The Ottawa Senators put together one of their best efforts of the season on Tuesday night against the Detroit Red Wings. They’ll have to repeat that kind of effort against one of the best teams from the Western Conference in the Minnesota Wild.
Tonight is the second game in a four game homestand for the Senators. Ottawa has posted a 3-0-2 record at the Canadian Tire Centre and are the only team in the NHL that has yet to lose at home in regulation.
The Wild have posted a 7-4-0 record in their first eleven games which has them sitting in 10th in the West but a closer look at the numbers shows the Wild are off to a pretty impressive start.
Their +14 goal differential is 2nd in the NHL, they are 4th in goals for per game at 3.18, 5th in goals against at 2.00, 2nd in shots for at 34.9 and 1st in shots against allowing just 22.8 a game. The Senators catch a bit of a break tonight though as the Wild will be without their leading scorer Zach Parise. Parise has 10 points in 11 games.
The Senators are on the ice for their morning skate and it looks like there will be a couple changes to the lineup that won on Tuesday. Chris Phillips left the game vs. Detroit and is not expected to play tonight. Mark Borowiecki is healthy and ready to return though and will draw in for Phillips and start on a pairing with Erik Karlsson. Alex Chiasson is back which means Erik Condra returns to the pressbox. Here’s how Paul MacLean has his team lined up at the morning skate.
MacArthur-Turris-Ryan
Michalek-Zibanejad-Chiasson
Hoffman-Lazar-Stone
Smith-Legwand-Neil
Borowiecki-Karlsson
Cowen-Ceci
Wiercioch-Gryba
Craig Anderson is expected to get the start for Ottawa. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:30 PM with the game available on TSN5 and on the radio at TSN1200. Still some tickets left too if you’re thinking about catching this one in person. I know I’ll be there, probably signing autographs and eating $1 dollar hot dogs.
Enjoy the game everyone.
