Back to back losses to the Montreal Canadiens?
It can’t get any worse than that.
Oh but it turns out it can. This morning, Pierre Dorion met with the media and confirmed what we all feared. Both Matt Duchene and Bobby Ryan have been placed on IR and are expected to be out for the next little while.
In the case of Matt Duchene, it’s a groin injury that will keep him on the sidelines for “weeks”. Bobby Ryan has a concussion after that shoulder to the head on Thursday night. There is no timeline for his return.
Buckle up, Sens fans. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
The Senators host the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight at the Canadian Tire Centre.
The thing about the Penguins is they are scum. And I dislike them a great deal. Maybe more than the Canadiens and Leafs? Okay maybe not but a more recent and relevant hatred anyway. I have fairly low expectations for tonight’s game but if Brady Tkachuk could take a big ol’ run at Evgeni Malkin and/or Sidney Crosby that would be just great. A clean hit preferably.
Guy Boucher had his team on the ice for the game day skate a little earlier and the lines are…well they are a little unpleasant. Goes without saying but the Senators are going to need a heroic effort from that top line of Tkachuk-White-Stone and if they are going to remain competitive.
The team gets a bit of a boost on defence as Max Lajoie is expected to return. Justin Falk is expected to come out of the line up but it sounds like Boucher is considering going 11/7. Max McCormick will play.
Here’s how the Sens are expected to line up for this one.
Tkachuk-White-Stone
Boedker-Tierney-Batherson
Dzingel-Smith-Paajarvi
McCormick-Paul-Pyatt
Chabot-DeMelo
Lajoie-Ceci
Harpur-Jaros
Craig Anderson gets the start in goal for Ottawa. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:00 PM.
The game is available on Sportsnet 360, City TV and online at aol.com.
Here is a table that will provide you with additional information on the two squads participating in this evening’s hockey match.
| HEAD2HEAD |  |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 12-10-5 (29 pts) | 12-14-3 (27 pts) |
| Goals For | 3.52 (T-6th) | 3.52 (T-6th) |
| Goals Against | 3.22 (T-22nd) | 4.10 (31st) |
| Power Play | 25.0% (8th) | 23.3% (10th) |
| Penalty Kill | 83.1% (7th) | 71.8 (31st) |
| Shots For | 32.5 (9th) | 29.6 (25th) |
| Shots Against | 32.3 (24th) | 38.1 (31st) |
| Leading Scorers | Kessel- 33 pts Malkin- 33 pts Crosby- 32 pts |
Duchene- 34 pts Stone- 32 pts Chabot- 31 pts |
| Starting Goalie | Casey DeSmith 8-4-3 2.46 GAA .923 sv% |
Craig Anderson 11-11-3 3.69 GAA, .904 sv% |
