The Ottawa Senators are set to face the Pittsburgh Penguins Thursday night at the Canadian Tire Center, but Wednesday’s practice brought some intriguing updates on injuries. On a positive note, defenseman Thomas Chabot returned to the ice with his teammates. Chabot suffered an injury on November 11 against the Dallas Stars and, after trying to come back 11 days later, was reinjured in the game versus the San Jose Sharks.
Though he hasn’t played since that Sharks game, his resumption of full practice is a hopeful sign. In practice, Chabot partnered with Dennis Gilbert, who has been sent down to Belleville, indicating the Senators are preparing to play without Chabot for now. Nevertheless, simply being back on the ice is a vital step toward restoring the defense’s full strength and allowing players to settle back into their familiar roles.
Chabot said, “It’s been a long road, but it’s good to be back practicing with the team. Being in sync with the team’s schedule helped my mental state and morale. It was a great practice with the usual NHL intensity, contact, and game-like elements—it felt great to be out there.” While Chabot is not expected to play Thursday, head coach Travis Green confirmed his absence.
Coach Green also shared that Lars Eller has a broken foot from blocking a shot and faces about three weeks on the sidelines. As a result, center Stephen Halliday will stay with the team into the new year. During practice, there was brief concern when goalie Linus Ullmark left early after talking with the athletic therapist, Dom Nicoletta, and defenseman Jake Sanderson also exited early. However, Green reassured that he isn’t worried about either player.
Since Chabot’s injury, Sanderson has been heavily relied on, making it understandable that the team is cautious about his condition, always ready to give him rest if needed. In other news, the struggling Belleville Senators have dismissed their head coach and promoted assistant Andrew Campbell to interim head coach.
Ullmark, who started in about 75% of the team’s games, hasn’t been injured or overworked but currently sits 41st in goals-against average (3.00) and 49th in save percentage (.879), a sign the team’s goaltending needs improvement. On a brighter note, Shane Pinto is showing progress in recovering from a lower-body injury sustained on December 4 after a hit by former Ottawa star Mika Zibanejad. Pinto is now back skating, a hopeful development for the team’s injury situation.
After practice, the Senators hosted their annual Melnyk Skate for Kids, continuing a 20-year tradition started by their late former owner, Eugene Melnyk. The Senators’ game against the Penguins will take place Thursday night at the Canadian Tire Center.
Fan Take: These injury updates are crucial for Senators fans hoping for a turnaround this season. With key players like Chabot and Pinto making progress, the team’s competitiveness could improve, offering exciting prospects for Ottawa hockey and a more thrilling experience for the NHL community.
