Senators activate Mathieu Joseph from LTIR, available Tuesday vs. Flames

The 26-year-old Joseph was placed on retroactive LTIR before the new year and Jan. 9 was the earliest he could return to the Senators. He last played for the team on Dec. 15 against the Dallas Stars, when he left the first period with a lower-body injury.

Through 25 games this season, Joseph has six goals and 13 assists for 19 points. This was far-and-away Joseph’s best start to a season, accumulating a 0.76 points-per-game (PPG), a massive jump from his previous career high 0.43 PPG. His previous career high in points was 30, set in the 2021-22 season when he started the season with the Tampa Bay Lightning before being traded to the Senators for Nick Paul deal.

Before the 2022-23 season, the Senators and Joseph agreed to terms on a four-year, $11.8 million deal with an AV of $2.95 million. Joseph won two Stanley Cup championships with the Lightning in 2019-20 and 2020-21.

The Senators are 14-21-0 with 28 points in 35 games this season, last in the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division. They’re 3-7-0 in their last 10 games and have lost three straight.

After Tuesday’s game against the Flames, the Senators travel to Western New York to face the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, then wrap up the week with a home game against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.