Senators Make Popular Forward Healthy Scratch in Front of Friends and Family

Ottawa Senators head coach D.J. Smith confirmed that forward Mathieu Joseph is a healthy scratch for Wednesday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

When asked about the decision, Smith offered a blunt, 'no comment.'

Joseph was slated to skate against his brother - Penguins defensemen Pierre-Olivier Joseph - for the first time in both of there careers, and the family is expected to have approximately 50 friends and family in attendance. Yikes.

Mendes - Sens scribe for The Athletic - believes there is a larger issue afoot but can't say what exactly.

For a Sens team that has lost four of their last five and currently sits 25th in the NHL, sitting Joseph is an odd decision from a purely tactical standpoint. Joseph is absolutely one Ottawa's top-12 forwards.

Whatever the deal is between Joseph and the head coach, benching him ahead of a matchup like this does not send a great message.

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