It’s here.
It’s finally here.
After months without hockey and a solid two weeks of hand-wringing over every possible lineup iteration, we’ve finally arrived at the start of the regular season.
Game. On.
While the excitement of a new season is always there, expectations for this year’s team seem surprisingly modest. Experts have their doubts and so do most fans. On paper, the top end of this line up is as good as any in the Atlantic Division but it’s still tough to know what to expect.
A preseason injury to Clarke MacArthur may have taken some of the wind out of our collective sails but there’s still plenty to be excited about on this year’s team.
A healthy Kyle Turris. A new number one (B) centre in Derick Brassard. Two of the league’s top wingers in Mark Stone and Mike Hoffman. A 25 goal 2nd /3rd line left-winger. Real-life penalty killers named Chris Kelly and Tom Pyatt. The debut of the organization’s toPpPPp prospect. A 40 point third line centre (Paaaageauuuuu, Pageau, Pageau, Pageauuuuuu). A second pairing defenceman not named Jared Cowen or Patrick Wiercioch (DION!). A legitimate starting goalie named Craig something something. Annnnnnnnd the best defenceman in the entire National Hockey League.
Oh and an all new coaching staff which includes Guy Boucher (maybe the smartest man on the planet) and Stanley Cup Champion Marc Crawford.
Still not even a little bit excited? Maybe this whole being a Sens fan thing isn’t for you then.
The opposition tonight is the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Maybe you haven’t heard but they have Auston Matthews now. The Leafs finished in dead last in the NHL last season and they have a roster that could very well land them down there again this season. Mike Babcock is gonna coach the hell out of this team (and remind us often how hard he’s coaching this team) but there are still some holes on the roster that Colin Greening and Jared Cowen simply cannot fill.
Sure, sure, you’re all going to remind me they’re going to be good someday and how jealous you are of their rebuild. But the Toronto Maple Leafs suck. And I’ll continue to remind everyone that they suck until they don’t suck. Then I’ll just ignore them completely.
Morning skate will get underway shortly and the line up will be confirmed shortly after. Here’s how the Senators are expected to line up.
Hoffman-Turris-Stone
Smith-Brassard-Ryan
Varone-Pageau-Pyatt
Dzingel-Kelly-Neil
Methot-Karlsson
Phaneuf-Ceci
Borowiecki-Wideman
Craig Anderson gets the start in the Ottawa goal. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:00 PM (ACTUALLY 1:00 AM in Germany).
If I may…GO SENS GO!
