Will the Ottawa Senators ever win a game?
Was that first minute goal scored by Ryan Dzingel the last goal they’ll score all year?
Are the Senators IN FACT a team?
These are the questions we are left with following Ottawa’s 4-1 preseason loss at the hands of Sportsnet’s new crush John Tavares and the Toronto Maple Leafs. There has been a lot of talk about how the Leafs will divide ice time among their superstars but you really have to wonder how Sportsnet will divide their undying love for both Tavares and Auston Matthews.
While the Senators did some good things throughout the game, they had a heck of a time making the most of their chances. Whether it was a bobbled puck, a cross bar/post or a remarkable save by the goalie, scoring became decidedly more difficult following the early goal by Dzingel.
Some good things for the Senators to build off of though, especially for the young guys pushing for one of the few available line up spots. Among the forwards, Colin White probably had the best night overall. Although like the team around him, he was unable to make the most of a couple great chances.
Logan Brown had moments of brilliance and same goes for Drake Batherson.
Drake Batherson with a little how are ya on Ron Hainsey 👀 pic.twitter.com/pY4RShxA5y
— Sens Prospects (@SensProspects) September 19, 2018
Nick Paul has permanently set up shop on the roster bubble for the past few seasons now and he’s probably in the mix again after a strong showing last night. Of the five guys, Alex Formenton was most underwhelming although even he had few strong shifts.
After one game, the OFFICIAL #ForwardBubbleGuy power rankings are White, Paul, Brown, Batherson, Formenton. We’ll see what Brady Tkachuk, Filip Chlapik and Rudy Balcers can do tonight.
On the blueline, both Chris Wideman and Dylan DeMelo had strong showings. With Karlsson gone, puck movement from the backhand is going to be a bit of a struggle at times but those two look more than ready to at least partially fill the void. Christian Wolanin looked good offensively too although he jumped up in a couple situations where it might have been better to hang back.
#Sens speak to the media following last night’s @hockeyville game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Lucan, ON. pic.twitter.com/oTOwFBLCYc
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) September 19, 2018
The good news is we get to do it all again tonight!
The Senators and Leafs play in the rematch at the Canadian Tire Centre with the likes of Mark Stone, Brady Tkachuk and the recently-acquired Chris Tierney all expected to make their preseason debut. And likely all on the same line.
Morning skate is scheduled for 10:30 AM so we’ll find out a full line up and combinations then.
Tkachuk-Tierney-Stone
Paajarvi-Smith-Pyatt
Balcers-Chlapik-Sexton
Labate-Carey-Skille
Lajoie-Ceci
Harpur-Jaros
Bergman-Englund
Percy-Aspirot
You can see the roster for the game here.
Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:30 PM. The game is available on TSN5, TSN4 and according to my sources, the illegal internet streams shall flow like water.
