OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators will be without one of their top forwards for several weeks.
Centre Jason Spezza is out indefinitely after suffering a right shoulder injury in Sunday night’s 3-1 win over Pittsburgh.
Spezza said it doesn’t look like surgery will be required but there is still no timetable for his return.
“We’ll just take it day by day and see but it’s not going to be any time soon,” Spezza said Monday.
He suffered the injury early in the second period after being hit into the boards by Penguins defenceman Kris Letang. Spezza left the ice and did not return to the game.
“I knew something was wrong,” Spezza said. “The shoulder didn’t feel good and I just knew when I got off the ice that something was pretty bad.”
Spezza said he thought the hit was “a little bit dirty.” Letang got a two-minute boarding penalty on the play.
“He doesn’t have to push me there,” Spezza said. “My back is to him the whole time, I’m going for the puck. I think he even realized that he pushed me and he tried to catch me, I think.
“It is what it is and it happens. The league will look at it I’m sure.”
There was no immediate word from the NHL on potential discipline.
Spezza, who was hampered by a groin injury earlier this season, has 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 32 games. The Senators (16-17-4) are ninth in the Eastern Conference with 36 points.
“It’s been a tough year for me, a tough year for the team,” Spezza said. “I’m pretty disappointed with how things have gone. Now for this to happen, I’m definitely frustrated for sure.”