Status of Senators’ star unknown
Ottawa can recover from two straight losses. The Rangers just did.
But if superstar defenseman Erik Karlsson is lost, the Senators’ season might be, too.
Surrendering their series lead with a 4- 1 loss to the Rangers in Game 4 on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, the Senators also saw their best player aggravate an injury to his left foot and leave the game after taking a hit late in the second period. The Senators captain, and twotime Norris Trophy winner, never returned to the ice.
“As players, you’re worried. That’s our leader, so the concern level is high,” teammate Bobby Ryan said. “It’s hard to replace Erik, your captain, but you’d just try to do it by committee.
“We’ve got [ until Saturday] to get him ready to go.”
Karlsson has been playing hurt since late March, when he suffered two hairline fractures in his left heel, but he hasn’t missed a game in the playoffs. The 26year- old Swede has downplayed the injury, but he couldn’t hide his pain upon leaving the bench at the end of the second period.
Slow to get back to his feet after taking a hit along the boards, Karlsson made his way to the bench, but when he needed to return to the locker room at intermission, the All- Star struggled to put weight on his left foot.
Grimacing as he climbed over the boards, Karlsson initially put his left skate on the ice, but then went the rest of way on just his right skate.
Chris Kreider had slid directly into the back of Karlsson’s skates earlier in the period, sending the Senators star to the ice.
After the game, Senators coach Guy Boucher said he believed Ottawa’s captain would likely be able to play in Game 5 on Saturday afternoon, but it was too soon to tell if he would be available or anywhere near 100 percent.
“We felt it was better to keep him out after the second period,” Boucher said. “He could’ve come back, but we wanted to make sure. He’s got a lower- body [ injury].”
Karlsson, who had 17 goals and 54 assists during the regular season, has been just as important in the playoffs, producing eight points. He had a goal and an assist during the first two games against the Rangers, but was held without a point in the two losses.