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The season is already over for some Ottawa Senators.
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There are three games left on the schedule but we likely won’t be seeing center Shane Pintowinger Connor Browncenter Colin Whitewinger Mathieu Josephgoaltender Matt Murray and prospect defenseman Jake sanderson before the final buzzer Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Pinto, who had shoulder surgery in November and hasn’t played since, had social media buzzing Monday when he took part in the club’s 35-minute skate in a full contact jersey and even took a turn or two with the second unit of the Ottawa power play before the skate formally started.
“I just filled in. It doesn’t look like he’s going to play this year and it’s unfortunate,” coach DJ Smith said. “He wants to play but the surgeon isn’t 100% (certain) on the timeline. We’ve just run out of track.
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“As much as I want him to play, at this point if he’s not 100% we’re not going to put him in any danger.”
White is still suffering the effects of COVID-19 and he may be the only player in that group that still has a chance to suit up.
Brown is dealing with nagging issues and his status to suit up for Team Canada at the IIHF world championship next month in Finland is questionable. Thats’a decision which will be made when he has the chance to sit down with general manager Pierre Dorion this weekend.
Joseph, acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning last month, wasn’t on the ice Monday because he was at the White House in Washington with his former teammates celebrating their 2021 Stanley Cup championship with United States President joe Biden in the Rose Garden.
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Joseph is nursing an undisclosed injury and isn’t expected to play either.
A BIG STEP FOR BELLEVILLE
forwards Mark Kastelic and Scott Sabourin will rejoin the Senators Tuesday in time to face the New Jersey Devils at the Canadian Tire Center.
Both were sent down to Belleville with a goaltender Filip Gustavson Sunday to help the club’s AHL affiliate qualify for the playoffs. All three played a role in Belleville’s 4-3 victory over the Toronto Marlies on the road and with only game left the Senators are trying to find out where they’ll finish.
Getting to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history was a feather in cap for Belleville coach Troy Mann and his staff. It will give some of the club’s young prospects a chance to develop their skills in meaningful do-or-die games.
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“It’s good for them. They’ve been battling for six weeks playing playoff hockey with guys up and down,” Smith said. “It’s good for them and it’s good for the guys to just keep playing.
“Ultimately, being in the American league is about playing games, getting as many repetitions as you can to get ready to be up here. Playoffs is about doing it at a little more stressful level so that’s good for them.”
The only player from the Senators roster that may join Belleville is winger Parker Kelly. It’s believed he was on the ‘Clear Day’ list while the club will likely send Sanderson home to get healthy. He had hand surgery in March and hasn’t recovered enough to allow him to play.
THE LAST WORDS
After being paired together in Saturday’s 6-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens without so much as a practice under their belts, defensemen Thomas Chabot and Travis hamonic skated Monday to try to help build some chemistry.
“It’s kind of a unique situation where we hadn’t practiced at all,” Hamonic said. “He’s one of the best in the league so when I look at it that way it’s a great opportunity for me to come in, give him the puck and stay out of his way.
“I’ve played against Chabby for a lot of years now and when I was with other teams, he was one of the guys we had to focus on with his skating ability along with how he can get up and down the ice.”
