Senators place Shane Pinto on injured reserve, recall Hayden Hodgson

The Ottawa Senators will be without one of their top forwards for the foreseeable future.

Shane Pinto has been placed on the injured reserve, Sportsnet’s Alex Adams reported Saturday.

Winger Hayden Hodgson has been recalled from the AHL’s Belleville Senators in a corresponding move.

Pinto suffered a lower-body injury in Thursday’s loss to the New York Rangers. Green said Friday that there is no timetable for his injury as he is still being evaluated.

Pinto left Thursday’s contest midway through the opening period after taking a hard hit into the boards by Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad.

The Senators centre was seen labouring while on his way to the bench before eventually exiting to the locker room and ultimately being ruled out.

Going without Pinto will be a blow to the Senators offence, as the 25-year-old has yet to miss a game this season and leads Ottawa in goals (12) and is fourth in points (18).