The Ottawa Senators have done some of their best work on home ice.
11-5-2 on the year, in fact. You’d have to go all the way back to late-November to find the last home game where the Senators didn’t earn at least a point.
If it wasn’t for that pesky 5-14-3 road record the Senators would be right in the thick of things.
Instead, they start off 2020 as the 27th ranked team in the NHL. Only the Ducks, Sharks, Devils and Red Wings are lower. But if the Sens continue their strong play on home ice, an accidental ascent up the standings isn’t completely out of the question over the next couple months.
In January, the Senators will play 8 of 11 games on home ice. More of the same in February too, where they’ll play 10 of 15 in the friendly confines of the CTC.
Up first- Mike Hoffman and the Florida Panthers.
One change up front as the recently recalled Rudolfs Balcers makes his regular season debut. JC Beaudin was sent down yesterday and Balcers received a well-deserved promotion.
An early-season injury is the only reason he didn’t make the team out of Camp and by all accounts, he has been the best player in Belleville since his return. He has racked up an impressive 24 points in 19 AHL games this season. He’ll start on a line with Colin White and Tyler Ennis tonight.
Here’s how the Senators are expected to line up for this one.
Tkachuk-Tierney-Duclair
Paul-Pageau-Brown
Balcers-White-Ennis
Namestnikov-Anisimov-Sabourin
Chabot-Goloubef
Borowiecki-Jaros
Englund-Brannstrom
Craig Anderson gets the start in goal for Ottawa.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:38 PM with the game available on TSN5, RDS2 and on the internet, probably.
New year, same beautiful table.
| HEAD2HEAD |  |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 20-14-5 (45 pts) | 16-19-5 (37 pts) |
| Goals For | 3.49 (T-4th) | 2.78 (22nd) |
| Goals Against | 3.36 (28th) | 3.25 (T-23rd) |
| Power Play | 22.7% (9th) | 11.2% (31st) |
| Penalty Kill | 78.2% (22nd) | 81.7% (13th) |
| Shots For | 33.3 (7th) | 29.8 (24th) |
| Shots Against | 32.1 (21st) | 33.1 (29th) |
| Leading Scorers | Huberdeau- 53 pts Barkov- 45 pts Yandle- 30 pts |
Duclair- 31 pts Pageau- 29 pts Tkachuk- 24 pts |
| Starting Goalie | Sergei Bobrovsky 14-11-4 3.29 GAA, .897 sv% |
Craig Anderson 6-8-1 2.94 GAA, .907 sv% |
