What in the HELL is going on?
So get this- I roll out of bed this morning. It’s Friday. The sun is shining and I’m looking forward to another Sens- free day. Then, as I glance down at my phone, I notice something bizarre. Something shocking. Something I swore I would never see again.
The Ottawa Senators play tonight.
It turns out those rumours of the franchise folding and moving to Kansas City under the cover of night may have been slightly exaggerated.
Take it away, Thin Lizzy.
Guess who just got back today
Them wild-eyed boys that have been away
Haven’t changed that much to say
But man, I still think them cats are crazy
They were askin’ if you were around
How you was, where you could be found
Told ’em you were livin’ downtown
Drivin’ all the old men crazy.
The boys are back in town
(The boys are back in town)
I said the boys are back in town
(The boys are back in town)
The Ottawa Senators visit the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight in the House of Horrors that is the PPG Paints Arena.
Before we get into everything you need to know about tonight’s contest, I would like to officially announce a new contest. First- the prize. A BRAND NEW SensChirp hat and a lifetime membership to the site. Do I have your attention?
Here’s how you can win- all you have to do is track down the Penguins fan that blows that stupid air horn, rip it out of his hands and snap it over his head. Photograph the broken air horn and tell that doofus that SensChirp sent you. Good luck!
Okay, okay. Senators and Penguins on a Friday night.
The first thing you need to know about the Penguins is, I hate them. The second thing you need to know is they are still good. For like the 5th straight season, experts thought a slow start was a sign the Penguins might finally be on a bit of a downturn. Wrong. Turns out Sidney Crosby and the boys are just a little bit lazy. Pacing themselves. Slow-starters, if you will.
They come into this one battling the New York Islanders for top spot in the Metro Division. Although, they are just four points clear of 9th place.
And if they have a weakness, it’s apparently playing against last place teams. In fact, they have a 1-7-1 record against teams sitting last place in their Division. Got ’em right where we want ’em, fellas!
On the Senators side of tonight’s equation, you have a team that has not played in the better part of an eternity. Okay, it’s been about 9 days but it feels like forever. The ol’ All Star break and bye week mash-up gave the Sens ample time to rest up for this 20 game winning streak they are about to go on.
The good news for Guy Boucher’s group is everyone is healthy and ready to go. For the first time this season, they’ll roll out the top four centre on the organizational depth chart too as Colin White makes his return. Game day skate goes a little later today but here’s a best guess at the line up for now.
Dzingel-Duchene-Ryan
Tkachuk-White-Stone
Smith-Pageau-Paajarvi
Paul-Tierney-Boedker
Chabot-DeMelo
Lajoie-Ceci
Borowiecki-Jaros
Harpur
No word on a starting goalie yet but don’t be surprised to see them turn to the ex-Penguin Ron Tugnutt. Or Patrick Lalime. Or Tom Barrasso. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:00 PM.
The game is available on TSN5, RDS or with a couple well-timed clicks of a mouse, can be streamed via the information super highway.
I’ve been working on this table my whole life.
Oh and FUCK off Chris Kunitz.
| HEAD2HEAD |  |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 19-26-5 (43 pts) | 27-17-6 (60 pts) |
| Goals For | 3.12 (11th) | 3.50 (5th) |
| Goals Against | 3.74 (31st) | 3.04 (18th) |
| Power Play | 20.3% (15th) | 24.3% (7th) |
| Penalty Kill | 75.6% (29th) | 82.9% (8th) |
| Shots For | 29.0 (25th) | 32.7 (8th) |
| Shots Against | 36.7 (31st) | 32.7 (25th) |
| Leading Scorers | Stone- 50 pts Duchene- 47 pts Chabot- 39 pts |
Crosby- 58 pts Malkin- 55 pts Kessel- 55 pts |
| Starting Goalie | TBD | Matt Murray 15-7-1 2.96 GAA, .910 sv% |
