Despite missing out on a chance to take a 2-0 series lead, the Ottawa Senators battled their way to a hard fought split at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Now the scene shifts to Scotiabank Place in Ottawa as the Sens look to use home ice advantage and take control over their first round series against the Montreal Canadiens. And as you'd expect after a loss in Game 2, the Sens are expected to shuffle their line up a little bit.
Paul MacLean's team was surprisingly short a few bodies this morning as Daniel Alfredsson, Milan Michalek and Colin Greening were all absent at the morning skate.
MacLean indicated that all three were going to be game time decisions but did stress that everyone who has played so far in the series is available for tonight. Sens would obviously be in deep trouble if all three could not go. Here is how the Coach had them lined up at the morning skate.
Latendresse-Turris-Silfverberg
Regin-Zibanejad-Stone
Conacher-Pageau-Condra
Kassian-Smith-Neil
Methot-Karlsson
Phillips-Gonchar
Cowen-Wiercioch
Of note is the fact that Latendresse stayed late at the morning skate which is time often reserved for healthy scratches. So that could mean he's holding that spot in the line up for Michalek. Then Regin would be in Greening's place and Stone in there for Alfie.
Conacher is expected to draw in for Latendresse while Patrick Wiercioch will take the spot of Andre Benoit. We'll have to wait till game time to know for sure.
The fans in Montreal did their part to give thier home town team a lift and now Sens fans have to do the same. And while we'll obviously have to deal with the large Habs contingent that invades SBP tonight, we just have to be louder. It's that simple.
Puck drop is just after 7:00 PM tonight with the game available on CBC.
GO SENS GO!
