When defenseman Jake Sanderson was escorted off the ice after taking a shot near the face during Thursday's game against the Washington Capitals, Ottawa Senators management and fans gasped.

• To read also: A very good sequence for Phillip Danault

• Read also: A reassuring performance by Cam Talbot

Earlier this month, Artem Zub and Travis Hamonic received a puck to the face and another to the throat, respectively. Unlike Zub, who suffers from a broken jaw, Sanderson was luckier.

“I was just hit on the side of the neck and collarbone,” explained the main interested party to the daily Ottawa Sun. It was scary at first, but in the end it wasn't that bad. There's nothing to make a big fuss about. Everything is fine, I feel 100%.”

The “Sens” have high hopes for Sanderson, selected fifth in the 2020 Entry Draft. .

"It's a tough sport and so is the work," Smith said. Guys get hurt and for sure we don't want to see long-term injuries: that's especially the case when a player gets a puck in the face. There are athletes who never come back from some of these injuries. When you see a young player go through this, you worry about him."