The Ottawa Senators, currently occupying the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card slot, may welcome their captain, Brady Tkachuk, back to the ice in their upcoming clash against the Winnipeg Jets. This comes after Tkachuk’s brief return to practice on Tuesday following a lower-body injury sustained during the United States’ participation in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
The Senators’ recent 5-2 home defeat to the Montreal Canadiens added another loss to their four-game losing streak, with Tkachuk’s absence being keenly felt. In a post-practice interview, Tkachuk discussed his condition, stating, “I’m feeling alright. The decision to sit out on Saturday was a cautious one, as I didn’t feel up to par. There’s hope for my return tomorrow, but I need to make a wise decision to avoid worsening the injury and prolonging my time off the ice.”
Before joining teammates Tim Stutzle and Claude Giroux on the ice, Tkachuk warmed up independently. He, however, cut his practice session short – a move that, according to him, was intentional. “I’m doing everything within my power to be fit for tomorrow’s game. But I also have to consider the team and our fans; they wouldn’t want me to risk a recurring issue that could keep me out of the next 24 or 25 games. So it may just be prudent to sit out one more game,” he added.
Tkachuk has proven to be a valuable asset to the Senators this season, leading the team with 21 goals in 56 games and ranking third in points with 44.
In other team news, center Josh Norris, who has been sidelined since February 3 due to an upper-body injury, donned a regular jersey at Tuesday’s practice. He was seen practicing between Drake Batherson and David Perron on the second line. The team’s coach, Travis Green, expressed optimism about Norris’ potential return on Wednesday.
Center Shane Pinto, who has been out since February 4 with an upper-body injury, also marked his presence at practice, albeit in a noncontact jersey. He was positioned on the fourth line between Adam Gaudette and Matthew Highmore. Coach Green hinted at Pinto’s progress, stating he is “closer than he was yesterday.”
Norris has contributed 31 points (19 goals, 12 assists) in 50 games this season, while Pinto boasts 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 46 games.
In unrelated news, Georgetown freshman Thomas Sorber will undergo season-ending surgery on his left foot on Wednesday following an injury during a 97-86 loss to host Butler. And on the NCAA front, Kansas State and UCF are set to face off on Wednesday evening in Orlando, Fla., with both having slim chances of making the NCAA Tournament outside of winning the Big 12 Championship tournament.
Finally, the Winnipeg Jets, who have a franchise-record 10 consecutive wins under their belt, are gearing up for their road game against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night. Their recent victory was a 2-1 comeback in overtime.