Senators’ Thomas Chabot out day-to-day

The Ottawa Senators could get Thomas Chabot back into their lineup earlier than expected. 

The 28-year-old blueliner picked up an upper-body injury in the first period of Tuesday’s 3–2 win against the Dallas Stars, but did not take to the ice for the second frame. Initially, he was listed as day-to-day, before Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch reported he would miss up to two weeks due to the ailment. 

On Thursday, head coach Travis Green said Chabot was back to day-to-day but in doubt for Saturday night’s matchup against the Los Angeles Kings. However, playing on Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks could be a possibility. 

Before picking up the latest injury, Chabot had skated in 17 games, averaging 21:56 of ice time per night, while posting two goals and 10 points. Last season, he played 80 games, putting up nine goals and 45  points from the blueline.  

“He’s such a huge part of our back end. There’s no replacing him, but guys are gonna have to step up,” center Shane Pinto told Postmedia. “When [Tkachuk] went down, guys had to step up. If Chabot goes down for a bit, guys are going to have to step up…We’re going to have to play more of a team game. That’s just part of hockey.”

Chabot’s potential return wasn’t the only piece of good news for the Senators on Friday, as forward Brady Tkachuk was also on the ice for the optional skate.

Tkachuk has not played since undergoing surgery on his right hand on Oct. 16, after being cross-checked into the boards by Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi. Yet, the team is 8-3-4 in the 15 games that Tkachuk has been out of the lineup. 

Amid a strong run that has seen them claim a point in 12 of their last 14 games, the Senators sit second in the Atlantic Division as of Friday, with a 9-4-4 record.