After an impressive offensive display on Saturday night, the Ottawa Senators hit the road for three straight, beginning tonight at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg.
The Sens continue to cling to the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, just four points back of the New Jersey Devils. With a game between those two teams to close out the year, the Senators still have a chance at climbing the ladder in the East.
For the Winnipeg Jets, this certainly has the feel of a “must win” game. They currently trail the eighth place Washington Capitals by six points but with a game in hand. The Senators can expect to see a desperate hockey team in front of a raucous home town crowd at the MTS Centre
And while the Jets season may be on the line tonight, the game obviously has significant playoff ramifications for the Senators as well. With both the Capitals and Sabres just two points back, Ottawa will be looking to give themselves a little bit of breathing room from the teams pushing for the final couple playoff spots.
Bruins 91 (7)- TBL, WSH, @Nyi, @Nyr, PIT, @Ott, BUF
Panthers 87 (7)- @Mtl, @Min, @Clb, @Det, WPG, @Wsh, CAR
Devils 90 (6)- CHI, TBL, @Car, NYI, @Det, OTT
Senators 86 (6)- @Wpg, @Phi, @Nyi, CAR, BOS, @Nj
Capitals 84 (6)- BUF, @Bos, MTL, @Tbl, FLA, @Nyr
Sabres 84 (6)- @Wsh, PIT, @Tor, TOR, @Phi, @Bos
After relieving the injured Ben Bishop on Saturday, Craig Anderson will get the start in the Ottawa goal. No other lineup changes expected for the Senators which means Gilroy, Butler and Konopka will be the healthy scratches.
Greening-Spezza-Michalek
Foligno-Turris-Alfredsson
Daugavins-Smith-Condra
Klinkhammer-O'Brien-Neil
Kuba-Karlsson
Cowen-Gonchar
Phillips-Carkner
Puck drop is scheduled for just after 8:30 PM tonight with the game available on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
- With Ben Bishop going down with a lower body injury on Saturday night, some fans are pushing for Robin Lehner to be recalled from Binghamton. For now anyway, it does not seem like the Sens plan on making that move. Alex Auld will dress as Anderson’s back up tonight against the Jets. According to Andy Strickland, Bishop is expected to miss at least the next week of action.
- While Jesse Winchester will not play tonight in Winnipeg, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun suggests there is a chance he could return to the Ottawa line up as early as next Saturday in Philadelphia. It has been a long road back for Winchester but he could definitely help the Sens fourth line and on the penalty kill.
