Jake Sanderson suffers concussion from Taylor Hall hit: What it means for Canes-Sens

AtlanticBruinsCanadiensLightningMaple LeafsPanthersRed WingsSabresSenatorsMetropolitanBlue JacketsCapitalsDevilsFlyersHurricanesIslandersPenguinsRangersCentralAvalancheBlackhawksBluesJetsMammothPredatorsStarsWildPacificCanucksDucksFlamesGolden KnightsKingsKrakenOilersSharksScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsFantasyNHL OddsNHL PicksNHL playoff predictionsBracketStanley Cup tiersNHL Draft rankingRed Light NewsletterNHL Playoffs Sanderson, right, took umbrage at a high hit from Hall but later exited the game. Josh Lavallee / NHLI via Getty Images Share article3OTTAWA — Jake Sanderson, the Senators’ best defenceman, will miss Game 4 of his team’s first-round series against the Hurricanes after suffering a concussion Thursday night in Game 3 following an illegal hit to the head from Canes forward Taylor Hall. “He’s not doing very well,” Senators coach Travis Green said Friday. “He won’t play tomorrow.” The hit, which was whistled for a minor penalty, occurred at the 4:24 mark of the second period. An Olympic gold medallist for Team USA in Milan, the 23-year-old Sanderson played two more shifts totaling 3:35 before leaving the ice for good. After Carolina’s 2-1 victory, Sens coach Travis Green said it was “pretty obvious” why Sanderson exited the game — referencing the hit — and that the lack of a review for a major penalty by the officiating crew was “ridiculous.” On Friday, the NHL confirmed to The Athletic that Hall would face no additional discipline for the hit. Green said he hadn’t heard about the NHL’s plans during his afternoon media availability. “I’d be shocked if there wasn’t supplementary discipline in this event,” Green said. “It’s a blatant shot to the head. Shocked it wasn’t a major. (I’m) surprised there’s not some kind of talk of supplementary discipline.” When asked, Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said he “didn’t really think it was that hard of a hit.” “(Sanderson’s) helmet came flying off, so it looked a lot worse,” Brind’Amour said. “I remember, I didn’t really watch it too many times, but (Sanderson) swung a punch after. That’s out of our control. We know Taylor Hall and the kind of player he is. He’s not trying to hurt people. So, let them deal with it.” Sanderson had two points in three Stanley Cup playoff games, both coming in a double-overtime loss in Game 2 when he logged over 43 minutes. His regular defensive partner, Artem Zub, also won’t play in Game 4 on Saturday afternoon. Zub hasn’t played since Game 1, when he left the game after delivering a hit on Canes forward Seth Jarvis. Zub hasn’t skated with his teammates since the incident. For Game 3, the Senators got defenceman Tyler Kleven back; he missed nearly three weeks after taking a puck to the face against the Buffalo Sabres. The Sens will likely lean on him and Thomas Chabot, who returned to the lineup approximately two weeks after breaking his arm in March, as their top left-shot defencemen in Saturday’s elimination game at Canadian Tire Centre. Kleven suited up with Cameron Crotty yesterday, but it wouldn’t be out of the question for Nikolas Matinpalo to return to Kleven’s right. Dennis Gilbert and Lassi Thomson were paired together earlier in the series but were healthy scratches during Game 3. The pair, and Crotty, could be possibilities for Green to use in Game 4. The same goes for rookie defenceman Carter Yakemchuk, who played four regular-season games this year as the Senators’ defence handled various injuries. Yakemchuk scored and registered a point in his NHL debut in March and was also given time on the Senators’ power play. The Sens power-play quarterback options are down to Chabot and partner Jordan Spence. So, dressing Yakemchuk as another potential option could be worth considering. But of course, they’d need him to be solid defensively. Ottawa faces a 3-0 series deficit for the second consecutive season, having done so against the Toronto Maple Leafs last year. Ottawa won Games 4 and 5 before losing Game 6 at home. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms