Ottawa Senators Forward Clarke MacArthur To Miss Winnipeg Game With Injury

Jan 23, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Ottawa Senators left wing Clarke MacArthur (16) skates with the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at Tampa Bay Times Forum. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The tough task facing the Ottawa Senators just got tougher as the news came out today that forward Clarke MacArthur will miss Saturday’s game in Winnipeg with a hand injury.

MacArthur sustained the injury in an early third period altercation with Calgary’s Chris Butler.  The incident happened just 19 seconds into the third, and MacArthur didn’t play another shift in the game, a 4-1 Ottawa loss.

MacArthur has probably been Ottawa’s top and most consistent forward all season, with 19 goals and 25 assists as well as adding some grit to the Senators’ top line.  He found instant and remarkable chemistry with Kyle Turris and has helped him get to career highs this season.

In his absence, Turris will be reunited with Bobby Ryan, who had sort of been shuffled down the lineup in recent games, and Mike Hoffman, who will skate in MacArthur’s spot on the line.

Ottawa trails Detroit by 4 points for the last wild card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, ahead of Friday night’s action which could see them fall even further behind and make the task even more daunting than it already is.

There was no word on the severity of the injury and if it is a day-to-day thing or if it is a longer term issue, but he will get checked out by doctors in Ottawa after they return home following Saturday’s game, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.