The red-hot Ottawa Senators could be getting a big boost to their lineup very soon.
Defencemen Artem Zub and Jake Sanderson are both "close" to returning, Senators head coach Travis Green told reporters Tuesday.
Both will remain out for Tuesday's game against the St. Louis Blues, but Green said he expects them to play in the "next couple of days."
Zub hasn't played this season as he recovers from a knee injury suffered during last year's post-season.
Meanwhile, Sanderson has been out of the lineup after re-aggravating a lower-body injury in the Senators' season opener.
The Senators will also be down another defenceman on Tuesday, as Green ruled Nikolas Matinpalo out against the Blues.
Matinpalo suffered an upper-body injury on Monday when he was on the receiving end of a scary hit from New Jersey Devils forward Anthony Mantha.
Mantha was assessed a five-minute major for boarding.
Green said that Matinpalo could return as early as Thursday against the New York Islanders.
Jorian Donovan will draw into the lineup against the Blues in place of Matinpalo.
In the crease, Linus Ullmark will get the night off Tuesday, while backup Sam Ersson will make his first home start of the season.
Despite some key injuries, the Senators are off to a 5-1-0 start to the season.
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