The final game before the holiday break.
After tonight, the Ottawa Senators will have four much needed days off. This team is pretty banged up right now and could certainly use a few days to heel the various bumps and bruises that exist throughout the line up. And it’s not just the obvious guys like MacArthur, Michalek, Ceci and Ryan either. There are a handful of guys currently playing through various ailments and at times, it shows.
They’ve sort of looked like a tired team in the last couple weeks. So the break is definitely coming at a good time.
But not before they play another key divisional game against the Florida Panthers.
It has been mentioned a few times already this season but this Panthers team is one that is likely going to push Ottawa for either that third spot in the Atlantic Division or one of the two Wild Card spots in the Eastern Conference. Heading into tonight’s action, the Sens trail the Panthers by a single point and with the same number of games played. Florida has won four straight and are 7-3-0 in their last ten. Much like last year, this Panthers team is going to be a factor right till the bitter end.
On the Senators’ side of things, it’s going to be all about making the best of a difficult situation. Michalek and MacArthur are already out of the line up and now have been joined by Bobby Ryan and Cody Ceci. These are significant pieces missing from the Ottawa line up. And as a result, Binghamton call-up Ryan Dzingel will make his NHL debut up front and Jared Cowen will get another chance on the blue line.
Cameron has been forced to juggle his lines a little bit ahead of this one. Here’s how the Senators are lined up at the morning skate.
Smith-Turris-Stone
Hoffman-Zibanejad-Chiasson
Dziurzynski-Pageau-Lazar
Prince-Dzingel-Neil
Methot-Karlsson
Wiercioch-Borowiecki
Cowen-Wideman
Craig Anderson gets the start in the Ottawa goal. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:30 PM.
