Senators face major defensive concerns after Thomas Chabot suffers right arm injury while Lassi Thomson also exits game.
The Ottawa Senators suffered a worrying setback during their game against the New York Rangers when top defenseman Thomas Chabot left the ice with a right arm injury and did not return. The situation became even more difficult for Ottawa after fellow defenseman Lassi Thomson also exited the game with a lower-body injury.
With both players ruled out during the game, the Senators were forced to continue the matchup with only four defensemen on the ice. The injury trouble comes at a critical stage of the season as Ottawa continues its push for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Thomas Chabot Injury: What Happened During the Rangers Game
Thomas Chabot’s injury occurred late in the first period after he was cross-checked by Rangers forward J.T. Miller. The impact appeared to strike Chabot around the forearm or wrist area.
Immediately after the contact, Chabot dropped his stick and skated toward the bench while clearly in pain. He was unable to continue and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Injury Details
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Player | Thomas Chabot |
| Team | Ottawa Senators |
| Injury | Right arm injury |
| Incident | Cross-check from J.T. Miller |
| Period of Injury | End of first period |
| Game Status | Did not return |
The play did not result in a penalty at the time, though Miller later served a double minor penalty for a separate high-sticking incident later in the game.
JT Miller caught Chabot with a nasty crosscheck at the end of the period 😬 pic.twitter.com/M53FLLcvg6
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) March 24, 2026
Senators Lose Two Defensemen in Same Game
The Senators’ defensive situation worsened when Lassi Thomson also suffered an injury during the second period.
Thomson left the game midway through the second period and was seen limping as he exited the ice. He was later ruled out with a lower-body injury.
Ottawa Defense Injuries During the Game
| Player | Injury | Period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Chabot | Right arm | 1st period | Did not return |
| Lassi Thomson | Lower body | 2nd period | Did not return |
With both players unavailable, Ottawa had to complete the game with just four defensemen — a difficult situation during an important matchup.
Senators Already Dealing With Defensive Injuries
The latest injuries add to an already difficult situation for Ottawa’s blue line.
Several key defensemen are currently unavailable or recovering from injuries, creating serious depth concerns for the team.
Ottawa Defensive Injury Situation
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Jake Sanderson | Injured |
| Nick Jensen | Out long-term |
| Dennis Gilbert | Injured |
| Thomas Chabot | New injury |
| Lassi Thomson | New injury |
This string of injuries has forced Ottawa to rely heavily on the remaining healthy players to handle major ice time.
Chabot’s Importance to the Senators
Thomas Chabot has been one of Ottawa’s most important defensemen this season, especially with other players already missing time.
He regularly logs heavy minutes on the ice and plays a major role in both defensive situations and power-play units.
Thomas Chabot 2026 Season Stats
| Category | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 55 |
| Goals | 7 |
| Assists | 24 |
| Points | 31 |
| Average Ice Time | ~23 minutes |
In recent games, Chabot’s workload increased even more as the team relied on him heavily due to other injuries.
Senators Playoff Chase Now Under Pressure
The Senators are currently fighting to secure a playoff position in the Eastern Conference. The timing of these injuries could not be worse for the team.
Ottawa has been attempting to close the gap in the wild-card race and entered the week only a few points behind the final playoff spot.
Losing multiple defensemen during this stretch could seriously impact the team’s ability to stay competitive down the stretch of the season.
Possible Players Who Could Step Up
With the blue line facing multiple injuries, Ottawa may need other players to take on larger roles.
Defenseman Jordan Spence has recently increased his production and ice time, showing he can contribute when needed. The team may also consider calling up young defensive prospects if the injuries prove to be long-term.
One potential option is Carter Yakemchuk, a promising defensive prospect who has been developing in the AHL and could be considered if additional help is required.
The Senators will continue evaluating both injuries while preparing for their upcoming games.
The team has a busy schedule ahead and cannot afford to lose key players for an extended period if they hope to remain in the playoff race.
The next updates on Chabot and Thomson will determine whether Ottawa needs to make roster adjustments or rely on minor-league call-ups to stabilize the defense.
