Safe to say that three game road trip exceeded everyone’s expectations.
Following last Saturday’s loss on home ice to the Leafs, there was a whole lot of hand-wringing going on. The Senators were temporarily bumped from a playoff spot and it was being treated like the beginning of the end for our dear Sens.
What a difference a few wins can make. Thanks to impressive road wins in St. Louis, Columbus and Toronto, the Senators are suddenly back in the driver’s seat in the Atlantic Division and have a chance to create a little separation with a win this evening.
It won’t come easy against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
While the Senators found a way to pick up two points on Thursday in Columbus, there were definitely some “bend but don’t break” moments defensively. There’s a reason this Blue Jackets team sits second overall and the Senators will have to be sharp to beat them twice in four days.
No morning skate today but Boucher met with the media and suggested he’ll go with the same line up as last night in Toronto. Mark Borowiecki misses another game on the blueline and Casey Bailey is the health scratch up front.
Here’s how the Senators are expected to line up.
Smith-Brassard-Stone
Dzingel-Turris-Ryan
Hoffman-Pageau-Pyatt
Kelly-Lazar-Neil
Methot-Karlsson
Phaneuf-Ceci
Claesson-Wideman
Mike Condon makes another start in the Ottawa goal. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 5:00 PM.
