So apparently there’s a hockey game being played tonight?
This afternoon’s deal for Alex Burrows has sent the fan base into a wee bit of a tailspin but thankfully there’s a game to serve as a temporary distraction.
If you’re looking to kill some time, definitely don’t read through the 2000 comments posted since the trade was announced.
Ottawa plays the second game of a crucial back to back in the Sunrise state. The Senators were able to give themselves a bit of a cushion over the Panthers with that regulation win last night. With the standings as tight as they are, anytime you can win a head to head match-up against a team your battling for position, it’s a huge boost.
Ottawa will be looking for more of the same tonight when they face a Tampa Bay team fading from playoff contention in the East.
While Steve Yzerman suggested otherwise during a morning press conference to discuss giving away Ben Bishop, the Tampa Bay Lightning are just barely in the playoff picture right now. Seven points back of the Leafs with a game in hand. Tampa Bay has a ton of talent but a combination of injuries and inconsistency have held them back all year. If they’re going to make a playoff push it’s going to have to start pretty soon.
The Senators should be facing a well-rested and desperate Lightning team tonight.
Guy Boucher met with the media in Tampa and indicated that Chris Neil has a broke finger during last night’s fight with Shawn Thornton an will miss a week. Mike Blunden takes his spot in the lineup.
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Mike Condon gets the start for Ottawa. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:30 PM.
-The Senators provided an update on the injured Andrew Hammond this afternoon and it’s not good news. Hammond suffered a torn labrum in his hip and he’ll require surgery. The initial timeline for his recovery is being set at three months. It’s a painful end for what has been a disastrous year for Hammond. Significant groin, ankle and hip injuries in the span of five months would be devastating for any player but especially for a goaltender. Hammond has one year left on his contract but at this point it’s looking like a long road back to the NHL for the Hamburglar.
-Safe to assume that deal caught everyone off guard. We all knew Dorion was looking for a forward and we knew the prices were ridiculous but I think that’s more than anyone was expecting to give up. Alex Burrows is a significant upgrade in the bottom six and will help this team down the stretch but losing Dahlen hurts. Although listening to Dorion talk, perhaps it doesn’t hurt the organization as much as it hurt some fans. There seems to be some disagreement about his ceiling as a prospect but his breakout year in Sweden had obviously caught the attention of the fan base. The reaction was a little excessive at times but obviously Dorion paid a steep price. Burrows is expected to join the team back in Ottawa.
#Sens General Manager Pierre Dorion addresses the media regarding newly acquired Ottawa Senator @aburr14. pic.twitter.com/vNaTS5VYhq
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) February 27, 2017
