Game Day- Senators Look to Bounce Back in Anaheim

SensChirp December 6, 2017 2,179

That game against the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday night was completely unacceptable.

Of all the games the Senators have lost this season, that may have been the ugliest.  They were completely dominated for 60 minutes and at times, it looked like the Jets were playing a completely different sport.  Ottawa had no business even being in the same rink as them that night.

There have been many low points during this recent slide but that had to be rock bottom. Especially because it followed what looked like a building block performance against the New York Islanders. One step forward and two giants steps back.

Guy Boucher recognized it and for the first time this season, demanded more from his hockey team.

Off-days and rest have been the name of the game for the Sens early in this season but yesterday, the Senators finally put in the work.  Boucher led his team through a 90 minute practice that some players called the toughest since Boucher took over as Head Coach.  With an emphasis on work ethic and attention to detail, the second year bench boss laid into his team on a couple of occasions, ending the practice with an apparently emphatic message.

Tonight, we’ll find out if Guy Boucher’s message is still getting through. Tonight, we’ll find out if there’s still some fight left in this group.

Important game? It’s more than that. It’s….THE BIGGEST GAME OF THE YEAR.

The Ottawa Senators kick off a three game swing through California with a game against the Anaheim Ducks.

Like Ottawa, the Ducks have had an up and down start to their year.  They have been decimated by injuries, including their two top centres in Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler.  They made a trade with the Devils to help fill the void but they are still a pretty thin group up front.  Before they picked up Adam Henrique, they had former-Senator draft pick Derek Grant playing first line minutes.

The Ducks have lost three straight, including a 4-3 shootout decision to the Vegas Golden Knights last night.

On Ottawa’s side of things, there are a couple decisions to be made regarding tonight’s line up.

Mark Stone was sick and missed practice yesterday but he is expected to play.  No call-up this morning so if he can’t go, Boucher would have to go with 11 forwards and 7 defenceman.  Which he may do anyway.  Cody Ceci, who is second on the team in ice time, was lined up as the 7th defenceman at practice. Either he or Freddy Claesson would be the healthy scratch candidates, should they decide to go with six defenceman.

The Senators are on the West Coast so we’ll have to wait until a little later to find out the line up.  Here’s how they looked yesterday.

Ryan-Brassard-Stone
Smith-Duchene-Dzingel
Hoffman-Pageau-Dumont
Pyatt-Thompson-Burrows

Harpur-Karlsson
Phaneuf-Chabot
Oduya-Claesson
Ceci

Craig Anderson gets the start for Ottawa after a strong performance in relief on Sunday.  Puck drop is scheduled for just after 10:00 PM.

 
Record 9-10-6 (24 pts) 11-11-6 (28 pts)
Goals For 2.92 (17th) 2.61 (28th)
Goals Against 3.28 (26th) 2.93 (T-12th)
Power Play 16.8% (25th) 18.8% (16th)
Penalty Kill 76.7% (25th) 82.1% (9th)
Shots For/Shots Against 30.4 (22nd)
30.5 (8th)
29.8 (26th)
36.6 (31st)
Scoring Leaders Stone- 25 pts
Hoffman- 20 pts
Brassard- 17 pts
Perry- 19 pts
Rakell- 18 pts
Montour- 14 pts
Team Shooting % 9.59% (13th) 8.68% (21st)
Team Save % .893% (29th) .920% (5th)