On the heels of one of their biggest wins of the season, the Ottawa Senators are right back at it against the Winnipeg Jets less than 24 hours later.
Goes without saying but those two points over the Leafs on Saturday night were huge. Not only did it bump the Leafs from the playoff picture entirely but it put the Senators within striking distance of the Montreal Canadiens. A win over the Jets today and Ottawa would take over top spot in the Atlantic Division.
Something that would have seemed damn near impossible just a month ago.
While the Jets find themselves out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference, they’ve been playing some pretty good hockey of late. They have five of a possible six points in their last three games including a 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens last night. It’s been a mostly disappointing year for the Jets under Head Coach Paul Maurice but they’re just three points back of the Flames for the second wild card spot.
The Senators should expect a desperate opponent this evening.
Guy Boucher met with the media this afternoon and indicated that Bobby Ryan won’t play tonight. And in fact, he could be out for up to six weeks. Ryan took a shot in the hand in the third period of last night’s game and according to the Coach, the index finger on his right hand might be broken. It’s the same finger he injured earlier in the year too.
Boucher will go with 11 forwards and 7 defenceman. With Ryan out, the forward combinations are a bit of a mystery.
Dzingel-Brassard-Stone
Smith-Turris-Hoffman
Pyatt-Pageau-Lazar
Kelly-Wingels
Methot-Karlsson
Phaneuf-Ceci
Borowiecki/Claesson-Wideman
Mike Condon gets the start for Ottawa. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 5:00 PM.
