For the last time this season, the Ottawa Senators will host a game in front of their fans at the Canadian Tire Centre.
When the team leaves the ice following tonight’s loss to the Winnipeg Jets, they’ll do so knowing that the team that skates back out there this coming fall will look vastly different.
So if you’re heading to the game tonight, make sure you say your good byes to the 2017/2018 Ottawa Senators.
Try not to get emotional.
And as easy as it will be to bid this year’s team farewell, tonight’s game will also feature this lingering concern that we might be watching Erik Karlsson play his last game on home ice for the Ottawa Senators.
It’s no secret that this summer is a huge one for Karlsson and the Senators with three obvious options on the table- longterm extension, trade or at least starting to play out the final year on his deal.
Ottawa’s preference is an extension and they have made that clear publicly in the last couple weeks. Easier said than done though.
Which is why when Erik Karlsson pulls on that red 65 tonight, everyone will be considering the possibility that it just might be the last time. Keep an eye out to see if he grabs that puck at the end of the game.
While all eyes will be on Karlsson, this will be another game that the majority of the fan base will actually be hoping for a loss. Fun, right?! The Senators still sit 30th overall with three games left to go and have demonstrated elite level tanking down the stretch.
They are a couple points back of the Coyotes and three clear of the Buffalo Sabres with a basement battle looming on Thursday. The Sabres are in Toronto tonight.
We’ll find out more about the Ottawa line up later this morning. There was some speculation Mark Stone might be available for but we won’t know for sure until the 10:30 AM game day skate.
A best guess for now.
Dzingel-Duchene-Ryan
Hoffman-Pageau-Pyatt
Paajarvi-Smith-White
McCormick-Chlapik-Burrows
Chabot-Karlsson
Borowiecki-Ceci
Wolanin -Claesson
Craig Anderson is the likely starter. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 19:30 PM.
