The Ottawa Senators are heading into their second game of the season with their blue line already under strain.
When they face the Bruins at TD Garden in Boston, they’ll be without Artem Zub and Jake Sanderson, two of their top defencemen. Zub was last seen earlier this week at the morning skate in a non-contact jersey and was placed on Injured Reserve on September 28 while he continues to work back from a knee injury.
Sanderson has been dealing with a lingering injury that was reaggravated at the start of training camp. He dressed for the season opener on Saturday, but lasted just 4:29 before leaving after the first period.
Head coach Travis Green said Sanderson was sent back to Ottawa for further testing, and while he will miss this two-game road trip, he is not expected to be out for long.
With the injuries stacking up, Ottawa moved quickly to bring in reinforcements. The Senators called up Calgary native and Belleville Senators defenceman Jorian Donovan as a precautionary move.
He is expected to serve as the extra skater tonight, with Cam Crotty projected to make his season debut. Donovan, an Ottawa native, appeared in six regular-season games and one playoff game for the Senators last season and recorded one assist.
He is slated to start the night paired with Finnish Olympian Nikolas Matinpalo, a duo that spent time building chemistry during training camp.
The rest of the lineup looks unchanged from the opening-night group in Toronto. That includes the top line of Warren Foegele, Tim Stützle and Drake Batherson, who logged 6:40 together in the last game and are expected to keep developing their chemistry while newly acquired top-six winger André Burakovsky waits to make his Senators regular-season debut. Burakovsky was placed on Injured Reserve earlier today to open a spot for Donovan.
One of the bright spots from the opener came from the Michael Amadio-Shane Pinto-Claude Giroux line, better known as the ‘GPA line’ because of their high hockey IQ and offensive touch. The trio was one of Ottawa’s most reliable combinations last season, posting a 55.75 expected goals percentage over 277:33 together in the 2025-2026 season. Against Toronto, they combined for four points - one goal and three assists - and played more minutes together than any other forward line.
In goal, Linus Ullmark is set to make his second straight start after stopping 29 shots in an impressive outing that produced a 0.94 save percentage. With the Senators playing their first back-to-back set tonight and tomorrow against the Detroit Red Wings, Samuel Ersson is expected to make his regular-season debut in tomorrow’s game.
In Other News...
DeBrincat Just Put Detroit's Biggest Contract Decision Into Focus
Alex DeBrincats contract situation in Detroit has quickly become one of the more intriguing storylines around the league, and it has obvious ripple effects for Ottawa fans who watched him up close before his move to the Red Wings. The winger is in the final year of his deal and is reportedly seeking an extension in the range of $12 million to $14 million annually depending on term, a price tag that puts a spotlight on how aggressively Detroit wants to keep him in place.
For the Senators, the more immediate concern is on their own blue line, where Jake Sanderson is expected to miss at least two games because of a lingering injury. He has returned to Ottawa for testing, leaving the club to manage a gap on the road trip and potentially lean on familiar depth options if the absence stretches on. In the meantime, the latest wave of injury and contract news only adds to the sense that this stretch could force a few teams to make choices they would rather not face yet. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Trade Buzz Could Quietly Matter To The Flames Soon
Edmontons latest trade chatter has some ripple effects across the Canadian market, even if nothing has been finalized. Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer said the club could make a move before its next game against the Anaheim Ducks, and Sportsnets Elliotte Friedman reported Edmonton has explored ways to swap from its defensive depth toward another forward after a cluster of injuries up front. The need appears to be short term, with no long-term absences expected, but it has still put the Oilers in a familiar spot of weighing roster balance against immediate help.
For Ottawa, the interest is less about Edmontons lineup card than about the kind of transaction that can reshape a division race without much warning. The discussion has centered on whether the Oilers use one of their extra defensemen to address the forward group, and the names being floated show just how fine the margins are around the back end. No deal has been announced, but if Edmonton does pull the trigger, it would be the sort of move the Senators watch closely because it could alter the competitive landscape fast. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Just Created A New Question On Defense
The Senators needed another body on the blue line, and Jorian Donovan got the call from Belleville to help steady things while injuries have thinned out the defense. The 22-year-old fifth-round pick has only two NHL games on his rsum, but he arrives with a solid AHL track record after putting up 21 points in 61 games last season, giving Ottawa a young option as it tries to navigate a short-handed stretch.
Donovans recall also adds another layer to a roster picture that is still in motion, with injured players working their way back and Ridly Greig close to returning from suspension. For Ottawa, the next move may not be the last one, as the club keeps sorting out how to patch the blue line now while leaving room for whatever comes next. [Read more 🡒]