After what felt like an eternity, the Ottawa Senators finally return to action tonight at the Canadian Tire Centre.
It feels like so much has happened since we last saw our Senators. The Blue Jays went from World Series favourites, to completely and utterly doomed and back to life again. The leaves have completely changed colour and so too has the Government. And you know what? We’ve all changed a little bit.
Okay, okay…it’s only been four days. But gosh I sure did miss Senators’ hockey.
After a hard week of practice, the Sens look to build on a solid Saturday night effort when they play host to the New Jersey Devils.
Historically one of the league’s most boring teams, the New Jersey Devils have entered a strange rebuild of sorts. They don’t have a ton of young talent on the roster but it’s pretty clear this isn’t a team expected to contend in the Eastern Conference. They are 2-3-1 through their first six games with those two victories coming in their last two games.
As much as I’d like to assume this Devils team presents an easy opportunity for two points, recent wins over the Rangers and Coyotes show this is not a team Ottawa can take lightly.
Especially since the Senators will be without a couple of key players. Clarke MacArthur and Marc Methot will both miss tonight’s game as they deal with lingering concussion symptoms. Methot is close to a return but the team understandably wants to be cautious with him. Not timetable for MacArthur at this point.
With Methot out of the line up, Mark Borowiecki gets another opportunity to pair with Erik Karlsson. It’s not a great pair on paper but Cameron really doesn’t have much choice at this point. Here’s how the Sens lined up at the morning skate.
Hoffman-Turris-Stone
Michalek-Zibanejad-Ryan
Chiasson-Pageau-Lazar
Prince-Smith-Neil
Borowiecki-Karlsson
Wiercioch-Ceci
Cowen-Wideman
Andrew Hammond makes his first start of the season in the Ottawa goal. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:30 PM.
