Senators defenseman Marc Methot to make season debut Thursday

Senators defenseman Marc Methot will make his season debut Thursday, the team announced. Methot has yet to play this season due to a back injury. The team also

Senators defenseman Marc Methot will make his season debut Thursday, the team announced. Methot has yet to play this season due to a back injury.

The team also placed defenseman Patrick Wiercioch on injured reserve with a muscle strain, it announced Thursday. Methot was activated from injured reserve to take Wiercioch's place on the roster. 

• Wild's Ryan Suter diagnosed with mumps​

Methot played in 75 games for the Senators last season and averaged the second-most time on the ice of any Ottawa skater. He was one of only two Ottawa defensemen to have a positive plus-minus rating.

Wiercioch ranks fifth among Ottawa defensemen in average ice time this season. He has one goal and three assists in 15 games. 

• Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward out Thursday with lower-body injury

- Dan Gartland