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Sens' Bobby Ryan out with another hand injury, no timeline on return

TORONTO — Ottawa Senators forward Bobby Ryan has been sidelined with another hand injury, and there is no timeline for his return.

TORONTO — Ottawa Senators forward Bobby Ryan has been sidelined with another hand injury, and there is no timeline for his return.

Ryan didn't return for the third period of Tuesday's 8-2 home loss against Chicago and wasn't with the team on the road for Wednesday's game against Toronto.

Ottawa coach Guy Boucher couldn't give much of an update on the extent of the injury or how long it will sideline the 30-year-old winger when he spoke with media at morning skate.

"We have to wait until the swelling is down to know," said Boucher.

This is Ryan's third hand injury in 12 months and seventh since 2014.

He suffered a broken index finger on his right hand earlier in the season and missed time in November before re-aggravating it in December. It was the same finger he broke in a game in February of the 2016-17 season.

Boucher added that Ryan attempted to play through the pain against the Blackhawks but that it eventually became too much to deal with before exiting.

"It got worse and worse as the game went on until he couldn't take it any more," said Boucher.

Ottawa is also currently without defencemen Mark Borowiecki (concussion) and Johnny Oduya (lower body) and centre Nate Thompson (lower body).

Ottawa begins its bye week Thursday and will have seven days off before returning to the ice Jan. 18 against St. Louis. Boucher is hoping that his team will benefit from the time off.

The Senators had won back-to-back games prior to being crushed by Chicago and he felt his team was starting to pull it together after struggling with a sub-500 record (14-18-9) through much of the first half of the season.

"If we can get a break and get players back I think that's what it's about for us right now," said Boucher. "We can't afford to lose some of those good players and expect to continue with the same rhythm. Getting those guys back would mean a lot to us."

Ryan had five goals and 17 points in 32 games before his latest setback.

Kyle Cicerella, The Canadian Press