Two teams fighting it out at the bottom of the Eastern Conference square off in the Swamp.
Probably not the best sales pitch for tonight’s game. Let me try that again. Two teams battle for their playoff lives in New Jersey! Yea, that’s a little better.
Like Ottawa, the Devils have had a hard time with consistency most of the year. Their lineup, which is the oldest in the National Hockey League, has struggled to produce offence. They’ve scored just 113 times so far this season, which is good enough for 2.20 goals per game. Only Carolina and Buffalo have scored less.
Meanwhile for Ottawa, playoff hopes are fading rapidly. And actually, it’s reached the point where it’s damn near impossible. Unless of course they can reel off ten straight wins. They’ve already won the first one. Only nine more to go. If this season-saving winning streak is going to happen, it has to be now. When I look at the schedule, I see nine games that the Senators are capable of winning. So until they lose those, I will foolishly hang on to that last glimmer of hope.
The Senators just wrapped up their morning skate in New Jersey. Alex Chiasson did not make the trip with the team which means no line up decisions to be made up front. On defence, Chris Phillips and Eric Gryba are the healthy scratches. That means a third pairing of Patrick Wiercioch and Mark Borowiecki, with Borowiecki playing the right side. Interested to see how that pairing looks tonight.
Here’s how the Sens are expected to line up for this one.
MacArthur-Zibanejad-Ryan
Hoffman-Turris-Lazar
Michalek-Legwand-Stone
Condra-Pageau-Neil
Methot-Karlsson
Cowen-Ceci
Wiercioch-Borowiecki
Robin Lehner gets the start in the Ottawa goal as Craig Anderson continues to nurse an injury to his hand. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:00 PM with the game available on TSN5.
