There’s an old saying in sports and it goes something like this – “To be the man, you gotta beat the man”.
Pretty sure Ric Flair yelled it at someone back in the 80’s and it just kinda stuck. It makes sense though. If you have designs on being one of the top teams, you have to be able to show that you can beat the top teams in the league. The Senators rallied in Tampa Bay on Thursday night and dominated a team that many have tabbed as the favourites in the Atlantic Division this year. Now they get to take a swing at the defending Stanley Cup Champions.
The Ottawa Senators visit the Florida Panthers on a Saturday night in Sunrise.
Despite being down a couple key players, the Panthers have just kind of picked up where they left off this season. Even without Barkov and Tkachuk, Florida has jumped out to a 2-0-0 record and let it be known that they’ll be a force in the Atlantic again this year. Surprising, I know.
Meanwhile the Senators will be looking to pick up where they left off on Thursday night.
It seems like the Sens plan to go with the same lineup. Both Drake Batherson and Tyler Kleven are close to returning but it may have to wait until the Home Opener. Still a few tickets left for that one by the way if you’re looking to get weird on a Monday afternoon.
Travis Green said “he’s not sure yet” on Batherson specifically. Jordan Spence is also an option to come in on defence but it might be tough to change things after the other night. Kurtis MacDermid was a last minute addition on Thursday and it seems likely they’ll want him in there again versus a tough Florida team. Plenty of punchable faces on that team.
We’ll confirm the arrangement later this morning. And then probably again right before puck drop.
Tkachuk-Stützle-Zetterlund
Perron-Cozens-Amadio
Greig-Pinto-Giroux
Cousins-Eller-MacDermid/Lycksell
Sanderson-Zub
Chabot-Jensen
Sebrango-Matinpalo/Spence
Linus Ullmark gets the start in goal.
Game time is scheduled for just a shade after 7:00 PM. Sportsnet One has the TV broadcast and TSN1200 has the radio call. Have it on good authority there will be a handful of illegal internet streams available a little closer to game time.
Zub, Zub, Zuuuuuub, Zub, Zuuub, Zuuuub, Zuuuuuub, Zub, Zub, Zub.
