Senators enforcer Nick Cousins exits vs. Leafs after knee-on-knee collision

The Ottawa Senators lost some muscle on Saturday.

Forward Nick Cousins was ruled out of a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs with an apparent knee injury, the team announced.

Senators head coach Travis Green said post-game that the absence could last a while.

Cousins was involved in a knee-on-knee collision near centre ice with Leafs forward Jacob Quillan, who was making his NHL debut.

Both players went sprawling across the ice and eventually needed help off, but it appeared Cousins bore the brunt of the crash as he left without putting any weight on his left leg and was ruled out shortly after.

Quillan, meanwhile, returned to the game for the Leafs.

Cousins, who won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Florida Panthers last season, signed a one-year contract with Ottawa on August.

In 46 games with the Senators, he’s posted five goals, eight assists and 39 penalty minutes.

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