IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE
Ryan says it was a ‘hockey play’
Just like the Ottawa Senators fans who watched him being helped off the ice late Thursday night, Bobby Ryan originally feared the worst.
“Between myself and the doctors, the pain level was much higher (originally) than it was 10 minutes after,” Ryan said of the huge hit from Columbus’s David Savard. “It was reactionary pain and it subsided.”
If any injury news can be classified as positive, Ryan’s questionable status for Saturday’s game against Philadelphia fits the bill.
Ryan and Senators doctors will analyze the risk/reward equation Saturday morning — is there a potential for longer-term damage by rushing a return? — before making a decision. If Ryan can’t go, Shane Prince will be in the lineup.
Originally, the injury, which is believed to be shoulder-related, looked far more serious.
“I’m a little sore today, but I think we were pleasantly surprised where I was (Friday), compared to where I was (Thursday night).”
Ryan has not seen the hit on video, but he holds no ill will towards Savard, who reached out to check out on Ryan’s status following the game. In Ryan’s mind, it was a “hockey play” in what was an unusually physical game. Savard received a five-minute major and a game misconduct.
“I remember the play leading up to what happened, but I never saw him,” said Ryan. “He has been around the league for a long time. I’ve played against him a lot. He’s an honest player. There was certainly no intent to (cause injury).”
Losing Ryan long-term would have been a serious blow. He has scored seven goals and 10 assists, is in the midst of a career-high sevengame point scoring streak.
The news on defenceman Patrick Wiercioch, who suffered a suspected concussion when hit by Nick Foligno, was less positive. He didn’t attend morning meetings and is definitely out for Saturday. His long-term status is unclear.
Jared Cowen will take Wiercioch’s spot in the lineup against Philadelphia. If Wiercioch is unable to leave for the three-game road trip beginning Monday, another defenceman will likely be recalled from Binghamton of the AHL.
While concussions have been a huge headache for the Senators this season — goaltender Andrew Hammond and left winger Clarke MacArthur are on the injured list and Marc Methot and Curtis Lazar suffered head injuries earlier in the season — coach Dave Cameron isn’t pointing at the Blue Jackets.
“For the most part, it’s a pretty quiet league,” he said. “You almost get lulled into a false sense of security. I don’t think any of the hits (Thursday) were overly dirty.”
On the hitting end, the Senators gave back what they received. Both teams were credited with 34 hits.
“Whenever it’s chippy or physical, it’s fun to be a part of, that’s right up my alley,” said Neil, who had a game high eight hits. “I felt our line (Zack Smith and Curtis Lazar) was able to generate some momentum.”
Ryan, who suggested earlier in the week that the team needed to be grittier in order to achieve longterm success, hopes the higher battle lever carries over.
“We knew we needed to be better, making it tougher for teams to get through the neutral zone, making it tougher for them on the second and third opportunities and that comes with physical play, that comes with box outs, that comes with all the little things. I thought we played more of a sandpaper game.”