Ottawa will again be short on the blue line when it visits New Jersey on Monday, while the Capitals reshuffled their defense and ruled out Pierre-Luc Dubois for Tuesday’s trip to Carolina.
Key takeaways
- Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub did not take part in Ottawa’s morning skate and will miss the Senators’ game against the Devils.
- New Jersey expects Luke Evangelista to be available despite an illness, with Stefen Noesen recalled as insurance.
- Washington placed Matt Roy on injured reserve after his lower-body injury and called up Justin Holl from Hershey.
- Pierre-Luc Dubois will not travel with the Capitals to face the Hurricanes because of illness.
- Alex Tuch missed Washington practice for maintenance but is expected to play Tuesday.
Ottawa still waiting on Sanderson and Zub
The Senators will face the Devils at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, at 7 p.m. ET Monday without two regular defensemen. Sanderson remains sidelined by an undisclosed issue that has kept him out since Ottawa’s Oct. 3 season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
His absence remains a major one for the Senators. Sanderson paced Ottawa defensemen last season with 14 goals, 40 assists and 54 points, while his average ice time of 24:50 led the club’s blue line.
Zub has been skating as he works back from a knee injury, but he has not yet appeared this season. In 81 games during 2025-26, Zub posted five goals and 25 assists, finished plus-22, and averaged 20:48 per game.
Across the ice, Evangelista was absent from the Devils’ morning session because of illness. Coach Sheldon Keefe expects the forward to play against Ottawa, though New Jersey recalled Noesen from AHL Utica in case Evangelista cannot go after warmups.
Evangelista has made a quick early contribution since arriving from the Nashville Predators in a Sept. 2 trade, recording two goals and an assist through four games with New Jersey.
Capitals make defensive moves before Carolina trip
Roy was put on injured reserve after skating Monday while continuing to deal with the lower-body injury he sustained in Washington’s 3-1 loss at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Oct. 3. He is considered day to day and has no points in two games this season.
Holl joins the Capitals from Hershey in the corresponding roster move. Washington also shifted Sandin to long-term injured reserve as the defenseman recovers from ACL surgery.
Dubois did not practice Monday due to illness and will stay behind when the Capitals travel to meet the Hurricanes on Tuesday. Washington and Carolina are set for a 6:45 p.m. ET puck drop.
Tuch also missed practice for maintenance, but coach Spencer Carbery said he expects the forward to be in the lineup against Carolina.
