Sanderson left in the middle of Saturday’s 7-4 win in Seattle, favouring his shoulder.
The Ottawa Senators got the two points they needed in Seattle with a 7-4 win on Saturday night, but the win may have come with a heavy price.
Star defenceman Jake Sanderson left the game in the second period with an apparent shoulder injury and did not return.
Sanderson was handling the puck deep in Seattle’s zone and took a big hit along the boards from Kraken defenceman Brandon Montour. It looked like Sanderson went into the boards awkwardly, and that was confirmed when, as the play continued in Seattle’s end, Sanderson skated straight off the ice.
As he made his way down the tunnel, Sanderson revealed where he was hurt when he clutched at his shoulder.
Senators fans hoped it was only a stinger and that he might be able to return, but that was ruled out by the team during the second intermission.
Now the hope is that it was a precautionary move with the Senators holding a good lead entering the third period. But we probably won’t know anything further for a day or two.
Senators head coach Travis Green never gives out injury information right after a game.
“We’ll know more tomorrow,” Green told reporters after the game.
To compound things late in the game, Tyler Kleven was given a five minute major for a cross check on Jared McCann so if he gets a suspension and Sanderson is hurt, that will be a big blow to the left side of Ottawa’s blue line.
The Senators played a fine road game, defeating Seattle 7-4. That allows Ottawa to stay within four points of the Boston Bruins (WC2), who defeated the Washington Capitals 3-1 earlier in the day.
Ottawa will be in Vancouver on Monday night.