While the games don’t mean as much as they did a couple weeks ago, a loss is still a loss. And coming into tonight’s game in Tampa Bay the Ottawa Senators have lost 6 straight. They have been outscored 28-17 over that stretch and played some of their worst hockey of the season.
And even though the playoffs are now out of reach; this team still has to find a way to win a hockey game at some point. They’ll have a chance to right the ship tonight against the Lightning.
Ottawa will play a back to back against Tampa Bay and then Florida before returning home to play five straight. Fans realize that this team isn’t going to make the post season but it would be nice to see to end a dreadful season on a positive note. Not just for the players and the fans that support them, but to keep that first round pick as low as possible.
Paul MacLean would not divulge any potential line up changes but it does sound like Bobby Ryan is questionable for this one. With Mark Stone up from Binghamton, you would expect him to take Ryan’s spot in the line up. MacLean also hinted over the weekend that he would get Wiercioch into one of these games in Florida. We’ll have to wait until game time to find out if that happens tonight or tomorrow in Florida.
Just an optional skate for the Senators this morning so combinations aren’t exactly clear at this point.
We do know that Robin Lehner will make another start in the Ottawa goal. Sounds like Craig Anderson will dress as his back up with Andrew Hammond returned to Binghamton earlier today. Puck drop in Tampa Bay is scheduled for just after 7:30 PM.
