What Happened
Ottawa Senators head coach Travis Green told reporters Tuesday that defencemen Artem Zub and Jake Sanderson are close to returning from their injuries. Neither will play Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues, but Green said he expects both in the lineup within the next couple of days. Zub has yet to play this season while recovering from a knee injury sustained in last year's post-season. Sanderson has been out since re-aggravating a lower-body injury in the Senators' season opener. Ottawa will also be without defenceman Nikolas Matinpalo against St. Louis after he took a hit from New Jersey's Anthony Mantha on Monday.
Key Details
- Zub has not appeared this season because of a knee injury from last year's post-season.
- Sanderson re-aggravated a lower-body injury in Ottawa's season opener.
- Green said he expects both defencemen to play in the next couple of days.
- Matinpalo is out against the Blues with an upper-body injury.
- Mantha was given a five-minute major for boarding on the Matinpalo hit.
What It Means
Ottawa is managing a depleted blue line, with three regulars unavailable against St. Louis. Zub's return would give the Senators a shutdown presence they have lacked all season, while Sanderson's comeback restores a top-pairing defenceman and power-play option. Matinpalo's absence is shorter-term, tied to a hit that drew a major penalty. Getting Zub and Sanderson back within days would stabilize a defence corps that has been stretched early in the schedule.
What's Next
The Senators will see whether Zub and Sanderson can return within the next couple of days, as Green indicated. Matinpalo's status will depend on his recovery from the upper-body injury. Ottawa continues its schedule after Tuesday's game against the Blues.