The Ottawa Senators' lineup has suffered another significant setback, with versatile centre Shane Pinto sidelined for a substantial period.
Injury Details and Immediate Impact
Shane Pinto will be out of the Senators' lineup for a minimum of two weeks after sustaining a lower-body injury during Thursday night's 4-2 loss to the New York Rangers. The injury occurred in the first period when Pinto took a hit along the boards from Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad. He proceeded directly to the bench, attempted to skate during a subsequent television timeout, but appeared uncomfortable and left for the dressing room.
The club confirmed the severity on Friday, placing Pinto on injured reserve. In a corresponding roster move, winger Hayden Hodgson was recalled from the American Hockey League's Belleville Senators to fill the vacancy for Saturday's game against the St. Louis Blues.
A Tough Blow for Player and Team
This injury represents a major disappointment for Pinto, who has been a productive contributor this season. In 27 games, he has recorded 12 goals and 18 points, solidifying his role as the team's third-line centre. Furthermore, the timing is particularly unfortunate as he was in the process of making a case for a spot on Team USA for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan this February.
Senators coach Travis Green acknowledged the significance of the loss. "He's a big part of our team," Green stated. "It's like when Brady (Tkachuk) got hurt and (Thomas Chabot). Those are big parts of our team, and we're going to miss him."
Senators' Depth Tested Amidst Injury Bug
Pinto's absence exacerbates an already challenging injury situation for Ottawa. The team's depth is being severely tested, as highlighted by star centre Tim Stutzle. "It's tough. We've been dealing with a lot of injuries and we need those next guys up," Stutzle said ahead of the game against St. Louis. "I've got to play better. It's going to be a good challenge for us."
The injury list continues to grow. Veteran centre Lars Eller missed his second consecutive game on Saturday with an undisclosed issue. Meanwhile, defenceman Thomas Chabot has not resumed skating after re-injuring a core muscle two weeks ago against the San Jose Sharks. The lone piece of positive news was the return of defenceman Artem Zub after a one-game absence.
To address the gap at centre, Coach Green moved Ridly Greig from the wing on the fourth line to centre the third line between Michael Amadio and veteran Claude Giroux against the Blues.
The outlook for Pinto's return remains cautious. After undergoing further testing on Friday, it would be surprising if he returns before the NHL's mandatory holiday break from December 24th to the 27th. His equipment has been removed from the Senators' dressing room, a standard procedure for injured players, with Hodgson taking his stall.
