There’s only one way we’re gonna get through this.
When faced with adversity on an almost unparalleled scale, our options are fairly limited. We can retreat. Accept defeat and assume the worst. Or, we can crank the good vibes all the way up ten and do our part to will this team to victory.
Here’s what you need to do…
Got a good luck charm? Get it.
Maybe a jersey that has a winning record? Wear it.
Perhaps you have a game day routine that never fails? It’s time to use it.
We gotta do our part.
At the same time, I’m mashing the lurker call signal. If you’re the type that usually sits on the sidelines in the comment section, today is the day to join the madness. We need all hands on deck here.
The Ottawa Senators host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night.
Realistically, the situation in Ottawa has reached a level that can only be described as absurd. Last night, we learned that Erik Brannstrom has a broken hand that will keep him out of the lineup for a couple months. When it rains it pours, as the old saying goes.
Injuries combined with lingering uncertainty around players in COVID protocol means the Senators have again had to turn to Belleville for some help. This morning, they called up Jacob Bernard-Docker, Maxence Guenette and Andrew Agozzino. Not sure any of those guys play though.
Shane Pinto was a regular participant in the morning skate. He’s good to go. No sign of Drake Batherson though so we’ll see what happens there. Sounds like Pinto, Batherson and Zub are all considered game-time decisions.
DJ Smith has Troy Mann’s team on the ice for the morning skate and as you might expect, it’s a bit of a mess.
Tkachuk-Norris-Ennis
Stutzle-Pinto-Sokolov
Kelly-Paul-Shaw
Sanford-Tierney-Sabourin
Chabot-Zub
Del Zotto-Zaitsev
Heatherinton-Thomson
Filip Gustavsson gets the start in goal.
Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:00 PM. The game is available on Sportsnet One and on the radio at TSN1200. And if you can, maybe head down to the rink and give ’em Go Sens Go in person.
Remember folks- Good vibes only today.
Here’s a closer look at tonight’s match-up via the HEAD2HEAD table.
| HEAD2HEAD |  |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 5-3-4 (14 pts) | 3-9-1 (7 pts) |
| Goals For | 3.08 (12th) | 2.31 (28th) |
| Goals Against | 2.83 (15th) | 3.46 (30th) |
| Power Play | 10.0% (31st) | 16.3% (21st) |
| Penalty Kill | 93.3% (1st) | 70.6% (28th) |
| Shots For | 35.7 (1st) | 29.9 (22nd) |
| Shots Against | 33.3 (25th) | 34.5 (32nd) |
| Leading Scorers | Guentzel- 8 pts Rodrigues- 8 pts Carter- 7 pts Heinen- 7 pts Kapanen- 7 pts |
Batherson- 12 pts Norris- 8 pts Brown- 7 pts Ennis- 7 pts Tkachuk- 6 pts |
| Starting Goalie | Casey DeSmith 0-1-1 4.46 GAA, .878 sv% |
Filip Gustavsson 2-3-1 3.01 GAA, .917 sv% |
