It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
After an off-season for the ages, there was finally legitimate hope and optimism surrounding the Ottawa Senators. And it wasn’t just coming from the fan base either. So-called experts believed it too. This was a team ready to take that next step forward. In that early four-game winning streak, everything was going according to plan. They looked dominant. But in the blink of an eye, the wheels fell off entirely.
Competing but not able to close out games. Injuries piling up. Controlling the play for long stretches but getting incredibly unlucky. That’s where it started anyway. But now it’s clearly much more than that. This is a complete tailspin and one of those stretches where it’s impossible to imagine them winning a hockey game. It’s gone from an unpleasant slump to a season-ruining stretch.
31st overall as they hit the 20-game mark.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
The Ottawa Senators look to get this thing back on track when they go head to head with a team that is actually worse than they are in the Anaheim Ducks.
No game day skate for the Senators today with the early start and no indication that the Coach will meet with the media prior to puck drop.
That means we’ll have to wait until closer to game time to find out if Thomas Chabot is good to go. He took the optional skate yesterday and is clearly close but we’ll find out for sure later this afternoon.
The Senators did make a roster move this morning, recalling Kevin Mandolese from Belleville. Anton Forsberg is dealing with a minor injury and won’t be available in Anaheim.
A best guess at how they might lineup although hopefully with a whole lot more Thomas Chabot.
Tkachuk-Stützle-Batherson
DeBrincat-Pinto-Giroux
Motte-Brassard-Joseph
Kelly-Kastelic-Watson
Sanderson-Hamonic
Brannstrom-Zub
Holden-Thomson
Cam Talbot is expected to get the start.
Puck drop is scheduled for just after 3:00 PM in Anaheim. The game is available on TSN5 and on the radio at TSN1200. The illegal internet streams will flow like, well like a stream I guess.
And now, behold a HEAD2HEAD table that suggests the Senators may have an advantage in this one. Remember this moment, folks.
| HEAD2HEAD |  |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 6-12-1 (13 pts) | 6-13-1 (13 pts) |
| Goals For | 3.05 (16th) | 2.55 (29th) |
| Goals Against | 3.58 (28th) | 4.15 (31st) |
| Power Play | 22.4% (12th) | 12.5% (32nd) |
| Penalty Kill | 77.3% (21st) | 66.2 (31st) |
| Shots For | 33.2 (9th) | 29.8 (26th) |
| Shots Against | 34.0 (27th) | 37.8 (32nd) |
| Leading Scorers | Tkachuk- 22 pts Giroux- 19 pts Stützle- 18 pts DeBrincat- 15 pts Batherson- 14 pts |
Terry- 21 pts Zegras- 17 pts Henrique- 11 pts Strome- 11 pts McTavish- 10 pts |
| Starting Goalie | Cam Talbot 1-5-0 2.83 GAA, .910 sv% |
John Gibson 4-11-1 4.00 GAA, .895 sv% |
