Overview
- Head coach Travis Green confirmed on Wednesday that Sanderson will play against the Florida Panthers, ending an eight-game absence caused by a nagging lower-body issue.
- Sanderson injured the leg early in Ottawa’s season opener after an awkward fall while chasing a puck and missed every game since the first period of that match.
- Morning-skate line work showed Sanderson likely to be paired with Artem Zub, a reunion that should help run the top power play and improve the Senators’ chance creation at 5-on-5.
- Ottawa has managed a 6-3-0 start despite heavy turnover on the blue line, but the club is still coping with captain Thomas Chabot sidelined and William Eklund out 10–12 weeks after surgery.
- If Sanderson steadies minutes and matchups, expect a clearer test of whether the club’s struggling 5v5 expected-goal rates improve and whether Ottawa can rely less on rotating extra defencemen.