With the Ottawa Senators dealing with an ever-dwindling depth chart on defense, the team has recalled Jacob Larsson from the minor leagues. Nikita Zaitsev left yesterday’s game after blocking a shot, while Artem Zub remains out. The latter needs another test before getting clearance to play, according to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia, while the former has been moved to injured reserve.
With Zaitsev leaving early and Dillon Heatherington playing just over eight minutes, the Senators were essentially playing with just four defensemen against the Boston Bruins. Thomas Chabot ended up with more than 31 minutes of ice time in the shootout win, while each of Nick Holden (24:41), Travis Hamonic (24:24), and Jake Sanderson (27:13) reached at least 24.
Larsson, 25, isn’t expected to really change that. The former Anaheim Ducks defenseman has played just three games with Ottawa this season, failing to crack 15 minutes in any of them. Through 24 games with the Belleville Senators, he has just five points and is a -13, trailing only Angus Crookshank for the worst number on the team. While he may be a capable short-term injury fill-in, the Senators desperately need Zub back to take some of the defensive responsibility off the shoulders of the top four.
Zub did skate today, and will hopefully be back in the lineup before long. There has been no announcement from the team on Zaitsev’s timeline just yet, but his placement on injured reserve requires him to miss at least a week. The team is back in action tomorrow in Washington, before a back-to-back against the Red Wings and Sabres this weekend.