Senators' Blueline Takes Another Hit as Chabot Exits Lineup
The Ottawa Senators' defensive corps suffered a significant blow this week when top defenceman Thomas Chabot left Tuesday's game against the Dallas Stars with an undisclosed upper-body injury. The team has confirmed he will not play in Thursday's matchup against the Boston Bruins.
Evaluation Underway for Key Defenceman
Head coach Travis Green informed reporters on Wednesday that there is currently no timetable for Chabot's return to the lineup. The defenceman was seen leaving the Canadian Tire Centre after receiving treatment and has been sent for further testing to determine the severity of his injury.
"I'll know a little more later today," Green stated following an off-ice workout. "He's being evaluated right now and getting treatment. It's unlikely he'll play tomorrow."
The injury occurred during the first period of Ottawa's 3-2 loss to Dallas when Chabot was reaching for a puck. He later took a hit from Stars forward Colin Blackwell along the bench during his final shift. Although Chabot took a brief twirl before the second period, he ultimately returned to the dressing room and did not finish the game.
Senators Face Challenge Without Key Players
Losing Chabot represents another substantial setback for a Senators team already playing without captain Brady Tkachuk, who is recovering from thumb surgery. The absence of two cornerstone players tests the team's depth during a crucial stretch of the season.
Chabot averages 21 minutes and 56 seconds of ice time per game, ranking him second among Senators defenders behind only Jake Sanderson, who sits tenth in the entire NHL at 24:11 per night. Sanderson logged an impressive 29 minutes in the game against Dallas following Chabot's departure.
"It sucks. He's such a huge part of our team," Sanderson said of his defensive partner. "He plays big minutes, plays on both sides of the puck. I'm not sure how long he's gonna be out for, but we'll miss him."
Teammates describe Chabot as a warrior who has frequently played through injuries during his career, suggesting that if he cannot suit up, the injury must be significant enough to prevent him from competing.
Next Man Up Mentality
Despite the challenging circumstances, Coach Green maintains a "next man up" approach and refuses to use injuries as an excuse. The Senators have demonstrated resilience already this season, posting a 7-3-4 record in the 14 games played without Tkachuk in the lineup.
Centre Shane Pinto emphasized the need for collective effort in response to the potential absence. "He's such a huge part of our back end. There's no replacing him, but guys are gonna have to step up," Pinto explained. "When Brady went down, guys had to step up. If Chabot goes down for a bit, guys are going to have to step up."
Pinto added that the situation represents a typical hockey challenge. "We're going to have to play more of a team game. That's just part of hockey. You're not going to go through a full season of health. That's just how it goes, and this is another challenge for us, but hopefully we rise to it."
The Senators organization and fans now await further medical evaluation results to determine how long they'll be without one of their most important defensive contributors.
