Senators breathing easier after seeing Sabourin’s smile

The best news for the Ottawa Senators on Sunday came via social media from Boston.

That’s where Scott Sabourin was, issuing a thumbs-up of sorts — an Instagram photo of him smiling from his hospital bed — after the nasty collision with the Bruins’ David Backes Saturday night that resulted in him being taken off the ice on a stretcher.

While the Senators travelled to New York immediately after the 5-2 loss to the Bruins and held a practice at the American Dream mall on Sunday afternoon in preparation for Monday’s game against the New York Rangers, Sabourin’s health was at the forefront of their thoughts.

“He is expected to be released from hospital (Sunday),” general manager Pierre Dorion said. “The one thing we know for sure is that he has suffered a fractured nose and we’re going to continue to monitor him.”

There will be further tests, most likely including putting Sabourin through the NHL’s concussion protocol procedure.

“We’re sending nothing but positive vibes his way and (hopes for) a quick recovery,” said defenceman Mark Borowiecki, who texted with Sabourin on Sunday morning. “You can’t help but have that image of him on the ice in your head a little bit, but to see him smiling in the hospital bed … that was nice.”

Dorion said centre Logan Brown also is expected to be out “week to week” with an upper body injury he suffered against Boston.

That has resulted in lineup shuffling and the possibility of an earlier-than-expected return of Artem Anisimov. Anisimov was expected to join the Senators on Sunday night and will be at Monday’s morning skate. If he doesn’t play that night, he could go Tuesday versus the New York Islanders in Brooklyn. “We would like to get him a practice, but in the situation we’re in, with three centres out right now (Colin White is also missing due to a suspected hip flexor/groin injury), if he can give us some minutes, we’ll think about using him,” coach D.J. Smith said.

Bobby Ryan, a healthy scratch for the past two games, also will likely return. He skated Sunday on a line with Filip Chlapik and Mikkel Boedker. Late in Sunday’s workout, Chlapik switched positions with Vladislav Namestnikov, who previously had skated with J.C. Beaudin and Tyler Ennis. It’s a makeshift roster, to be sure.

Beyond the negative injury news and another road loss — the Senators are 0-4-1 away from Canadian Tire Centre — Smith did find some positives in the effort against the Bruins.

The Senators were deadlocked 2-2 after two periods and by his estimation, had outchanced the Bruins through 40 minutes.

Come the third period, he says, the Bruins proved why they are a role model to follow, taking advantage of the Senators’ miscues and wearing them down to the finish.

Of course, the whole thing could have been different if the Senators could take some pressure off themselves by cashing in on the power play.

Anthony Duclair is one of many players who need to produce on the power play, but at least he’s heading into Madison Square Garden Monday on a bit of an offensive role in even-strength situations.

Originally drafted by the Rangers in the third round of the 2013 entry draft, Duclair has goals in back to back games. He leads the Senators with five goals.

“I’m excited,” said Duclair, who will play his 300th NHL game. “The confidence is there. At the same time, I’m just doing the little details correctly and that’s when you get the confidence from the coaching staff and you get trust from them. When they want to put you back out there, it’s always great.”