Coach Travis Green shared some promising news on Saturday morning for Ottawa Senators fans: their top defenseman has been back on the ice, skating solo for the past couple of days.
Green noted, “Once a guy starts skating, he’s a lot closer,” as the Senators gear up to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Jake Sanderson, who logs nearly 25 minutes per game, exited the Senators’ 7-4 win over the Seattle Kraken two weeks ago. The 23-year-old was forced out midway through the second period after a tough hit from Brandon Montour sent him into the boards. Clutching his right shoulder, Sanderson headed to the dressing room, and he’s been on a week-to-week recovery timeline since.
Green offered a hopeful update, suggesting Sanderson might return in the next week to 10 days, though nothing is set in stone.
Saturday night marks Sanderson’s seventh consecutive missed game. Despite his absence, the Senators have managed a 4-2-0 record and are just five points shy of the final wildcard spot in the East.
Green confirmed there won’t be any lineup changes against the Leafs, with Linus Ullmark set to start in goal.