As if Tuesday night wasn’t enough, Thursday figures to be another emotional night at the Canadian Tire Centre.
After suiting up for 126 games in the red and black (and occasionally gold and silver too, for some reason), Dylan DeMelo makes his long awaited return to the Nation’s Capital. Sens fans have been through some challenging nights over the last couple years but this one might be the toughest.
The Ottawa Senators host Dylan DeMelo and the Winnipeg Jets. Even as I type the words, it hardly seems real.
Looking back on DeMelo’s 17 months with the organization, there are so many moments that stand out. There was that goal he scored last year. You remember the one? Shot it right into the net.
This year though, he has taken his game to another level. Those clean, crisp breakout passes.
Those moments where he stood in the correct place in the defensive zone.
The good ol’ days.
The Senators are asking fans to be in their seats 19 minutes and 32 seconds ahead of puck drop, in honour of DeMelo’s average ice time in a Sens jersey. A fitting tribute.
In hindsight, I probably should have waited to find out if DeMelo was actually playing tonight before writing this post.
Seriously though, Dylan DeMelo was a solid player that was well-liked by fans and by his teammates. Hope everything goes well for him in Winnipeg and wherever he lands as a free agent this summer. Oh and if he does play tonight, he his is absolutely going to score his first goal of the season. That’s just how it works.
Just an optional game day skate for the Senators this morning so we’ll have to wait until DJ Smith meets with the media at 10:45 AM to confirm the line up. Based on his comments yesterday, it sounds like there’s a chance Jayce Hawrlyuk makes his Sens debut. Really happy I get to type that name and not attempt to say it.
A best guess at the line up.
Tkachuk-Pageau-Duclair
Namestnikov-Tierney-Brown
Ennis-White-Batherson
Paul-Anisimov-Hawryluk
Chabot-Hainsey
Reilly-Zaitsev
Englund-Goloubef
Marcus Hogberg is expected to get the start in goal.
Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:30 PM with the game available on TSN5, RDS2, TSN3 and will be streamed live on DylanDeMelo.com.
A closer look at tonight’s match-up.
| HEAD2HEAD |  |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 31-25-5 (67 pts) | 21-28-11 (53 pts) |
| Goals For | 2.98 (17th) | 2.72 (23rd) |
| Goals Against | 3.00 (T-12th) | 3.32 (T-28th) |
| Power Play | 19.3% (20th) | 15.5% (28th) |
| Penalty Kill | 75.7% (27th) | 78.7% (21st) |
| Shots For | 31.3 (18th) | 30.4 (24th) |
| Shots Against | 32.9 (27th) | 33.5 (29th) |
| DeMelos | 1 | 0 |
| Leading Scorers | Connor- 61 pts Scheifele- 61 pts Laine- 56 pts |
Pageau- 40 pts Tkachuk- 38 pts Duclair- 37 pts |
| Starting Goalie | Laurent Brossoit 5-7-0 3.48 GAA, .888 sv% |
Marcus Hogberg 3-6-7 2.96 GAA, .911 sv% |
