Sens defenceman Artem Zub misses Game 2 against Carolina with undisclosed injury

RALEIGH — Artem Zub was unable to suit up for Game 2.

The Senators defenceman missed Monday night’s tilt against the Carolina Hurricanes with Ottawa down 1-0 in the teams’ first-round playoff series.

Zub was injured in the first period of Saturday’s 2-0 loss after colliding with Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis.

Ottawa head coach Travis Green said following his team’s morning skate the shutdown blueliner’s availability would be determined after warm-ups, but the 30-year-old didn’t even take the ice at Lenovo Center for the pre-game twirl.

Lassi Thomson drew into the lineup on the club’s third defence pair with Dennis Gilbert. Rookie blueliner Carter Yakemchuk took warm-ups after being called up from the American Hockey League at the conclusion of the Belleville Senators’ campaign.

Zub ranked third for Ottawa in ice time during the regular season at 20 minutes 48 seconds, trailing only regular defence partner Jake Sanderson (24:50) and Thomas Chabot (22:35).

Tyler Kleven wore a regular jersey at the morning skate for the first time since taking a puck to the face in a game against the Buffalo Sabres in early April. The hulking defender sported extra protection for his jaw Monday, but the 24-year-old sat for an eighth straight game.

Ottawa had to go 12 skaters deep into its blue-line reserves at one point during 2025-206 due to a rash of injuries.

“We had a lot of new defencemen playing,” Green said before the game. “You could tell that our group was a little bit concerned, even from the coaching standpoint.

“Now that we’ve gone through that, I think that’s prepared us now.”

The series shifts to Ottawa for Game 3 on Thursday night at Canadian Tire Centre. Game 4 is set for Saturday afternoon in the nation’s capital.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 20, 2026.