Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson won’t travel with his club to Raleigh for its Monday-night meeting with the Carolina Hurricanes, head coach Guy Boucher said Sunday.
Karlsson missed two games while dealing with the loss of his son Axel, but returned for the Senators’ home game against the Hurricanes on Saturday. As the two clubs head across the border for the second half of their home-and-home, the captain will stay behind with his family.
“No, he won’t be there,” Boucher said Sunday when asked if Karlsson would make the trip. “So we’ll go 12 and six obviously, because that’s all we’ve got right now.”
“Right now, whatever he can manage, whatever he has to do,” Boucher said. “I think it’s not just about him, I think it’s about his wife and about how they need to manage it right now, more than what they want. Hopefully he’s back on Tuesday, but I think right now it’s a good thing that he’s going to stay and take care of what he’s got to take care (of).”
Ottawa recalled defender Ben Sexton from the AHL on Sunday. Boucher the 26-year-old will draw into the lineup with Karlsson out.
Following Monday’s game, the Senators are back home on Tuesday to play the New York Islanders.
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