Home ice has not been overly kind to the Ottawa Senators so far this season.
In three games, they’ve lost once in regulation and twice in the shootout. And even though their game was significantly better against the Predators and Devils, they need to find a way to play the full sixty or sixty-five minutes.
They’ll be looking for that complete effort tonight against the Arizona Coyotes.
Heading into this season, the Coyotes looked like they might be a little bit of a push-over. This is obviously a rebuilding hockey team but despite the fact that expectations are pretty low for this team, they’ve actually looked pretty impressive in the early going. They have a 3-3-1 record on the season including a 2-1-1 record away from home.
Martin Hanzal leads the team with nine points, all assists, through the first seven games and the rookie duo of Anthony Duclair and Max Domi have been turning heads in the early going. Their line up is obviously a little thin but they certainly aren’t a team the Senators should take lightly.
A couple changes for the Sens heading into this one. Marc Methot is healthy and ready to play which means Chris Wideman returns to the pressbox. Was a little bit surprised by this decision to be quite honest. I thought Wideman did enough against the Devils to warrant a longer look. You could have made a pretty strong case for Mark Borowiecki, Jared Cowen or even Patrick Wiercioch coming out of the line up.
One change up front too as Mike Hoffman misses tonight’s game with a lower body injury. Max McCormick, who was so impressive in rookie camp and the preseason, will suit up for his first NHL game as a result.
Here’s how Dave Cameron had his team lined up at the morning skate.
Lazar-Turris-Stone
Michalek-Zibanejad-Ryan
McCormick-Pageau-Chiasson
Prince-Smith-Neil
Methot-Karlsson
Wiercioch-Ceci
Cowen-Borowiecki
Craig Anderson gets the start in the Ottawa goal. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:00 PM.
