Ottawa Senators centre Josh Norris is returning to the lineup Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, head coach D.J. Smith announced.
Norris, 23, has been sidelined since Oct. 22 – missing 38 games – with a shoulder injury. Before he was injured, the Oxford, Mich., native had one goal and one assist for two points in five games.
At morning skate, Norris was skating on Ottawa's second line between wingers Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux. Smith said Giroux would take most of the faceoffs for Norris.
Smith also said forward Mathieu Joseph will be a healthy scratch Wednesday, but gave "no comment" as to why. The game was supposed to mark a first NHL meeting between Joseph and his brother Pierre-Olivier Joseph, a Penguins defenceman.
According to Penguins reporter Taylor Haase, the Josephs had roughly 50 friends and family members going to Ottawa for the game on Wednesday.
Norris had 35 goals and 20 assists for 55 points in 66 games last season before signing an eight-year, $63.6-million extension with the club last summer.
Norris has been practising off and on with the Senators since Dec. 16. He visited a shoulder specialist on Jan. 4 after suffering a setback, and returned to practising in full gear on Jan. 12.
To make room for Norris, the Senators placed Jake Lucchini on waivers Tuesday.
Watch the Senators-Penguins Wednesday Night Hockey matchup at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, airing nationally on Sportsnet.
COMMENTS
When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.