Senators put Bobby Ryan on injured reserve

OTTAWA --Forward Bobby Ryan and defenseman Fredrik Claesson have been placed on on injured reserve by the Ottawa Senators.
Ryan reinjured the index finger of his right hand against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday. Claesson left during the third period against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday with a hip injury.

Defenseman Mark Methot also missed Ottawa's 3-2 overtime loss to the Flyers with a hip injury, but Senators general manager Pierre Dorion told TSN 1200 on Friday he is hopeful Methot will be able to play Saturday against the Florida Panthers at Canadian Tire Centre (7 p.m. ET; CITY, TVA Sports, FS-F, NHL.TV).
Ryan sustained a bone bruise on his right index finger against the Nashville Predators on Nov. 17 when he was hit by a puck. After missing two games, he returned to play the next four but said he had difficulty holding his stick and left the game against the Sabres after playing 2:50.
He was placed on injured reserve after that game, Dorion said, and is eligible to play Wednesday against the San Jose Sharks during the Senators' four-game road trip.
Ryan has broken a finger on his left hand in each of the past two seasons and missed four games.
"Initially on Wednesday we were fearing for something worse, but yesterday we got some good news," Dorion said of Ryan's injury. "There's a chance he accompanies us on the trip. I'd put that at 50-50. I've got to give Bobby a lot of credit. People don't know how many injuries he's played through here, getting his hand frozen and playing through pain.
"I just made an executive decision. I said we're not going to go through what we've gone through in the past years with Bobby. We're just going to let him heal up and make sure he's close to 100 percent so he can give us the best hockey, and at that point in time he'll be back in our lineup."

Dorion also provided an update on forward Clarke MacArthur who sustained his fourth concussion in 18 months during training camp. MacArthur hasn't played this season but has been practicing and taking part in drills.
"Clarke is making progress," Dorion said. "Again, this is a very boring answer. The doctors will decide at the end of the day. Clarke wants to play. We want him to play. He's been around the team. I think there's a chance he comes on the California trip. He's getting closer. There's progress that's been made. He will play this year, 100 percent. Not 99. He will play. That's another guy back in our lineup that we know that can help us."
Dorion said he has been speaking to other general managers to acquire a depth forward.
"I've worked the phones quite a bit. In the last three days, it's been three very active days," he said. "We've gotten off to a good start. I'm very happy with where we are right now. But I don't want us to fall back in the standings so it's up to me, it's on my shoulders, to make sure that this past continues, putting it on our coaches and players, also."
The Senators (14-8-2) are in second place in the Atlantic Division.