Injuries have struck the Ottawa Senators at the worst time of year.
As we enter the NHL's final week of play, coach Guy Boucher informed reporters Monday in Detroit that there is no chance defencemen Cody Ceci (leg) and Marc Methot (finger) and winger Zack Smith (undisclosed) will see action before the playoffs begin next week.
Ottawa remains hopeful that captain Erik Karlsson, who is skating but has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Red Wings, will return this week.
Karlsson suffered a foot injury Tuesday in Philadelphia.
"Let's be honest here. Ceci, Smith and Methot won't be back for the season," Boucher told reporters Monday morning. "It's highly unlikely any of those three will be back.
"[Karlsson] is day-to-day. Up to now, there hasn't been any changes. If there is, they'll let me know. I know he was on the ice today. I haven't gotten any information back yet."
The Senators have a three-point lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Ottawa also holds one game in hand but has lost ground to Boston and Toronto in the Atlantic Division standings during a four-game losing skid.
Montreal is the only Atlantic Division team to clinch a playoff spot.
Ottawa, Toronto, Boston and Tampa will battle this week to not only secure a berth but avoid the conference's eighth seed and a tougher match-up against the Metropolitan's best team, likely Washington.
Twenty-year-old forward Colin White draws into the Senators' lineup for Ryan Dzingel and is expected to skate alongside Tommy Wingels and Chris Kelly.
Defenceman Ben Harpur, called up from AHL Binghamton Sunday, will assume Ceci's place in the lineup.
Craig Anderson will get the start in net.
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