After a dramatic third period comeback and an OT winner that took all of seven seconds, this team has given themselves a pretty tough act to follow.
And it certainly won’t come easy against the best team in the National Hockey League.
Twenty-four hours after a 5-4 win over the San Jose Sharks, the Ottawa Senators are right back at it as they welcome Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos and the high-flying Tampa Bay Lightning to the Canadian Tire Centre.
There are no easy circumstances to face this Tampa team but this is probably as tough as it gets.
Not only are the Senators on a back to back, but the Lightning were in Ottawa last night and should be a well-rested group. Add to that the fact that they are coming off a rare loss in their last game, and they’ll likely be a motivated group too.
It goes without saying but the Sens will need to be at their absolute best to hang with the Bolts tonight.
One line up note ahead of this one. Nate Thompson left last night’s game in the first period and won’t be available.
Earlier this morning, the team announced that they have recalled Colin White and he is expected to make his season debut vs. the Lightning. It’s a great opportunity for White who has been playing some better hockey of late in Belleville. Will be interesting to see what he can do at the NHL level. Although he’ll definitely be in a bottom six role to start.
No game day skate today but a best guess at the line up for now.
Dzingel-Brassard-Stone
Hoffman-Duchene-Ryan
Pyatt-Pageau-Smith
Burrows-White-Dumont
Chabot-Karlsson
Phaneuf-Ceci
Harpur-Oduya
Craig Anderson gets the start in goal for Ottawa. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:00 PM.
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 |
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|---|---|---|
| Record | 29-8-3 (59 pts) | 13-17-9 (35 pts) |
| Goals For | 3.63 (1st) | 2.67 (26th) |
| Goals Against | 2.33 (2nd) | 3.33 (28th) |
| Power Play | 24.8% (3rd) | 16.2% (24th) |
| Penalty Kill | 79.7% (23rd) | 76.1% (28th) |
| Shots For/Shots Against | 33.0 (10th) 31.5 (12th) |
30.7 (23rd) 31.4 (11th) |
| Leading Scorers | Kucherov- 57 pts Stamkos- 50 pts Point- 36 pts |
Stone- 37 pts Hoffman- 28 pts Karlsson- 27 pts |
| Team Shooting % | 11.0% (1st) | 8.7% (T-19th) |
| Team Save % | .926 (2nd) | .894% (29th) |
