OTTAWA -- The Ottawa Senators will be in what coach Guy Boucher referred to as a "gigantic hole" when they take on the Los Angeles Kings without a couple of top-line forwards Tuesday night at Canadian Tire Centre.
Joining Zack Smith on the shelf is Bobby Ryan, who had combined with Derick Brassard and Mark Stone on the No. 1 line to score 25 points in the team's first eight games.
"We all know that if our team is going to have success this year, our line is going to have to be pretty good all season long," said Brassard, who along with Stone scored twice apiece in Ottawa's 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.