After a seemingly endless four day break, the Ottawa Senators finally return to action this afternoon when they visit Claude Giroux and the Philadelphia Flyers.
With just five games left in their regular season, the Sens need to find a way to pick up as many points as possible down the stretch including this weekend against the Flyers and Islanders. It all starts with an afternoon date in the city of Brotherly Love.
While the last four days of scoreboard watching have been generally unfavourable for Ottawa fans, the Pittsburgh Penguins did the Sens a huge favour last night by beating the Sabres in Buffalo. The Panthers lost in Columbus and suddenly find themselves in a battle for their own playoff lives. Scoreboard watching has been fun and all but it will be nice to finally have an actual Sens game to watch.
The Flyers appear to be settled into the 5th spot in the East but still have an outside shot of catching Pittsburgh and grabbing home ice in the first round. They have two head to head games left with the Pens including tomorrow afternoon in Pittsburgh.
The Sens won't have a morning skate today but MacLean passed along line up notes at yesterday's practice. No line up changes expected from the combinations that beat Winnipeg on Monday night. Here is how the Senators are expected to line up.
Greening-Spezza-Michalek
Foligno-Turris-Alfredsson
Daugavins-Smith-Condra
Klinkhammer-O'Brien-Neil
Kuba-Karlsson
Cowen-Gonchar
Phillips-Carkner
Craig Anderson gets the start in the Ottawa goal. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 1:00 PM with all the action available on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.
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Plenty of games to keep an eye on tonight including the Buffalo Sabres in Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs and the Washington Capitals visiting the Montreal Canadiens. As much as Sens fans hate the Leafs and Habs, those two teams could really help Ottawa's cause if they could do the unthinkable and win a damn hockey game tonight.
Here is how the standings look heading into Saturday's games.
Bruins 94 (5)- @Nyi, @Nyr, PIT, @Ott, BUF
Panthers 90 (4)-@Det, WPG, @Wsh, CAR
Devils 94 (4)- @Car, NYI, @Det, OTT
Senators 88 (5)- @Phi, @Nyi, CAR, BOS, @Nj
Capitals 86 (4)- MTL, @Tbl, FLA, @Nyr
Sabres 86 (4)- @Tor, TOR, @Phi, @Bos
