Dorion: Sens hopeful Norris can avoid surgery, Batherson targeting April return

Josh Norris has been a bright spot in an otherwise difficult season for the Ottawa Senators with a team-high 18 goals in 36 contests. But Sens fans were holding their breath when Norris took a shot from Andrei Svechnikov of the Carolina Hurricanes and slammed into the boards, forcing him out of last Thursday's game with an upper-body injury.

Though if things go as general manager Pierre Dorion hopes, Norris won’t be out of action particularly long.

“Right now, it looks positive for Josh Norris. He’s just getting a second opinion and we want our players to get a second opinion,” Dorion told Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch. “We don’t believe, at this point in time, surgery is needed. From this point in time, it’s probably another three or four weeks if he just continues to rehab.

“We’ve been very encouraged by the work he’s put in. His range of motion and strength are very close to where they should be and we hope that surgery isn’t needed. Josh really wants to play but whatever decision he and the doctors make we’ll support 100 per cent.”

Senators head coach D.J. Smith ruled Norris out until after the All-Star Break last week. Garroich writes the 22-year-old centre is scheduled to get a second opinion from the doctor who performed shoulder surgery for an injury he suffered at the World Junior Championship in 2019.

While Norris could be back soon if all goes well, the same can’t be said about Drake Batherson.

Another member of Ottawa’s young core enjoying an impressive season, Batherson was injured last week in a game against the Sabres when he was hit hard into the endboards by Buffalo goaltender Aaron Dell. Batherson was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain and Dorion said the best-case scenario for the 23-year-old would be an