We all knew this year was going to be challenging for the Ottawa Senators.
One look at the roster heading into the 2019/2020 season and you knew there were going to be some long nights. In a rebuilding year where the obvious yet unstated goal is a high draft pick in June, it can be tough to stay engaged.
Not for the players. They’re fighting for more ice time and for jobs beyond this season. But for fans, when you enter each game with that lingering feeling that a loss is better than a win, it can take some of the fun out of it.
The only way to make up for that lack of competition entering the game is by finding ways to keep the games interesting.
And the Ottawa Senators have certainly done that this season. Saturday afternoon’s game against the Flyers was about as entertaining as a meaningless game in early December can be.
Plenty of chances. Plenty of hatred on both sides. And a close game to the bitter end.
I would happily watch 52 more of those. Sens/Flyers meet again on December 21st, by the way.
After a five game road trip where they put up a 1-4-0 record, the Ottawa Senators return home to face the Atlantic-leading Boston Bruins.
There aren’t many teams that have excelled against the Bruins over the last few season but it has been especially difficult for the Senators. They’ve lost to them twice this year. They lost all four head to head games last season. Same thing the year before actually.
Ten straight losses at the hands of the Bruins. Outscored by an almost 4 to 1 margin. The Bruins power play has clicked at just over 40% in those games while Ottawa’s is at less than 6%.
Playoffs though, Boston. Playoffs.
Goes without saying but the Senators will need to be at their absolute best to have any chance against the Bruins tonight. Even without Patrice Bergeron in the line up, that top unit of Brad Marchand, David Krejci and David Pastrnak can be a handful.
DJ Smith will have his team on the ice for a game day skate at 10:30 AM this morning. We’ll assume same line up for now.
Tkachuk-Pageau-C.Brown
Ennis-Anisimov-White
Namestnikov-Tierney-Duclair
Paul-L.Brown-Davidsson
Chabot-DeMelo
Borowiecki-Zaitsev
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Marcus Hogberg was recalled from Belleville this morning and is expected to back up the starter Anders Nilsson. Craig Anderson left Saturday’s game with an injury.
Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:30 PM with the game available on TSN5. Keep an eye on the comment section for links to stream the game.
Here is the HEAD2HEAD table, which provides you with additional information on tonight’s match-up.
| HEAD2HEAD |  |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 20-4-6 (46 pts) | 12-17-1 (25 pts) |
| Goals For | 3.50 (5th) | 2.63 (T-23rd) |
| Goals Against | 2.30 (2nd) | 3.13 (21st) |
| Power Play | 28.4% (3rd) | 9.6% (31st) |
| Penalty Kill | 84.6% (T-6th) | 82.6% (12th) |
| Shots For | 31.2 (T-17th) | 30.2 (22nd) |
| Shots Against | 31.3 (13th) | 31.9 (T-20th) |
| Leading Scorers | Marchand- 44 pts Pastrnak- 43 pts Bergeron- 24 pts |
Pageau- 22 pts Duclair- 19 pts Brown- 18 pts |
| Starting Goalie | Tuukka Rask 13-2-3 2.14 GAA, .929 sv% |
Anders Nilsson 7-8-1 3.10 GAA .910 sv% |
