Last night’s 3-0 win against the Anaheim Ducks was probably Ottawa’s most impressive win of the season. They will have to be every bit as good if not better if they want to come away with points against the red-hot Los Angeles Kings.
After a bit of an inconsistent start, the Kings finally seem to be finding that next level to their game. They have won 8 straight, outscoring their opponents 26-13 in the process and given up just two goals in their last three games.
In the span of a month, they’ve gone from being a team on the playoff bubble to becoming a legitimate Stanley Cup favourite. Everyone sort of knew the Kings had the talent but it was just a matter of whether or not they would find their game in time. And now that they have, the rest of the Western Conference has to be a little bit on edge.
Meanwhile on the Senators side of things, the long-shot, never gonna happen, one in a million push for a playoff spot continued with a big win over the Ducks last night.
Three straight wins now, in fact. For the first time all season. A pretty modest winning streak really but for a team that has battled consistency issues since the puck dropped in October, it’s certainly something to be proud of. And it comes at a point in their season that is just barely keeps their faint playoff hopes alive.
One change to the Ottawa line up as Colin Greening returns for the Senators. He’ll take Matt Puempel’s spot in the line up. Same look on the blueline. Just an optional morning skate but here’s how the Senators are expected to line up for this one.
Hoffman-Zibanejad-Ryan
Michalek-Turris-Stone
Condra-Pageau-Lazar
Greening-Legwand-Chiasson
Methot-Karlsson
Wiercioch-Ceci
Borowiecki-Gryba
Andrew Hammond gets the start in the Ottawa goal. Puck drop is even later than last night, with this one not scheduled to start till 10:38 PM. Rest up, Sens fans.
