Team loses crucial playmaker indefinitely after serious injury.

Only one day after pulling to within two points of Montreal for first place in the Atlantic Division with three games in hand, the Ottawa Senators have been dealt a big blow today.

The team announced today that winger Bobby Ryan will be out of the lineup indefinitely with a hand injury.

According to the Senators, Ryan suffered the injury during Ottawa's 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, after taking a shot off his hand. He is currently being evaluated to determine the extent of the injury, but the team fears he may have broke his hand.

According to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch, Ryan's injury is to his right index finger, the same one he injured earlier this season. He could miss up to six weeks if it is found to be broken.

The 29-year old suffered a similar injury in mid-November after taking a shot off the same hand against the Nashville predators. He managed to return at the end of November, only to re-aggravate the ailment and be forced out of action until December.

He's managed to play every game since that initial injury, before injuring the hand yet again last night.

A talented playmaker with excellent hands, Ryan has 12 goals and 24 points in 50 games this season.

[pub]