With 17 games left in the regular season, it feels like we’re all still getting to know this year’s version of the Ottawa Senators.
During the first five months, there were signs. Consistency was a problem but it was clear that this team was different than the others. It looked like they were willing to play the right way. Bad habits would creep in at times, slumps would happen but the difference with this year’s version is they could right the ship when things started to go south.
The thing is, we were learning too. As fans, we projected eight years of disappointment onto this group, not always fully appreciating just how far they had come.
But since the calendar rolled over to March and meaningful games truly kicked in, this year’s team has flicked the switch. “Every night is a Game 7”, they’ve reminded us. There’s a ton of work left to do and it’s only going to get tougher from here but it looks like they know what it takes now.
17 games to go.
The Ottawa Senators look to keep it rolling as they travel 450 km Southwest on Saturday night.
One change on the back end as Travis Hamonic draws in for Nick Jensen. Jensen has clearly been playing through something the last little bit but the team has decided a couple days off may be in order. Brady Tkachuk missed the last six minutes of the game against Boston but he’s good to go tonight.
Here’s how the Senators are expected to line up for this one.
Tkachuk-Stützle-Giroux
Perron-Cozens-Batherson
Greig-Pinto-Amadio
Highmore-Gaudette-Zetterlund
Sanderson-Zub
Chabot-Hamonic
Kleven-Matinpalo
Linus Ullmark gets the start for Ottawa.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:08 PM. The game is available CBC, Sportsnet and on the radio at TSN1200. Streams should be available in the comment section closer to game time.
Go. Sens. Go.
