Toronto’s blue line took a hit with Chris Tanev headed to injured reserve, while Ottawa is set to welcome Artem Zub back for his first game of the season. Carolina, already dealing with a lengthy absence for captain Jordan Staal, is bracing for more difficult news after Taylor Hall left Tuesday’s win hurt.
Key takeaways
- Tanev is listed week to week after an upper-body injury suffered against Colorado and has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to Oct. 10.
- Zub will make his Ottawa season debut Thursday against the New York Islanders after recovering from a knee injury.
- Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson is nearing a return but remains out, while Ridly Greig is expected to dress.
- Hall’s upper-body injury is a concern for Carolina after he exited the Flyers game in the second period.
- New Jersey forward Luke Evangelista is likely to miss a second consecutive game because of illness.
Toronto loses Tanev as Ottawa gets a defenseman back
Tanev was injured during Toronto’s 6-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. He departed at 11:08 of the opening period and did not return. The veteran defenseman has one assist through six games and shares the Maple Leafs’ club lead with 14 blocked shots.
Toronto hosts the Buffalo Sabres on Monday at 7 p.m. ET. Coach Jim Hiller said the club will need contributions from the players still available.
“Everybody knows what kind of player Tanev is,” Hiller said. “But there are other good players here, and they have to step up.”
In Ottawa, Zub is ready to return against the Islanders on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET. The defenseman had not played this season after sustaining his knee injury during last season’s Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Sanderson, sidelined by a lower-body injury suffered in Ottawa’s opening game, is considered close but will not play Thursday. Greig is projected to be in the lineup after a strain kept him off the ice for the final 9:09 of Tuesday’s 7-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues.
Carolina awaits Hall update; Evangelista remains sidelined
Hall played only 4:17 before leaving Carolina’s 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday in the second period. Coach Rod Brind’Amour said the initial outlook on the forward’s upper-body issue was not encouraging.
Hall has supplied three goals and two assists in eight games. His situation adds to a growing concern for the Hurricanes, who expect to be without Staal for one to two months because of a torn calf.
Carolina recalled forward Bradly Nadeau from the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League on Wednesday. The Hurricanes next face the Winnipeg Jets in Winnipeg on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Elsewhere, Evangelista is expected to sit out New Jersey’s Thursday meeting with the New York Rangers at 7 p.m. ET. He missed the Devils’ 5-4 overtime win against the Detroit Red Wings and was absent from Thursday morning’s skate as he continues to deal with an illness.
