After nearly a week off during the NHL All Star Break, there was hope that maybe the Ottawa Senators would return to the ice re-energized and ready to make a push for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
But that certainly didn’t appear to be the case on Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
They were a couple last-minute crossbars from stealing at least a point but it was a game they had no business being in. They were sloppy in their own end of the rink, slow through the neutral zone and mostly ineffective in the offensive zone. A mess, really.
They’ll be looking for a much better performance when they return to the Canadian Tire Centre to take on Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.
This was supposed to be the year the Oilers finally started to put it all together. Maybe not a lock for a playoff spot but with all those high draft picks and years of finishing at or near the bottom of the standings, Edmonton hoped to see significant improvement this year. Not even close.
The injury to Connor McDavid derailed them early in the season and they really haven’t been able to get it back on track since then. The Oilers currently sit 29th in the NHL, just two points clear of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Their -23 goal differential is also 29th and their road record, 6-16-4, is the worst in the league.
They remain as a cautionary tale for those that hope for a low finish each year. High-draft pick doesn’t always translate into immediate success.
It’s no secret that the Sens are a hurtin’ hockey team right now, with injuries to a number of key players. Looks like they could get a little boost tonight though with the return of Marc Methot. He was questionable ahead of the game vs. Pittsburgh but based on his spot at the morning skate (beside Karlsson), it looks like he’s ready to return. Here’s how Dave Cameron has his team lined up at the morning skate.
Hoffman-Zibanejad-Ryan
Smith-Pageau-Stone
Dziurzynski-Lazar-Chiasson
Prince-McCormick-Neil
Methot-Karlsson
Borowiecki-Ceci
Wiercioch-Wideman
Craig Anderson is expected to get the start in the Ottawa goal. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:30 PM.
