The Ottawa Senators are down their best defenceman.
Jake Sanderson exited Thursday's Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes and was officially ruled out for the remainder of the game by the team in the third period.
Sanderson suffered the injury in the second period after he was hit high by Hurricanes forward Taylor Hall, head coach Travis Green confirmed after the game. He remained in the game briefly, but headed down the tunnel as the Senators were beginning a 5-on-3.
Green had no update on Sanderson's status after the Senators lost 2-1, giving Carolina a 3-0 lead in the series, but expressed frustration that the Hurricanes were not dished a major penalty on the play.
"I just don't understand why there's not a five-minute major called on the hit to the head," Green said post-game. "It's a blatant hit to the head. The kind of hits you don't want to see. It's ridiculous there wasn't a review."
Green also noted that Senators captain Brady Tkachuk was called for a five-minute major in the third period that was reduced to a minor upon review.
"They call a review on Brady on a penalty that I don't even know what the penalty was. Then, they totally missed the review that... I mean I'd be shocked if there isn't some kind of review from the league on that and something done."
Sanderson has two assists this series, both coming in Game 2.
In 67 regular-season games for Ottawa, the fourth-year blue-liner had a career-high 14 goals alongside 40 assists.
