Ottawa Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson (concussion) ruled out of do-or-die Game 4

The Ottawa Senators will be without top defenceman Jake Sanderson when they face the Carolina Hurricanes in a must-win Game 4 on Saturday.

Here’s what you need to know.

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Jake Sanderson

Sanderson left early in a 2-1 Game 3 loss after taking a hit to the head and suffering a concussion.

Senators head coach Travis Green said on Friday that Sanderson “is not doing well” and that he pulled himself from Thursday’s game.

Sanderson suffered the injury in the second period on a hit from Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall. The 23-year-old blue-liner remained in the game briefly before heading down the tunnel. He was officially ruled out of the game in the third period.

It’s a big loss for Ottawa. Sanderson, who has two assists in the series, led all Senators’ defencemen in scoring this season. In 67 regular season games, he posted 54 points, including a career-high 14 goals.

Ottawa Senators

There is no question Ottawa is in a tough spot right now. They trail the Carolina 3-0 in this first-round series and they now sit as heavy +1300 underdogs to complete the comeback.

For context, only four teams in NHL history have trailed a best-of-seven series 3-0 and successfully rallied to win. The last team to pull it off was the 2014 L.A. Kings, who trailed 3-0 in the first round against San Jose. L.A. went on to win the Stanley Cup that year.

And for what it’s worth, the Senators also dropped the first three games in their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs last year before they rallied to win the next two and force a Game 6, which they ultimately lost.