On the heels of an impressive win over the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Ottawa Senators continue a five game home stand with a Sunday evening visit from the Calgary Flames.
If you’re as foolish as I am, you’re still keeping a close eye on the playoff race in the Eastern Conference. The Senators come into this evening’s game eight points back of the final spot in the East. They have at least one game in hand on the team’s ahead of them but it’s still a monumental task. SportsClubStats puts their odds of making the playoffs at 1.9%. With a win that could climb to nearly 3%. If they win their final 9 games, the odds climb to 92%.
So the scenario is pretty simple for the Ottawa Senators at this point….Just win.
While 13th place isn’t where they were hoping to be when this season started, there have been some signs of improvement from the rebuilding Calgary Flames down the stretch. They are a hardworking team that rarely takes a night off under Head Coach Bob Hartley. They’ve racked up 6 wins in their last 10 games, including wins over playoff bound teams in the Ducks, Rangers and Sharks.
Paul MacLean is expected to speak to the media at around 2:30 PM today so we won’t know the line up until then. Chris Phillips declared himself fit to play before the game against Chicago so there is a chance he draws back into the line up. No changes are expected up front. Assuming Ottawa goes with the same line up as Friday night vs. Chicago, here is how the Sens will line up for this one.
Michalek-Spezza-Hemsky
MacArthur-Turris-Stone
Hoffman-Zibanejad-Condra
Kassian-Smith-Neil
Methot-Karlsson
Cowen-Gryba
Wiercioch-Ceci
Robin Lehner is expected to get the start in the Ottawa goal. Puck drop at the Canadian Tire Centre is set for just after 5:00 PM.
