Anton Forsberg stretchered off after suffering lower-body injury

Saturday’s matinee against Edmonton didn’t go well for Ottawa as they dropped a 6-3 decision. On top of that, goaltender Anton Forsberg had to be stretchered off the ice after suffering what appeared to be a knee injury just before the sixth goal was scored. Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch noted postgame that an update on Forsberg isn’t expected until Sunday.

Forsberg has been a nice story for the Senators as he was picked up on waivers in 2021 (the third time in barely two months he had been waived and claimed) and has played his way into a regular role between the pipes. Last season, he had a 2.82 GAA along with a .917 SV% in 46 appearances, earning himself a three-year contract extension along the way. Things haven’t gone as well this season, however, as he entered today’s action with a 3.13 GAA and a .905 SV% in 27 games.

On top of Forsberg being injured, Cam Talbot remains out of the lineup with a lower-body injury for at least a few more days so the short-term starting role will fall to rookie Mads Sogaard. Ottawa now sits nine points out of the final Wild Card spot so they will have their work cut out for them if they want to get back into the mix.

The Senators will need to recall a goaltender in advance of their next game on Monday against Calgary. There are two options in Kevin Mandolese and veteran Antoine Bibeau. The 22-year-old has split the season between AHL Belleville and ECHL Allen and has a save percentage of just .879 with the Baby Sens. Bibeau, meanwhile, just made his first appearance today in the minors after missing more than two months due to an injury. However, the 28-year-old has considerably more professional experience and even a handful of NHL appearances over the years and might be a better option to partner with an inexperienced Sogaard for the time being.