Chabot Returns In Senators Win

Thomas Chabot made a miraculous return to the Ottawa Senators lineup Thursday evening in Ottawa’s 5-1 win over the Florida Panthers.

The defenseman proclaimed. “I shocked the world,” after the team’s morning skate. It was just 14 days ago that Chabot had surgery to repair a broken bone in his right forearm, which required two plates and screws. Chabot sustained his injury upon being cross-checked by New York Rangers captain J.T. Miller on March 23.

With a win, the Senators extend their record to 16-5-3 since February 1, but more importantly, Ottawa has an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth Saturday if they beat the New York Islanders and the Detroit Red Wings lose in any manner to the New Jersey Devils.

The Senators are also in a position to control their postseason destiny if they are victorious in two of their final three games, regardless of the out-of-town scoreboard.

Game Summary

Drake Batherson opened the scoring at 6:49 in, redirecting Jake Sanderson’s point shot. Brady Tkachuk added an assist, his fifth in two games and eighth point in three. Batherson’s goal was his 69th point of the season, a career high.

Fabian Zetterlund tallied his first of a pair late in the period, popping a wrister over Panthers’ goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.

Goalless in the middle frame, Artem Zub took advantage of a friendly bounce off the boards behind Florida’s net to snap a shot past Bobrovsky to extend the Senators’ lead to 3-0 three minutes into the third period.

Jesper Boqvist squeaked a shot through Linus Ullmark with 5:43 remaining to break the Ottawa goalie’s shutout bid.

Then Claude Giroux forced a turnover with Bobrovsky pulled for a sixth attacker and deposited a shot in an empty net to salt the game away.

But the Senators weren’t finished, Zetterlund netted his second on an individual effort 19 seconds later to add insult to an injury-depleted Panthers’ club without as many as 10 regulars, making the final score 5-1.

Not too “Chabby”

Senators head coach Travis Green called Thomas Chabot a “Warrior” for his rapid return to action. Chabot’s initial recovery period post-surgery was announced at four-to-eight weeks. The versatile d-man’s recovery was exactly 14 days from undergoing surgery and 17 days from sustaining his injury, missing only eight games.

The 29-year-old played 21:16 in his first game back with the club.

“”Chabby’s” a warrior man. He’s a tough customer, plays through a lot, happy to have him back for sure,” noted Green. When asked if he had planned to limit his defenseman’s ice time, the Senators head coach said, “Once you’re back, you’re back. Didn’t look like he missed a beat.”

on his return, Chabot told Senators media including Hockey Hot Stove postgame, “Nice to be back out there just playing hockey is fun. Obviously, like I said this morning, it sucks to be out and you don’t feel like you’re part of it. So being back out there and playing it was great. It’s a good feeling, extra good feeling with the win. I mean, that’s, that’s all matters at this time of the year.”

Chabot felt he wasn’t in any danger of re-injuring his forearm, “I tested it out the last probably five days, and I felt super-confident coming into that game and taking a hit or pushing guys and whatnot.”

Jake Sanderson who returned to the Senators lineup four games ago after missing 13 games of his own after sustaining a shoulder injury gave full credit to the his team’s medical staff in getting his teammate back on the ice.

“They’re unbelievable. They don’t take days off. It’s pretty cool to see the work they do with us. They care about us so much. So, you know, we’re very lucky as a team.”

Zetterlund x 2

After going scoreless in 11 games, Fabian Zetterlund has suddenly found himself producing three in a pair of games. Shuttled throughout the lineup, Zetterlund has been mainly skating on the right side of the Senators fourth line alongside centre Lars Eller and trade deadline acquisition Warren Foegele.

The right wing upped his goal total to 16 and points to 31 in his 79th game this season.

Zetterlund relishes his opportunities and understands where he fits in Ottawa’s lineup, “I mean there are many games to play, 82 plus playoffs, and that’s a lot of games and a lot of of bodies need to, be there. So, I mean, you need four lines.”

“He had a great game, played on his toes, played a heavy game, got rewarded,” added Green. “He’s never lacked confidence. All year, we’ve done a lot of talking with
him, just about understanding where he’s playing, being on that line, call it a fourth line, not getting the minutes that maybe he likes. But he’s been a constantly growing. Never complains. He understands. Was happy for him, really happy for the whole line.”

As stated above, the Senators face the Islanders Saturday at the UBS Arena and may have an opportunity to clinch an Eastern Conference Wildcard berth. But even they win, they’ll have to wait it out before popping the champagne corks awaiting the result of the Devils/Red Wings matchup.