Nick Cousins is expected to miss one week to 10 days after Jakob Chychrun's hit, Travis Green announced today.
That's the word on the Senators forward a day after the Capitals defenseman leveled him late in the third period in Ottawa. Cousins couldn't return, and Washington went on to win 3-2 in overtime.
We covered the scene as it unfolded Tuesday night in Jakob Chychrun's big hit on Nick Cousins, and the reaction has only grown since. Green had already said he was surprised no penalty was called on the play.
Now there's a real absence attached to it. Cousins played 12:12 against the Capitals and was held off the scoresheet, but a 33-year-old forward who has piled up 44 penalty minutes in 19 games gives Ottawa an edge that is hard to replace.
Green's timeline is an estimate, and no further details on the injury have been shared. A week to 10 days means Thursday's home game against the Colorado Avalanche falls inside that window.
The Senators (11-6-2) can absorb a short absence from a depth forward. They are 10th in the NHL and sit fourth in the Atlantic Division, so every point matters in a tight race.
Will Chychrun face any discipline for the hit?
Nothing in our information says the league has stepped in, and no penalty was called on the ice. Those are the facts as they stand today.
But the new timeline makes the no-call harder to swallow in Ottawa. A hit with no whistle that takes a player out for a week or more tends to get a second look, and Green's comments keep the spotlight on it. We also noted Travis Green's anger over the Chychrun hit earlier today.
Chychrun, for his part, finished the night with an assist, a +1 rating and 22:39 of ice time. The Capitals (10-6-0) travel to New Jersey on Thursday, and Washington has no reason to talk about this hit anymore.
Ottawa, meanwhile, has to decide who takes Cousins' spot in the lineup against Colorado. We will keep tabs on any update on his recovery.
Quick hits
GOALIE WATCH: Andrei Vasilevskiy looks like the Lightning's goalie tonight at KeyBank Center, according to EddieInTheYard, who watched the optional morning skate in Buffalo. The Sabres will have their hands full.
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MONTREAL CANADIENS: Mike Matheson is travelling with the team to Boston, per HabsInHighHeels. A return Thursday looks possible, and that would be a welcome boost for the blue line.
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PHILADELPHIA FLYERS: Charlie O'Connor shared the Flyers' morning skate lines in Edmonton, and Matvei Michkov is on the third line tonight. That's a notable demotion for a player fans expect to produce.
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DETROIT RED WINGS: Hockeytown West Podcast reports that center Nate Danielson headed to the Griffins locker room after a rough hit in Grand Rapids. Red Wings fans will want an update soon.
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EDMONTON OILERS: Ryan Rishaug revealed that Matthew Savoie will play a few games in the minors, according to Oilers coach Mike Babcock. A short stint, but a clear message.
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This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
Should Jakob Chychrun be suspended for his hit on Nick Cousins?
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