Gammmmmmmmmmme Day!
After strolling into Boston and taking both games at the TD Garden, the Ottawa Senators return to the Canadian Tire Centre with a somewhat surprising 3-1 series lead. If you thought the CTC was rocking for Games 1 and 2, wait until you hear that place tonight.
The Sens are in a pretty good position right now but they have to finish the job. Not one guy in that locker room wants to go back to Boston. Playoff momentum is funny that way. You can think you’re in control of a series but it doesn’t take much for things to start snowballing in the other direction.
The Senators have a great opportunity tonight and they have to take advantage of it.
On the Boston side of things, they continue to wait on some injured defenceman. Krug, Carlo and McQuaid are all considered doubtful again but you never know for sure at playoff time. Looks like Kevan Miller is going to play despite that head shot on Tom Pyatt. Not a word from the league about that one.
The Senators are on the ice for their game day skate at 10:30 AM so we’ll find out if there are any changes coming.
Tom Pyatt was announced as day to day during yesterday’s media availability and he’s been ruled out for tonight. Chris Kelly takes his spot in the line up. Mark Borowiecki is close to a return but with the way Ben Harpur has played, it’s pretty tough to take him out.
Here’s how Guy Boucher lined his team up at the morning skate.
Hoffman-Pageau-Stone
Stalberg-Brassard-Ryan
Dzingel-Turris-Burrows
Smith-Kelly-MacArthur
Methot-Karlsson
Phaneuf-Ceci
Harpur-Wideman
Craig Anderson is expected to get the start in the Ottawa goal. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:30 PM.
If you’re headed to the game tonight, get there early. Have some fun. Have some beers if that’s your thing. Make as much noise as you’re comfortable making and then make a little bit more than that. After the way this team played in Boston, they deserve to come home to a raucous home town crowd. Every game in this series has been decided by a single goal and as we saw in the third period of Game 2, when this team has the energy of a packed house behind them, they can really get rolling.
The team on the ice has done their part to this point, time for the fans to do ours.
GO SENS GO!
