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."