Ottawa Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson left Thursday’s Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes with an apparent injury and didn’t return.
Sanderson took a hit to the head from Hurricanes forward Taylor Hall early in the second period. Hall received a two-minute minor penalty on the play.
The 6-foot-2, left-shot defenceman remained in the game after the hit until halfway through the period when he took a puck off his right hand while the team the Senators were on a two-man advantage.
Sanderson then left for the locker room and didn’t return to the game.
Head coach Travis Green told reporters after the game the Sanderson’s exit was due to Hall’s hit.
“I just don’t understand how there’s not a five minute major called on a hit to the head,” Green said in frustration that Hall was limited to a two-minute minor penalty.
Ottawa was trailing 1-0 at the time of the injury and ultimately fell 2-1 as the Hurricanes took a 3-0 series lead.
The 23-year-old blueliner was one of Ottawa’s top defencemen this season, registering 14 goals and 54 points in 67 games in the regular season while averaging 24:50 of ice time.
He had two assists after the first three playoff games while averaging 27:57 of ice time.
The Senators trail the Hurricanes 2-0 in the series with Game 4 set on Saturday from the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.
