Senators’ Jake Sanderson suffers lower-body injury vs. Red Wings, will not return

The Ottawa Senators announced on social media that defenseman Jake Sanderson suffered a lower-body injury in the first period of their game against the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday and will not return.

It wasn’t clear how Sanderson, who played only 4:49 of ice time, injured himself but he left the Senators’ bench in the first period and did not return for the second.

The 21-year-old Sanderson has seven goals and 17 assists for 24 points in 47 games this season, and is on pace to improve on his rookie campaign in 2022-23, scoring four goals and 28 assists for 32 points.

After his rookie season, Sanderson and the Senators agreed to an eight-year, $64.4 million contract extension. He’s currently in the first year of the deal. Taken No. 5 overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Sanderson has 11 goals and 45 assists for 56 points in 124 games played over two seasons.

Before turning professional, Sanderson spent two seasons at the University of North Dakota, scoring 10 goals and 31 assists for 41 points in 45 games. Sanderson, a native of Whitefish, Mt., also won a gold medal with the United States during the 2021 World Junior Championship.

Going into Wednesday night, the Senators had a record of 19-25-2 with 40 points, eighth in the Atlantic Division and last in the Eastern Conference. However, they have games in hand on most of their divisional rivals and are 5-3-1 in their last 10.

Afer Wednesday’s game, the Senators don’t play again until Saturday, Feb. 10 when they kick off a three-game home stand against the Toronto Maple Leafs, then the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, Feb. 13 before hosting the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, Feb. 15.