Painful scene for Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot on Tuesday during the game against the New York Islanders.
The Quebecer left in the first period after being directly hit in the face by a throw from Adam Pelech. We were halfway through the period when Pelech took a shot from the point and the puck hit Chabot directly in the face.
The Sens defenseman immediately headed to the locker room as blood fell onto the ice. He did not return to the game and the organization said it was a preventative measure.
His teammates held on in the absence of their defender and Leevi Merilainen stood out again to score a 2-0 win. The goalie stopped 24 pucks to record a third victory in a row and a second by shutout.
Adam Gaudette was denied a goal in the first period, but he rallied in the second in front of goalie Marcus Hogberg with his 14th goal of the season. Artem Zub confirmed the victory for the Sens in the third period by sending the disc into an empty net.
This gain allows the Sens to stay one point behind the Columbus Blue Jackets and last place among the teams drafted in the East, as the Jackets won early in the evening.
The Senators won their third straight game, during which they dominated 10-2. Saturday in Pittsburgh, Merilainen blocked 29 shots and the Senators manhandled the Penguins, 5-0. That was followed by a 3-2 home win against Dallas on Sunday.
Patrick Roy’s team sees its series of three victories slowed down.
