The return of Artem Zub would be a welcome sight for a banged-up Ottawa Senators blueline.
After a difficult week, the Ottawa Senators finally got some positive news at practice Monday. Defenceman Artem Zub was back on the ice and says there's a chance he may be ready to return to the lineup this Thursday against the LA Kings. Zub has been out of the lineup the past 12 days after taking a puck off the side of his head.
Zub was reunited at practice with Jake Sanderson – a tremendous pairing in Ottawa’s first four games. In fact, it was the Sens best duo in terms of expected goals percentage at 52.5% during that time.
The reunion would obviously shore up a defence that's been plagued by injuries.
Erik Brannstrom and Thomas Chabot are both out, and Jakob Chychrun did not join the team for practice on Monday. That led to brief speculation that the Senators might be without the services of four of their top six defencemen Thursday night.
However, according to TSN 1200, Chychrun is not injured.
With Chychrun absent, Travis Hamonic and Tyler Kleven were paired in a practice along with a third pairing of Nikolas Mantipalo and Jacob Bernard-Docker.
Another interesting tidbit that briefly had people talking was the absence of head coach D.J. Smith at practice. Assistant Davis Payne ran practice as the team focused on skills. Smith was around, just not on the ice.
After their success in a pivotal win over Erik Karlsson and the Pittsburgh Penguins Saturday night, the Senators’ forward lines were unchanged at Monday's practice.
Stat of the day: The Sens are currently tied for third in the NHL in goals this season, averaging exactly four per night.
The Senators (4-4-0) play next against the Los Angeles Kings (4-2-2) on Thursday night at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. They're hoping to get back above .500, which would be their best start through 9 games since the 2016-17 season.