The Ottawa Senators officially clinched a playoff berth on Thursday night, and they did so without Erik Karlsson.
According to general manager Pierre Dorion, Karlsson will continue to sit out until the playoffs, missing the team’s final two games of the regular season in favour of a little extra healing time.
“Most likely Erik will not play until the end of the regular season,” Dorion told reporters on Friday. “If tomorrow was Game 1 of the playoffs … he would be playing.”
Karlsson suffered a foot injury on Tuesday and was listed as day-to-day by head coach Guy Boucher. He didn’t travel to Boston for Thursday’s contest.
Ottawa closes out the season with back-to-back games against New York opponents, versus the Rangers on Saturday and the playoff-hungry Islanders Sunday.
The Senators have been dealing with plenty of injuries of late, but signs are pointing to the team having a (mostly) healthy start to the post-season ahead.
Dorion said forward Bobby Ryan and defenceman Marc Methot will join Karlsson on the sidelines this weekend but, like their captain, they’re expected to be back in time for puck drop on Round 1.
“We’re very hopeful that they’ll be back for the playoffs,” Dorion said.
The GM also said forward Zack Smith and Viktor Stalberg are good to go.
“That would be the first time in a very long time for the Ottawa Senators that everyone would be available,” Dorion said. “I think that just gives [coach Guy Boucher] as many options as possible, and he can play around with his lines and do what he needs to do to field what he thinks would be the best team to help us win in the playoffs.”
