Game Day- Struggling Senators Host Stars

SensChirp November 3, 2013 183
Game Day- Struggling Senators Host Stars

After another mess of a performance on Friday night, the Ottawa Senators look to right the ship against Jamie Benn and the rest of the Dallas Stars.

The effort the Senators put in on Friday night was nowhere near good enough and Paul MacLean and his staff know it.  Twice they let two goals leads slip away and the team just gave up far too many chances in their own end.

This afternoon marks the return of veteran defenceman Sergei Gonchar, as he plays his first game back in Ottawa since being dealt to Dallas during the off season.  While  Gonchar has struggled at times in Dallas, the Senators have certainly felt his departure.  He was always a strong presence on the Sens blueline and had a sort of calming influence on the other defenceman.  They have certainly missed that through the first 13 games of this season.

A little different look for the Senators with Mark Borowiecki and Matt Kassian both expected to be in the line up. Erik Condra will miss this one with what the team is calling a lower body injury

Here is how the Senators are expected to line up.

MacArthur-Turris-Ryan
Michalek-Smith-Zibanejad
Conacher-Spezza-Neil
Kassian-Grant-Greening

Cowen-Karlsson
Phillips-Wiercioch
Borowiecki-Methot

Craig Anderson gets the start in the Ottawa goal.  Puck drop at the Canadian Tire Centre is set for just after 1:00 PM.