It’s safe to say that this coming week has the potential to be a defining one for the Ottawa Senators.
It’s far too early in the season to be using the “must-win” label but having dropped five straight, Paul MacLean’s team is desperately searching for a spark that can help turn things around. They have a chance to do that tomorrow night when they visit their new Eastern Conference rival, the Columbus Blue Jackets.
After a short one game road trip, the Senators return home to play five straight at the Canadian Tire Centre, all against Eastern Conference opponents. Obviously a critical stretch for this hockey team.
The Sens were back on the practice ice today and not surprisingly, did a little more line juggling. The MacArthur-Turris-Ryan trio remained in tact, while Spezza skated with new wingers in Colin Greening and Mika Zibanejad. Zack Smith was on a line with Michalek and Neil while Kassian-Grant-Conacher made up the team’s fourth line.
The way MacLean has juggled the lines lately we won’t know the exact combinations until the puck drops tomorrow night. And even, they are likely to change after a couple shifts.
No big surprise but goaltender Craig Anderson was not on the ice this morning after being carried off the ice on a stretcher late in yesterday’s game. Carleton Raven goalie Ryan Dube was on the ice filling in for Anderson today.
The team is calling Anderson “day to day” for now but he will not make the trip to Columbus. The team will recall Nathan Lawson from Binghamton to dress as Robin Lehner’s back up in Columbus.
The Daily Chirp- A struggling team means that today’s Daily Chirp is a little more current than the last couple. Rumours were swirling a little bit over the weekend that the Sens may have talked to the Phoenix Coyotes about Milan Michalek. The Yotes need wingers and have plenty of defenceman, which is an area of weakness for the Senators right now. Something to keep an eye on.
