Ottawa Senators forward Clarke MacArthur will suit up for the first time this season as he joins the lineup against the Detroit Red Wings.
The forward has been sidelined all season due to ongoing concussion symptoms, and had been ruled out for the remainder of the season back in January but told reporters late last month that he was still hoping to play this year.
“I’m always holding out for this year. I could care less [about] next year,” he said during a March media availability. “I’m only training like this and doing what I’m doing now is for this year. Next year is next year and I’m going to do anything I can to get back in and if they clear me, I’ll be ready.”
The 31-year-old suffered a concussion during training camp—his fourth in 19 months—and played in just four games last season.
MacArthur will be a welcome addition to a Senators lineup dealing with injuries at the worst time. On Monday, head coach Guy Boucher announced the team would be without defencemen Cody Ceci and Marc Methot and forward Zack Smith for the rest of the regular season.
The Senators sit in third place in the Atlantic (92 points) going into Tuesday’s matchup, the second half of a home-and-home with Detroit. Ottawa rallied to force overtime before losing in a shootout to the Red Wings on Monday.
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