Senators Coach Sends Message to NHL After Jake Sanderson's Game 3 Injury
The Ottawa Senators are facing elimination after a 2-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3, falling into a 3-0 hole in their first-round playoff series.
Carolina continued its tight defensive play, limited the Senators to just one goal, and took an early lead that Jackson Blake turned into a victory by scoring the game-winner in the second period, shortly after Drake Batherson had tied the game for Ottawa.
The game took a turn for the worse within the Senators' lineup in the second period when Ottawa lost top defenseman Jake Sanderson after he landed a hit to the head from Hurricanes forward Taylor Hall.
Sanderson was struck in the head on a forecheck, with his helmet knocked off on impact. Hall received a two-minute minor for an illegal check to the head, but the officials didn't review the play afterward.
After the game, head coach Travis Green made it clear what forced Sanderson to leave the game, providing little information about his situation.
"It's pretty obvious why he left the game," Green said.
Green pointed directly to Hall's hit instead of a blocked shot by Sanderson, shortly after his exit, as the supposed action that removed the blueliner from the game.
"I just don't understand how that's not a five-minute major call on the hit to the head. It's a blatant hit to the head, the kind of hit you don't want to see," Green said.
The Senators' coach also criticized the lack of a more severe penalty or review of the play, and made sure to send a public message to the NHL so they review the action postgame and apply some discipline on Hall.
"It's ridiculous (that) there wasn't a review. They totally miss a review where I would be shocked if there isn't a review by the league on that, and something is done," Green said.
Sens HC Travis Green gives his two cents on the hit from Taylor Hall that forced Jake Sanderson out of Game 3. pic.twitter.com/8c3sF6pySG
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 24, 2026
Sanderson, who led Ottawa defensemen with 54 points in the regular season, logged just 13:19 of ice time before leaving and did not return.
With their best blueliner out, the Senators are now down three defensemen, including Artem Zub and Nick Jensen, the latter out for the remainder of the season.
The Senators now face elimination in Game 4 on Saturday, with puck-drop set for 3 p.m. ET in Ottawa.
Related: Senators' Brady Tkachuk Sends 'Frustrating' Message After Game 3 Loss
Related: Connor McDavid Speaks on Injury After Oilers' Game 2 Loss to Ducks
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This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 9:18 AM.