The Ottawa Senators will get a big boost to their lineup on Saturday in the form of defenceman Thomas Chabot, who is set to return after missing the past 12 games with an upper-body injury.
Senators head coach Travis Green told reporters on Saturday morning that Chabot and Olle Lycksell will be in the lineup against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday afternoon, and that Nikolas Matinpalo and Kurtis MacDermid will each be healthy scratches.
Additionally, Leevi Merilainen is set to get the start in net.
Official lineup changes from Travis Green:
IN:
Thomas Chabot
Olle Lycksell
OUT:
Nikolas Matinpalo (scratched)
Kurtis MacDermid (scratched)
Leevi Merilainen starts.
— Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) December 20, 2025
Chabot, 28, has been out of the lineup since suffering an upper-body injury against the San Jose Sharks on Nov. 22. He has played in 18 games this season, with two goals and 10 points.
The 10th-year blue liner has spent every season in his career with the Senators, and was an All-Star in 2018-19. His 45 points last season ranked second amongst Senators defencemen behind Jake Sanderson (57).
The Senators have won two games in a row entering this matchup against the Blackhawks, and rank sixth in the Atlantic Division at 16-13-4.