REPORT: BIG changes coming for Sens in game 4

As if suffering a 4-1 defeat to New York Rangers in which they were thoroughly out-worked and out-played wasn’t enough, the Ottawa Senators received some unfortunate injury news following the game.

After both Zack Smith and Bobby Ryan left game 3 with injuries, head coach Guy Boucher was limited to just 10 forwards and struggled to keep pace with the Rangers. Ottawa Citizen reporter Bruce Garrioch reports that it’s unlikely that both Smith and Ryan are eligible for game 4’s action tomorrow evening, so it’s likely that forward Tom Pyatt will slot into the lineup.

“That’s two key players for us and it’s unfortunate,” said centre Jean-Gabriel Pageau when discussing the injuries to Smith and Ryan. “We’d love for them to be OK. I don’t know what’s (wrong) with them, but we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do, and that’s something that we can’t control. Hopefully they can come back and be ready for the next game.”

Whoever suits up for the Sens in game 4, it’s clear that the team as a whole must be better if they expect to win. The Rangers forwards skated miles in game 3’s victory and the Senators, by comparison, looked tired and slow. Some fresh bodies may be just what the doctor ordered.