The combination of a loss in Minnesota and a perfect storm of shit on the out of town scoreboard has Sens fans rightfully concerned about the next six games.
While the Ottawa Senators still sit in second in the Atlantic Division, the teams behind them are well, right behind them.
The Leafs are just two points back and the Bruins just three, although Boston has played one more game. And then the Tampa Bay Lightning are lurking in 9th place, six points back but on a four game winning streak and looking poised to catch whichever team stumbles in the last week and a half of the season.
Boston plays an afternoon game at home against the Panthers. Toronto is on the road to take on the Red Wings. And Tampa Bay is home to the Canadiens. And really, none of those games matter if the Ottawa Senators can take care of business against the Winnipeg Jets.
Unfortunately they’ll have to do it without their Captain.
Erik Karlsson and Zack Smith both flew home from Winnipeg yesterday and will not be available tonight. It’s a significant blow as we saw this team without Karlsson on Thursday and it wasn’t pretty.
The Senators will hold their game day skate at 11:30 AM and we should have a better idea of a line up at that point. Alex Burrows could be available to return and in that case, he’d take Smith’s spot. If he can’t go, Chris DiDomenico likely gets a shot. A best guess at the Ottawa line up at this point.
Hoffman-Drassarb–Stone
Dzingel-Turris-Nayr
Burrows-Pageau-Pyatt
Stalberg-Kelly-Wingels
Phaneuf-Ceci
Borowiecki-Wideman
Claesson-Jokipakka
No word on a starting goalie yet. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:00 PM.
If you have a lucky jersey, a game day routine that never fails or a favour you can call in with a witch of some sort- this is the game to use it. We need to get this thing back on track. Do your part.
GO SENS GO!
