Senators’ Jacob Bernard-Docker forced to play spectator on Hockey Day in Canada

Missing this game had to hurt for Jacob Bernard-Docker.

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The Ottawa Senators defenceman missed his eighth straight as the club knocked off the Boston Bruins 6-5 in a shootout on Saturday afternoon at the Canadian Tire Centre.

Bernard-Docker has been sidelined because of a high ankle sprain suffered on Jan. 6 after a collision with winger Zack Ostapchuk in practice, meaning there was no chance he could suit up on Hockey Day in Canada.

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Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the annual celebration of the nation’s favourite game, with all the Canadian teams in action, was broadcast from Bernard-Docker’s hometown of Canmore, Alta.

He played for the Okotoks Oilers in the Alberta Junior Hockey League for two seasons and is the only active National Hockey League player from the area. Therefore, it would have been special for him to play in the matinee game.

The 24-year-old Bernard-Docker, a graduate of the University of North Dakota, makes his off-season home in Canmore and was featured during the pre-game show in an interview he taped with HNIC’s Ottawa-based reporter Kyle Bukauskas during a break in the schedule in December.

Bernard-Docker spoke to Bukauskas about growing up in the area and his father making sure he built an outdoor rink in the backyard.

There isn’t an exact timetable for Bernard-Docker’s return, but it will be at least seven or eight weeks. The recovery from a high-ankle sprain often can be worse than if it were a clean break. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the chance to play during a big day in his community.

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“You can see Jacob’s face light up anytime you mention Canmore, you can tell watching the feature how much it means to him that his hometown is in the spotlight this week,” said Bukauskus, who spent the early part of the week in Canmore before heading to Montreal for Saturday’s visit by the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Bell Centre.

“I know his parents talked to him about taking the opportunity to head back there for the celebration, but understandably he wanted to stay close to his team and focus on his rehab. Spending a few days in Canmore, it was very clear he’s got a lot of supporters back home.”

BACK TO FORSBERG

Leevi Merilainen may finally get a rest.

With the Senators playing two games in less than 24 hours, the expectation is Anton Forsberg will make his first start in net since Jan. 9 on Sunday at 1 p.m. against the New Jersey Devils in the second game of this back-to-back set.

Merilainen, 22, started his fifth straight game on Saturday against the Boston Bruins. He faced 28 shots, stopping only 23 of them, and it feels like this is a good opportunity to get Forsberg back into the club’s crease.

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The 32-year-old Forsberg has struggled this season. He hasn’t recorded a victory since a 4-3 decision at home against the Calgary Flames on Nov. 25. He has posted a 0-4-1 record in five starts since then with a .848 save percentage and a 3.62 goals-against average, which isn’t good enough to have success. He also missed time because of a lower-body injury he suffered in the gym on Dec. 14 before a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In 14 appearances this season, Forsberg has a 4-8-1 record with a 3.10 goals-against average and a .863 save percentage. The league average save percentage in the first half amongst goaltenders was closer to .900, so that’s where Forsberg needs to get to be considered reliable.

Making $2.75 million U.S. in the final season of his contract, Forsberg will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He has recorded two shutouts this season, but he needs to find his game.

Forsberg has a 2-3-1 career record against New Jersey in nine career appearances. In that stretch, he has a 3.49 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage.

THIS ‘N’ THAT

Boston’s Pavel Zacha had a chance to tie it 2-2 after opening the scoring with two minutes left in the first period, but missed the net in alone. That was OK since David Pastrnak took care of business … The Senators gave an appropriate welcome back to former forward Mark Kastelic during the first TV timeout with a quick acknowledgement on the scoreboard. No need for a video for every player who wore the uniform and Kastelic has settled nicely into Boston … There was a nice moment in the pre-game warmup when Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman, a former teammate of Linus Ullmark‘s, skated over and gave his son, Harry, a hug in the penalty box.

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THE LAST WORDS

Senators head coach Travis Green confirmed that Ullmark accompanied the team on the road after its win over the Bruins.

Asked if Ullmark would return from his back injury this week, Green didn’t give out a timeline, but noted that Ullmark was now listed as “day-to-day.” Ullmark has been skating in full equipment and has missed 12 games because of the ailment.

“We’re still day-by-day (with Ullmark),” Green said.

Better than week-to-week.

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

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