He’s baaaaaaaaaack.
For the first time since that bizarre shoulder injury on October 22nd, Josh Norris will suit up for the Ottawa Senators. It was something we took for granted when the season started. You know…that we would have that first line centre with 40-goal potential available at all times.
It didn’t turn out that way and it was kind of amazing how quickly we all adjusted to the idea of Sens team without him. When people talk about the roller coaster of a first half, they often don’t spend enough time on the loss of Norris.
For a Senators team that lacked a bit of depth down the middle coming in, losing a first line centre was a crippling blow. Not just because they don’t have Norris but because every other centre on the depth chart is playing an elevated role. And because centres are so critically important in this league, it has a cascading effect on every line really.
There aren’t many (any?) teams that could meet internal and external expectations without their first line centre for three months.
Tonight- we get a glimpse at what it should have been. Josh Norris makes his return when the Senators host Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Excuse me for a moment, but SensChirp HAS A BEER. And you can come drink that beer with me on January 27th.
Now where was I?
Anway, the return of Norris has been foreshadowed for some time but when the Senators put Jake Lucchini on waivers yesterday, that made it clear that the time was nigh. Norris has since been removed from the injured reserve list and is back into a regular rotation at the morning skate.
In a bit of a twist, Mathieu Joseph is also healthy but actually wont be in the lineup tonight. DJ Smith went so far as to call him a healthy scratch but wouldn’t elaborate on why he’s not in the lineup. Interesting.
Here’s how the Senators are expected to line up for this one.
Tkachuk-Stützle-Batherson
DeBrincat-Norris-Giroux
Brassard-Pinto-Gambrell
Kelly-Kastelic-Watson
Chabot-Bernard Docker
Sanderson-Hamonic
Brannstrom-Holden
Cam Talbot didn’t take the game day skate which suggests he’s the starter tonight. Here’s hoping the starter starts better in this one.
Puck drop is scheduled for just a shade after 7:00 PM in Ottawa. 7:08 PM if you really want to be specific about it. The game is available on Sportsnet, TVA and on the radio at TSN1200. Streaming is an option if you dare or, head down to the CTC and see this all play out in real life.
And now a closer look at this evening’s match up via the HEAD2HEAD table.
Sorry, sorry- I’m just really excited about this beer.
