After a blown lead on Friday and a shootout loss Sunday, the Ottawa Senators will try to get back on track against a struggling Washington Capitals team.
While the Caps have stumbled out of the gate, they did pick up their first win against the Sabres on Sunday and boast a lineup that includes the likes of Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Green and Alex Ovechkin. Should be a good one in front of another packed rink at Scotiabank Place.
Under new bench boss Adam Oates, the Caps have struggled in the early going. “Effort” has been a buzz word in Washington the past few seasons and it seems to be a problem for them again in the early going. Alex Ovechkin has just two points through the team’s first five games and has been playing on a line with Joey Crabb and Jay Beagle.
While the Penguins got the best of him in the shootout, Sunday was another impressive outing for Craig Anderson. Anderson comes into this game with the league lead in goals against average (0.73) and save percentage (.975%). Through four starts, he has been the Senators best player and will need to be again tonight.
On Sunday, Daniel Alfredsson was a late scratch thanks to a flu bug that is making the rounds and the result was some last minute line juggling by Head Coach Paul MacLean. This time it looks like Jason Spezza could be sidelined with what the Coach called an upper body injury. He missed practice yesterday and did not take this morning’s skate.
With the Captain expected to return but now Spezza out and Mika Zibanejad set to play his first game of the season, the Sens will have a different look again.
Here is how they lined up at the morning skate
Latendresse-Turris Alfredsson
Michalek-Regin-Silfverberg
Greening-Smith-Neil
O’Brien-Zibanejad-Condra
Methot-Karlsson
Borowiecki-Gonchar
Wiercioch-Phillips
Daugavins is the odd man out up front and Andre Benoit will sit in favour of Patrick Wiercioch. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:30 PM with the game available on Sportsnet and the Team 1200.
The Senators will wear their black heritage jerseys for the first time this season.
