The Ottawa Senators are like a snowball rolling down a snow-covered hill in a snowstorm.
Allow me to explain.
On one hand, they are playing better lately. Building up momentum, like the snowball I mentioned earlier. But at the same time, the snowball (which represent their improved play of late) is going downhill. That represents the state of the franchise. On a downward trajectory. So the snowball is their recent play, the snow-covered hill on a downward trajectory, that’s the current state of the franchise. And then the snowstorm, with snow blowing all around and what not…that represents the current state of chaos surrounding the organization.
So like I said, the Ottawa Senators are like a snowball, rolling down a snow-covered hill in a snowstorm.
Also, not sure if you heard this on the news or on social media but there is a very large snowstorm expected to hit our city this afternoon.
Topical, right?
The Ottawa Senators host the Carolina Hurricanes tonight at the CTC.
See, the thing about all the longest winning streaks in NHL history that may surprise you is every single one of them started out as a fairly modest winning streak.
When Patrick Lalime and the Pittsburgh Penguins reeled off 17 straight back in 1993, it may surprise you to learn that was once only a one game winning streak. The Columbus Blue Jackets won 16 straight just a couple seasons ago but according to my research, that too was once a much shorter streak. Again, just one game. When Andrew Hammond won every game for like two months, he hadn’t won ANY games before that streak started.
Just a little something for the Senators to keep in mind as they come into tonight’s game having won two straight.
Tonight’s opposition is the Carolina Hurricanes. A franchise on the cusp of a return to the playoffs for the better part of a decade.
“Shoot lots and win occasionally” is their motto. Despite leading the league in both shots for and in shots against, the Hurricanes find themselves outside of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. Three points back of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Although word is the analytics community is petitioning to have them invited to the post-season dance on account of them being so gosh darn unlucky for the last five years.
Guy Boucher will have his team on the ice for the morning skate just after 10:00 AM so we’ll find out what he has in mind for a line up then. Based on his comments yesterday, it sounds like he’s leaning towards dressing one less than the required number of forwards while using one more than the necessary number of defenceman.
A best guess at the line up for now.
Dzingel-Duchene-Ryan
Tkachuk-White-Stone
Smith-Pageau-Paajarvi
Tierney-Balcers
Chabot-DeMelo
Lajoie-Ceci
Borowiecki-Harpur
Jaros
Anders Nilsson gets another start in goal for Ottawa. Craig Anderson was hurt yesterday meaning the Senators may need to recall a goalie to dress as back-up to the Ghost. Or they might just get Matt Spezza to do it. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:30 PM.
The game is available on TSN5, RDS and can streamed live over the internet, unless the Snowpocalypse cancels the whole damn thing.
There’s an old saying that goes, “When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt.”. Here’s a table.
| HEAD2HEAD |  |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 28-22-6 (62 pts) | 21-29-5 (47 pts) |
| Goals For | 2.89 (16th) | 3.13 (11th) |
| Goals Against | 2.88 (11th) | 3.65 (31st) |
| Power Play | 16.1% (25th) | 21.2% (12th) |
| Penalty Kill | 80.1% (15th) | 77.6% (24th) |
| Shots For | 35.5 (1st) | 29.8 (24th) |
| Shots Against | 27.9 (1st) | 36.6 (31st) |
| Leading Scorers | Aho- 63 pts Teravainen- 49 pts Williams- 33 pts |
Stone- 56 pts Duchene- 53 pts Chabot- 43 pts |
| Starting Goalie | Petr Mrazek 12-12-3 2.73 GAA, .897 sv% |
Anders Nilsson 6-4-0 2.21 GAA, .937 sv% |
-It sounds like Pierre Dorion will make one last pitch to his UFAs-to-be. According to a report from Pierre LeBrun, Matt Duchene’s agent is expected to speak to Ottawa’s GM at some point today. The two have met face to face on a number of occasions and according to LeBrun, they will “continue the dialogue” today. At the same time, LeBrun suggests that the Senators will make one last pitch to Mark Stone this week too. The language LeBrun is using here sounds a whole lot like “one last try” and certainly doesn’t give the impression of advanced contract negotiations. Darren Dreger was on Edmonton radio yesterday and said that based on what he’s hearing, all three are likely to walk. Gooooo Sens, right?
