After a spirited affair last night at the Canadian Tire Centre, the Ottawa Senators will close out their preseason with a rematch against the Canadiens at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
At this point, you would assume many of the tough decisions facing Paul MacLean have been all but made but there’s still one last chance for some of the bubble players to step up and grab the attention of the Coaching staff.
In particular, Mike Hoffman and Curtis Lazar will have one last opportunity to prove they belong in that opening day line up in Nashville. Lazar will finally be moved to the wing for the first time in camp while Mike Hoffman gets a chance to skate alongside Kyle Turris. Sort of wonder where Colin Greening sits heading into the final preseason game. He’ll skate on a line with two guys likely headed for Binghamton after this game. Not a good sign for Greening. On defence, this is a big game for Patrick Wiercioch as he auditions for a spot in the opening night line up. Right now it looks like Phillips is likely going to get that spot beside Cody Ceci but a strong effort from Wiercioch could force the Coach’s hand.
Here is how the Senators are expected to line up for this one
Hoffman-Turris-Stone
Michalek-Zibanejad-Ryan
Smith-Legwand-Lazar
Greening-Pageau-Robinson
Cowen-Karlsson
Wiercioch-Ceci
Borowiecki-Gryba
Craig Anderson will play the full sixty minutes in the Ottawa goal.
