Nick Jensen

Jakob Chychrun torches the NHL with career-high goals and points in Washington, fresh off an eight-year, $72 million extension that locks him in as a cornerstone blueliner. Ottawa's front office watches in quiet regret after flipping him for Nick Jensen and a third-round pick, a deal that started with a steep price tag from Arizona and never quite clicked in the nation's capital.

Ottawa's injury bug bites deepest with Thomas Chabot sidelined 4-8 weeks after arm surgery. The club battles for that wild-card lifeline, already thin on the back end with Jensen and Gilbert out too. Travis Green lays out the grim details, testing the kids and reshaping their push down the stretch.

The NHL Goal Chase game challenges fans to nail one scorer daily and build epic streaks, with insiders like Jensen eyeing Mika Zibanejad against his old Ottawa crew where he owns 25 points in 21 games. Perlowitz rides a hot four-game run after William Nylander lit the lamp, while Vegas' recent defensive woes - coughing up four or more in five of 10 - scream opportunity for shooters like surging Sharks star Macklin Celebrini in the Hart mix.

The Islanders roll into Ottawa on a hot Canada road swing, fresh off sniping three past Toronto's defense with Brayden Schenn finding the net in their latest win. James Reimer straps in for the Senators after Linus Ullmark's recent start, bringing his veteran savvy and a solid 4-3-1 record that masks some early-season bumps. New York's top-six mashup of Heineman, Horvat, and Barzal tests Ottawa's blue line missing Sanderson and Jensen, while Sorokin eyes another strong night between the pipes.

Dylan Cozens faces the Capitals tonight in D.C., where he owns two goals against them this season - his most versus any foe. Ottawa rolls into Capital One Arena with Linus Ullmark eyeing another shutdown after blanking Ovi in their last rout, while the Sens battle injuries to key D-men like Sanderson and Jensen.

Ottawa defenceman Nick Jensen heads into knee surgery that sidelines him for the long haul and punches a hole in the Senators' blue line. The team braces for his absence while scouts eye waiver wire fixes in a season already plagued by injuries. Jensen's toughness defined their back end, and his void looms large in the playoff race.