A smorgasbord of information to get you up to speed with all the goings-on with the Ottawa Senators:

ERIK KARLSSON RETURNS FROM AN ENJOYABLE ALL-STAR WEEKEND EXPERIENCE

While Erik Karlsson didn’t record a point in the 11-10 Team Staal loss to Team Lidstrom, he was one of only six players to register 20:41 of ice-time. He also recorded an even rating in the goal-filled affair in front of a packed house in Raleigh, NC.

“It’s been a great experience; I had a lot of fun,” he told the media after the game. “The game was something else and something special. It’s been a great weekend.”

Once of his teammates on Team Staal was fellow Swede Daniel Sedin who gave Karlsson a signed stick as a souvenir. The weekend gave him the opportunity to mingle with many other Swedish players as well as players around the league he had never engaged with before.

“It means a lot to meet everybody here and see (what they’re like). Everybody’s been great and I think I got a great experience from being here.”

As the only representative for the Senators, Karlsson put in a good effort that should be the first of many all-star weekends for him. It sets a a good stage for the 2012 All-Star weekend, which will take place in Ottawa.

GREENING, LEHNER CALLED UP FROM THE BINGHAMTON SENATORS
Forward Colin Greening and goaltender Robin Lehner have been called up from the farm on an emergency basis in place of Jarkko Ruutu and Pascal Leclaire respectively. This is Greening’s first call-up while Lehner is on his fourth recall this season.

Greening, a native of St. John’s, N.L, has 12 goals and 32 points in his first season playing as a pro. His 6’2″, 211 pound frame instantly gives the Senators size and a boost up the middle. He was originally drafted 204th overall in 2005 and played four seasons for Cornell University.

Lehner has played three games in his four NHL stints this season, stopping 30 of 34 shots and posting a 2.55 goals-against-average along the way. He will be filling in for Leclaire who has been out since Dec. 17 after suffering an injury in warm-up prior to a game against the Colorado Avalanche.

JASON SPEZZA EYES LONG ISLAND RETURN
Jason Spezza has been out with a shoulder injury suffered after a hit from Kris Letang on Boxing Day. He returned to practice on Jan. 24 and while he wasn’t taking any contact, he had been skating on his own and looks to return on Feb. 5 at the earliest. The Senators have struggled to find offence all season and during Spezza’s absence, they have only scored 22 goals with six of them coming in one game.

SENS OFF THE ICE
Centre Mike Fisher and country singer wife Carrie Underwood enjoyed the all-star break by taking in a Knicks game in New York and were in attendance for Brad Paisley’s Ottawa tour stop on Jan. 30. There have been many reports lately that Underwood is pregnant with their first child but she insists it’s all just talk.

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE SENATORS’ WEEK
The Senators travel to New Jersey to face off against the Devils on Tuesday, Feb. 1 and return home the following night for a meeting against the Detroit Red Wings. Their away game on Saturday, Feb. 5 against the New York Islanders preludes their western Canadian swing next week.