Ottawa Senators silent on Artem Zub as Game 2 versus Carolina looms large

A linesman reaches in to separate Eric Robinson of the Hurricanes and Dennis Gilbert of the Senators during a third-period scuffle in Game 1 on April 18, 2026. Photo by Jared C. Tilton /Getty Images

Article content

Travis Green was tight-lipped regarding his roster on Sunday.

Article content

A day after losing Artem Zub in the Ottawa Senators’ 2-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the National Hockey League playoffs on Saturday, the coach provided no update or insight on whether the top-pairing defenceman would suit up in Game 2 on Monday night at the Lenovo Center.

Article content

Article content

Welcome back to the playoffs, folks, but in this case, no news isn’t good news for the Senators or their fans.

Article content

Article content

Zub left in the second period after he made a hard hit on Seth Jarvis of the Hurricanes. Zub was shown speaking to athletic therapist Dom Nicoletta and was wincing while pointing to his right side.

Article content

Article content

Losing Zub is a big blow. He played in 81 games this season and averaged more than 20 minutes a night. He was sent for further testing.

Article content

“No update,” said Green, who told reporters after the game he’d know more about Zub on Sunday. “He’s a big part of our (defensive) corps. I think he only played something like seven minutes.

Article content

“It’s a big loss when he goes out. Someone’s got to step up to play those minutes against top top lines, and (Nolan Baumgartner) has got to juggle the (defence), but they did a pretty good job back there.”

Article content

Lassi Thomson skated in the extra pairing on Friday. It would make sense for Thomson to go in for Zub in Game 2 if he’s unable to play. Given the fact that he never returned, it would be more of a surprise if Zub did suit up.

Article content

Defenceman Carter Yakemchuk, who made his NHL debut late in the season, was among six players added to the club’s roster for the playoffs after the club’s American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville wrapped up its year and missed the playoffs on Friday night.

Article content

Article content

Yakemchuk would be a candidate to suit up in Game 2 because he plays on the right side, but there is concern about the way he plays defensively. He finished with 10 goals and 30 points in 54 games with Belleville, but was a whopping minus-31.

Article content

The Ottawa Senators’ Artem Zub is defended by the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin and Erik Karlsson during a game on Feb. 2, 2026. Photo by GENE J. PUSKAR /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Article content

Article content

Battered blueline

Article content

The Senators have had a hard time keeping their defencemen healthy.

Article content

The club is already without Tyler Kleven, who is recovering from a broken jaw and skated for the first time with the Senators on Friday with a full face shield. Green is optimistic he’ll return during the series.

Article content

Would Zub’s injury accelerate that timetable? Kleven didn’t look very comfortable when he took a stick to the face while wearing a non-contact jersey at the Bells Sensplex before the skate, before the club left for Raleigh.

Article content

Bram Karp, the club’s equipment assistant, made some adjustments to Kleven’s visor and tray before he resumed skating.

Article content

The Senators have used 13 defencemen this season.

Article content

Thomas Chabot returned two weeks after having surgery to repair a broken arm on March 26, and is playing through the playoffs without the bone healed. He was on the ice in Game 1 for 26 minutes and 39 seconds.