Senators Playoff Chances Take A Hit: Sanderson Injured

After taking a hit from Brandon Montour during the Senators’ most recent 7-4 victory over Seattle, it appears that Jake Sanderson will be missing some time due to injury. Sanderson has been a star for the Senators this season, and any amount of time missed will impact their odds of qualifying for the postseason.

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen had this to say in an update:

“It’s believed Sanderson was undergoing further examination on Sunday to determine the extent of the injury. It’s not known if he remained in Vancouver with the Senators or returned to Ottawa to be examined by the club’s doctors.”

Sanderson looked to be holding his right shoulder as he made his way off the ice and down to the dressing room following the hit. This morning, the Senators announced that they have recalled Dennis Gilbert from the AHL. This is a clear sign that Sanderson will miss at least some time due to the shoulder injury. The exact details of the injury and how long he will be out are not known at this time.

The Impact Of Sanderson’s Injury

Sanderson has been the most impactful player on the Senators’ roster this season. His ability to smoothly skate the puck out of the zone, avoiding all forecheckers, and make crisp passes to teammates in the offensive zone. He also uses his speed and awareness to steal the puck from opponents in the defensive zone.