It’s been a weird start to the year for the Ottawa Senators.
Following the disaster that was last season, it seems like everybody is waiting for the bottom to fall out for this team. After the loss to the Leafs followed up by being outplayed by the Canucks, it looked like Ottawa was primed for a bit of a losing streak. Then they bounce back with one of their best periods of the season against Edmonton and ride that to another win. And now, with a win in Calgary, they have a chance to pick up 5 of 6 on a West Coast road trip. Almost unprecedented success for an Ottawa team out West.
But it certainly won’t come easy against the Calgary Flames.
Like Ottawa, the Flames are an extremely young team. Under veteran Head Coach Bob Hartley, they have quickly earned the reputation as one of the league’s hardest working teams. They are in just about every game they play and they make you fight for every inch of ice. Some experts had this team pegged for a lottery finish this year yet through the first 18 games of the season, they find themselves sitting 5th in the competitive Western Conference. Their offence has been paced by the incredible Mark Giordano, who has six goals and 20 points this year. It’s early, but he has to be considered a front runner for the Norris Trophy so far this season.
On the Senators side of things, it sounds like the plan is to go with the same line up as the other night in Edmonton. You could make a pretty strong case for one of the defenceman coming out in favour of Patrick Wiercioch but right now, MacLean feels like these 18 guys give the team the best chance to win. Barring a surprise at the morning skate, here’s how the Senators are expected to line up.
MacArthur-Turris-Chiasson
Michalek-Zibanejad-Ryan
Hoffman-Lazar-Stone
Smith-Legwand-Neil
Phillips-Karlsson
Cowen-Ceci
Borowiecki-Gryba
Craig Anderson gets the start in the Ottawa goal. The Flames will go with their backup, Karri Ramo. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 10:00 PM with the game available on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada. By the sounds of things, there will be another strong Sens Army presence at the game tonight in Calgary.
Look forward to hearing a couple Go Sens Go chants in another team’s barn.
***
-These Marc Methot rumours aren’t going anywhere. With the UFA-to-be inching towards a return to the Ottawa line up, it seems as though the rumour mill has once again kicked into high gear. There have been no talks on a new contract and according to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Red Wings, Ducks, Panther and Oilers are all interested. It’s a strange situation where no team is going to deal for Methot unless he’s playing well and if he’s playing well, Ottawa could probably use him as much or more than any of those other teams.
The stalled contract talks make it really difficult to know how much legitimacy there is to the trade rumours. Methot wants to stay here and has now missed a good portion of his contract year with an injury. And at the same time, the Senators have seen that another left shot defenceman could certainly help out their blueline. The Senators think Methot is a $4 million a year defenceman. Methot thinks he’s closer to $5.5. They closed the gap a little bit but obviously things turned ugly this off season. Still seems like in the end, it’s in the best interest of both sides to find some common ground. Methot spoke to the media for the first time in months and honestly, seemed a little uncomfortable talking about his injury and a potential return to the line up. Until he’s back and playing, trade rumours and extension talks are premature.
