Coming off an ugly 6-3 loss to the Florida Panthers<\/a> to close out March on a three-game losing skid, the Senators came apart at the seams in a game that was pivotal to get two points. They should be embarrassed by that effort, but have to move past it and turn the page.<\/p>\n Like they have all season, they let another opportunity slip away, but thankfully, the race for the final playoff spot in the East has turned into a turtle derby between the New York Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings and the Senators.<\/p>\n Will Jake Sanderson face the Sabres?<\/p>\n Already banged up on the blueline, the Senators took another hit when rookie defenceman Carter Yakemchuk had to be helped off the ice late in the third after an elbow to the head from Florida winger Noah Gregor.<\/p>\n Coach Travis Green had no update on Yakemchuk\u2019s status after the game and the Senators didn\u2019t skate on Wednesday. We\u2019ll get a better update at Thursday\u2019s morning skate, but it\u2019s doubtful we\u2019ll see Yakemchuk during this homestand if you judge by what we witnessed when he left the game.<\/p>\n The Senators are already without three of their top defencemen<\/a> \u2014 Jake Sanderson (shoulder), Thomas Chabot (broken forearm) and Nick Jensen (knee surgery) \u2014 as the club makes a last gasp effort to make the playoffs for the second straight spring.<\/p>\n Sanderson resumed skating with the Senators in Florida, wearing a non-contact jersey, which was a step in the right direction.<\/p>\n But, by all accounts, it\u2019s doubtful that he\u2019ll be ready to face the Sabres after suffering the ailment against the Seattle Kraken on March 7. He could be ready to return against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday at 1 p.m.<\/p>\n Does the loss in Florida change the timetable for Sanderson? Anything is possible, but he needs to be cleared for contact to return and he wore a yellow jersey at Tuesday morning\u2019s skate.<\/p>\n If Sanderson doesn\u2019t face the Sabres, that means the Senators will have to recall defenceman Jorian Donovan \u2014 who suited up for two games with the club last week \u2014 from their American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville if Sanderson isn\u2019t ready to play.<\/p>\n You can see that the loss of Sanderson, Chabot and Jensen is catching up with the Senators. We\u2019ve been quick to praise the jobs done by Artem Zub, Tyler Kleven, Jordan Spence and Nikolas Matinpalo, but you can\u2019t take those three guys out of the mix and not face some difficulties.<\/p>\n Jake Sanderson of the Ottawa Senators controls the puck during a game against Philadelphia in March 2025. Sanderson has 44 points in 54 games this season.<\/p>\n Who starts in goal against the Sabres?<\/p>\n![\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3b505c2b52bf536a485df69e0185d1d8.jpeg\"\/)
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