"I was led to believe it could have been much worse and I didn't have much sleep when I was told it could have been much worse," Dorion said. "Now we know he will be back at a certain point in time."
Dorion said he is hopeful Stone will accompany the Senators for the second game of a home-and-home set against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday. The Senators, who host Montreal on Saturday to conclude the homestand, trail the Canadiens by two points for first place in the Atlantic Division but have two games in hand.
Ottawa, which is on a six-game winning streak, will play the second game of the homestand Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Stone is second in scoring on the Senators with 50 points (22 goals, 28 assists) in 63 games.
Dorion said top center Kyle Turris, who missed the past three games with a finger injury, likely will play against the Lightning. Defenseman Mark Borowiecki, who missed the past two games with an upper-body injury, is day to day.
Forward Bobby Ryan, who has missed 11 games with a broken finger, could return this week, Dorion said.
