Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson's lower-body injury isn't as bad as initially feared, but he'll miss least two games, head coach Travis Green said Monday, according to team reporter Jackson Starr.
Sanderson was sent back to Ottawa for testing, Green said. The Senators are on the road for the next two contests before their home opener Oct. 8.
The 24-year-old exited in the first period of the Senators' season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday and didn't return. Sanderson aggravated an injury he sustained in Ottawa's final preseason game.
"Sandy was smart enough to pull himself early enough that he didn't reaggravate it too badly," Green said postgame Saturday. "He just felt that it was coming and took himself out, and that was a smart thing to do."
Sanderson recorded 14 goals and 54 points in 67 games last season and finished 10th in Norris Trophy voting for the second straight year.
The Senators recalled defenseman Jorian Donovan from the AHL's Belleville Senators on Monday. The 22-year-old had 21 points and 89 penalty minutes in 61 AHL games last season, and he made his NHL debut in March.
