After consecutive shootout losses to open the 2017/2018 campaign, a banged up Ottawa Senators team hits the road for the first time this season.
They’ll play their next three games on the road including stops in Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary. Up first, a late night match-up with the Vancouver Canucks.
While the Senators have done an admirable job without Erik Karlsson, that first win of the season continues to elude them. Against the Capitals, they weren’t able to lock down a two goal lead in the third period. Plenty of offence but some third period breakdowns cost them.
It was a different story on Saturday against the Red Wings as they controlled the play most of the way but just couldn’t generate enough offence. Jimmy Howard, his posts and a sluggish power play were mostly to blame. The Sens will be looking for a complete sixty minute effort against a Vancouver team that’s playing just their second game of the season.
Should be an emotional night for Alex Burrows as he makes his return to the city where he spent the first twelve years of his NHL career.
Burrows has a reputation as an agitator around the NHL but he was loved in the City of Vancouver and leaving there obviously wasn’t an easy decision for him. He can expect get a warm reception from Canucks fans tonight.
With Erik Karlsson and Johnny Oduya still back in Ottawa as of yesterday, neither will be available against the Canucks. Meanwhile Ben Harpur is out long-term with a shoulder injury and is being classified as “week to week”.
With the blueline taking a few hits early in the season, the Senators have been forced to turn to Belleville for help. Thomas Chabot and Christian Jaros were called up over the weekend and there’s a chance both could get into the line up as early as tonight.
Speaking with the media yesterday, Boucher suggested he might go with 11 forwards and 7 defenceman. Not usually a fan of this alignment but with two rookies on the back end, it makes sense.
Following practice in Vancouver, #Sens Head Coach Guy Boucher speaks to media about the adversity of having numerous injuries on defence. pic.twitter.com/jW8Qhh6FBw
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) October 9, 2017
Hoffman sounds like a game time decision. If he can’t go, the Senators will dress 11 forwards and 7 defenceman. Boucher did confirm that Chabot plays either way. Here’s how Boucher had his team lined up at the morning skate.
Ryan-Brassard-Stone
Smith-Turris-Dzingel
Hoffman-Pageau-Pyatt
Thompson-Brown-Burrows
Phaneuf-Wideman
Claesson-Chabot
Borowiecki-Ceci
Jaros
Craig Anderson gets the start in goal for Ottawa. Make sure you leave time for a pregame nap as puck won’t drop until just after 10:00 PM eastern. The game is available on TSN5.
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 |
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|---|---|---|
| Record | 0-0-2 (2 pts) | 1-0-0 (2 pts) |
| Goals For | 2.50 (T-20th) | 3.0 (T-10th) |
| Goals Against | 2.50 (T-10th) | 2.0 (T-5th) |
| Power Play | 0.0% (T-26th) | 14.3% (T-18th) |
| Penalty Kill | 100.0% (T-1st) | 80.0% (T-19th) |
| Shots For/Shots Against | 35.0 (T-10th) 29.0 (T-6th) |
26.0 (30th) 35.0 (21st) |
| Ice Time Leaders | Ceci- 26:25 Phaneuf- 24:49 Turris- 21:36 |
Edler- 25:37 Tanev- 20:28 Horvat- 18:37 |
| Leading Scorer | Brassard (3 pts) | Horvat (2 pts) |
