As we’ve all learned the hard way over the past few weeks, there is no such thing as “comfortable” in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
After a disappointing loss to the Montreal Canadiens followed by a humbling loss to the Colorado Avalanche, the Ottawa Senators bounced back in a big way against the New Jersey Devils. With just 13 games left on the schedule, there’s still a ton of work to do.
It has to continue in the City of Good Neighbours. The Senators visit the Sabres on Tuesday night in Buffalo.
Considering the way the last game went and the standings and the opportunity that lies ahead, it’s pretty safe to label this one as another THE BIGGEST GAME OF THE YEAR. Until the next one.
Despite having the “easiest” remaining schedule, this stretch still feels sufficiently daunting for the Senators. They’ll play three of their next four games on the road, including stops in Buffalo and Detroit before returning home to host Columbus next Saturday. Then they go to Pittsburgh on Sunday. No powerhouses in there obviously but still a weird combination of teams in the mix or playing loose. At this point, I don’t know what an “easy” game would even look like.
Could be some shuffling the lineup ahead of this one. Nick Jensen was back on the ice for practice yesterday, while Artem Zub was given the day off. The team is hoping Jensen can play but we’ll find out later this AM. Could be a new look in the forward lines too. Stephen Halliday has been recalled from Belleville and is an option if Brady Tkachuk can’t go.
We’ll confirm this later this morning.
Tkachuk-Stützle-Zetterlund
Perron-Cozens-Batherson
Greig-Pinto-Giroux
Highmore-Gaudette-Amadio
Sanderson-Zub
Chabot-Jensen
Kleven-Matinpalo
No word on a starting goalie yet.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:08 PM in Buffalo. The game is on TSN5 and on the radio at TSN1200. Streams will be shared in the comment section closer to game time.
I cannot stress this last part enough…
GO SENS GO
