OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators recalled today defenceman Tomas Malec from the Binghamton Senators on an emergency basis for the club's next game against the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Fla. Monday, Dec. 5.

The 24-year-old from Skalica, Slovakia, replaces Zdeno Chara, who was suspended for one game by the NHL for instigating an altercation with Los Angeles Kings defenceman Tim Gleason in Ottawa's 5-1 on Friday.

Playing in all 23 games this season with the B-Sens, Malec has seven assists, 22 penalty minutes and a -13 in the plus-minus rating. In the Senators 2-1 win over the River Rats in Albany on Saturday, he was +1 and had four shots.

Malec, who signed as a free agent this past Aug. 19, skated last season with the AHL's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. He picked up four goals, 14 assists, 18 points and 104 penalty minutes in 66 games. Over parts of two seasons (2002-03 and 2003-04), Malec played in 43 NHL career games with Carolina, earning two assists and 45 penalty minutes to his credit. Malec was the Florida Panthers' third-round pick (64th overall) in the 2001 NHL draft.

The Binghamton Senators are sixth in the East Division with seven wins, 13 losses, two overtime losses and one in a shootout for 17 points. The B-Sens' next game is at home against the Hershey Bears Friday, Dec. 9.

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