Sens happy to have Chabot back
All-star D-man brings help to Ottawa attack
Thomas Chabot could be ready to shoulder the load.
As the Ottawa Senators returned to the ice Monday at the Canadian Tire Centre, they were greeted by their top defenceman and, after participating in the 40-minute skate, Chabot declared if all goes well, he’ll play Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche.
Chabot, 21, who has missed eight games as a result of hit courtesy of Matt Martin of the New York Islanders on Dec. 28 in Brooklyn, has made excellent progress from the shoulder injury he suffered and he’ll be welcomed back with open arms.
“Really good,” Chabot said when asked how he was feeling after the skate. “Shooting is fine and everything’s fine. We’re just trying to slowly get hit. That’s the only thing I missed with the guys on the road (last) week. We didn’t get to try it out. We did a little bit (Monday) and we’ll do a little bit more (Tuesday), but it feels good.”
While the Senators were on the road in California last week, Chabot wasn’t sitting idle. He was on the ice with defenceman Justin Falk (concussion) and goaltender Craig Anderson (concussion) as part of the rehabilitation from this ailment.
“I’m feeling a lot better,” said Chabot, who stayed out to do some extra work after the formal skate ended Monday. “Shooting the puck is fine, pushing guys and boxing (them) out is good. The only thing we’re looking at for Wednesday is a little bit more contact.”
Losing Chabot has been a big hit for the Senators.
Chabot has been one of the club’s most consistent performers with 10 goals and 38 points in 38 games. He is minus-3 on a team that has struggled and was selected to be Ottawa’s representative at the allstar weekend in Jan. 25-26 in San Jose.
He plays an average of 23:52 per game and coach Guy Boucher noted he forces the opponent to change its game plan because down the road Chabot will be one of the NHL’s superstars.
“If we look at the games without Thomas it’s clear for us that our puck management wasn’t as good,” said Boucher. “It’s normal. You get what you get with a guy that’s going to be in the all-star game because he’s so good with the puck, so fast, so evasive and he can get out of trouble.”