Game Day- Alberta Back to Back Begins in Calgary

SensChirp October 13, 2017 1,713
Game Day- Alberta Back to Back Begins in Calgary

Three games without Erik Karlsson in the books and the Ottawa Senators have banked four of a possible six points.

Not a bad way to start the season.  And with no firm timeline available for Karlsson’s return (although Tuesday back in Ottawa is probably a good bet), Guy Boucher’s team will have to continue to find a way to remain competitive without their best player.

This group will be tested in a big way this weekend though as they play back to back games in the Province of Alberta. It starts with a Friday night showdown against Curtis Lazar and the Calgary Flames.

The Calgary Flames look like a team to watch in the Western Conference, especially if they can get decent goaltending from Mike Smith. So far, so good on that front.  They have plenty of talent at the forward position and their blueline is probably the deepest in the entire National Hockey League.

They also signed living legend Jaromir Jagr days before the start of the season. He made his Flames debut on Wednesday night in Los Angeles to mixed reviews. Let’s just say there’s a bit of a rust to shake off for the 45 year old. In particular, his play in his own end of the rink was suspect at best.

It’s believed that the Senators held internal discussions about signing Jaromir Jagr but if that first game is an indication of how he’s going to play this year, the Sens may have dodged a bullet.

Interested to see how he looks tonight.

Guy Boucher met with the media in Calgary after yesterday’s practice but really didn’t provide much insight on a potential line up. All options are on the table including 11/7 again and perhaps a surprise appearance by Johnny Oduya, who is expected to skate in Calgary later today.

For now, we’ll assume they go with the same line up as Tuesday night in Vancouver. Game Day skate isn’t until 1:30 PM in Calgary.

Ryan-Brassard-Stone
Smith-Turris-Dzingel
Hoffman-Pageau-Pyatt
Thompson-Brown-Burrows

Claesson-Ceci
Phaneuf-Borowiecki
Chabot-Wideman
Jaros

Craig Anderson is in the starter’s end at the morning skate. If he goes tonight, that means Mike Condon gets the nod tomorrow in Edmonton.

It’s another late one tonight with puck drop is scheduled for just after 9:00 PM. TSN5 has the broadcast.

-The Matt Duchene rumours have been swirling for months. The speculation surrounding Kyle Turris has become a hot button topic in the last couple weeks. Those two worlds collided earlier this week when a French radio station reported that a deal between Colorado and Ottawa was imminent. Last night I was told that there’s nothing to those rumours. That doesn’t mean the Senators have lost interest in Duchene but that particular deal isn’t being discussed. So there you have it.

Record 1-0-2 3-1-0
Goals For 2.33 (T-23rd) 3.00 (T-14th)
Goals Against 2.33 (8th) 2.25 (T-5th)
Power Play 0.00% (T-27th) 23.5% (T-10th)
Penalty Kill 100.0% (1st) 93.3% (T-2nd)
Shots For/Shots Against 37.3 (7th)
28.7 (3rd)
34.5 (10th)
40.3 (31st)
Ice Time Leaders Ceci- 25:35
Phaneuf- 23:57
Claesson- 22:53
Brodie- 25:36
Giordano- 22:34
Hamonic- 19:38
Leading Scorers Brassard- 3 pts
Ryan- 3 pts
Stone- 2 pts
Gaudreau- 7 pts
Brodie- 5 pts
Monahan- 4 pts