Although the Senators will be able to return to the ice on Saturday to practice, they still won’t have their full squad available. Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch reports that while eight of the players that were in COVID protocol will have cleared (along with associate coach Jack Capuano) winger Drake Batherson and defenseman Nikita Zaitsev (who exited protocol last Saturday only to be re-added later in the day) will remain unavailable for the time being. If all goes according to plan, Ottawa should be able to get back to action on Monday in Colorado with Batherson and Zaitsev being available to rejoin the team partway during their West Coast road trip.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic:
- Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju should be ready to return next week after missing more than a month due to a lower-body injury sustained in the season-opener, notes Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News (Twitter link). The 22-year-old logged over 18 minutes a game last season with Buffalo, earning himself a three-year, $7.5MM contract as a first-time restricted free agent back in September that solidifies him as part of their longer-term rebuilding plans. Jokiharju skated at practice today but head coach Don Granato indicated that the blueliner needs more practice time.
- While the Canadiens were hoping that Jake Allen would be able to return from his concussion on Saturday against Nashville, that isn’t expected to happen, relays TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie (Twitter link). The netminder was injured last Saturday against Detroit and Montreal has lost all three games since then, allowing 14 goals in that stretch.
If nothing else, I hope this Covid breakout help showed Thomson is looking like he is NHL ready. Bumping Zaitsev down the depth chart and Brown off the everyday roster would be a big boost.
This bozo really said help showed
It’s just the flu for Christ sakes. Let the guys play.
Nice username bro