three-year, $18 million contract -- signed in 2005 when he was acquired for Heatley, who wanted to leave the Atlanta Thrashers after causing the 2003 death of teammate Dan Snyder in an alcohol-related car crash -- expires after this season.

Selected 12th overall by the Senators in the 1997 NHL draft, Hossa still ranks third on the franchise's all-time list with 188 goals, sixth with 202 assists and fifth with 390 points.

Heading into play on Wednesday, the Senators lead the Eastern Conference with 62 points and their 157 goals scored are second only to the Red Wings.

THREE STARS OF THE NIGHT, JAN. 16

1. Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers: Lundqvist made 23 saves for his 20th win in the Rangers' 2-1 triumph over the Buffalo Sabres, who have dropped 10 in a row. Lundqvist, now in his third season, needs seven more wins to move past John Davidson for eighth on the franchise's all-time list.

2. Bill Guerin, New York Islanders: Guerin scored twice in a 3-1 victory, the Islanders' sixth straight over the New Jersey Devils dating back to last season. Guerin was the Devils' first-round selection in the 1989 NHL draft.

3. Patrick Kane and Jack Skille, Chicago Blackhawks: Rookie Kane scored twice and fellow first-year player Skille had a goal and assist in the Blackhawks' 6-1 win over the St. Louis Blues.

THREE STARS OF THE NIGHT, JAN. 15

1. Jose Theodore, Colorado Avalanche: Theodore made 22 of his 32 saves in the third period of a 3-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning -- his first shutout since 2004.

2. Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim Ducks: The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner posted a goal and two assists as the Ducks beat the Dallas Stars 4-2 for their fourth straight win overall and seventh in a row at home. Niedermayer has recorded six of his 11 points during his abbreviated season during a four-game points streak.

3. Ed Jovanovski, Phoenix Coyotes: The All-Star defenseman had a goal and three assists in a 5-3 win over the San Jose Sharks.