Ottawa's Blue Line Carousel Keeps Spinning: Kleven Out, Donovan Back Up

The Ottawa Senators' defense is taking another hit. Head coach Travis Green announced Saturday morning that defenseman Tyler Kleven will miss week-to-week time with an upper-body injury he suffered during Thursday's win over Buffalo. To fill the gap, the team recalled defenseman Jorian Donovan from AHL Belleville.

How Kleven Got Hurt

Kleven's injury happened early, in the first period when a hard slapshot came at him and appeared to catch him in the head area. He managed to skate off on his own power, which was a good sign at the moment, but the damage was done. He finished the game with just 1:48 of ice time before the injury forced him out. At 24 years old, Kleven was having a solid season with three goals and 18 points across 70 games played.

Donovan Gets Another Shot

Donovan is heading back to the NHL after his earlier stint with Ottawa this season. The 21-year-old made his debut earlier this year, skating in two games but failing to record a point. In the AHL with Belleville this season, he's put up better numbers: four goals and 17 assists in 59 games. Green said it would be a game-time call whether Donovan or another option would play in Saturday's matchup against Minnesota.

The Senators face the Wild on Saturday afternoon, and they'll need bodies on the back end. It's another test for a defense corps that keeps getting shuffled by the injury carousel.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.