The Senators’ depleted defence corps will face another tough task on Saturday afternoon as the Minnesota Wild come to town, though one that they could get help for.
Speaking to media ahead of the game, Travis Green said that there’s a possibility Jake Sanderson would make his return to give that group a much-needed boost, four weeks after being injured in Seattle.
“He’s close,” said Green, who added that the decision will be made to play either Jorian Donovan or Sanderson ahead of puck drop.
Already missing Thomas Chabot, Nick Jensen, Dennis Gilbert, and Carter Yakemchuk, Tyler Kleven was the latest Senator added to that injury report when he took a puck to the face in the Sens’ win Thursday over Buffalo.
In their absence, Jordan Spence has stepped up, logging a career-high 30:48 of time on ice in that win.
“Yeah, he’s been awesome, you know, he’s so smart with the puck, he’s so shifty, so mobile, and you know, for a smaller guy, he can defend and lay the body pretty well,” said Dylan Cozens after that game.
“He’s stepped up tremendously for us, and he’s just such a great guy in the room too, so, you know, really happy for him.”
The Senators are looking to hold onto a playoff spot, with Detroit, Columbus, and Philadelphia hot on their tail in the wild card race. That challenge stiffens against a Wild team who just clinched their position.
“Our start’s always important, especially in our building, we want to come out fast, and we’re going to need it against a good team,” said Green.
