Ottawa Senators forward Josh Norris will sit out Saturday’s home game against the Anaheim Ducks and likely will be out until after the All-Star break due to a shoulder injury, coach D.J. Smith said.
“We’re not 100 percent sure where we’re at with it, with MRIs and doctors. We just want to make sure that we get it right, but he won’t play (today),” Smith said.
Norris, 22, has recorded a team-leading 18 goals in 36 games this season for the Senators, who have three games to play before the All-Star break. They will return to action on Feb. 7 against the visiting New Jersey Devils.
Norris has 61 points (35 goals, 26 assists) in 95 career games since being selected by San Jose with the 19th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. He was part of the blockbuster trade that sent Erik Karlsson to the Sharks on Sept. 13, 2018.
Mark Kastelic, 22, is expected to make his NHL debut on Saturday in place of Norris.
Kastelic has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 31 games this season with Belleville of the American Hockey League.
Also, defenseman Erik Brannstrom skated on Saturday for the first time since being placed in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.
He is expected to return to the lineup for Monday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers, Smith said.
Brannstrom, 22, has recorded one assist in nine games this season.
–Field Level Media
