After a wild Game 2 and a hard earned split at Madison Square Garden, the Ottawa Senators return home to friendly confines of Scotiabank Place.
The Sens can expect to be greeted by an energetic crowd as the Senators get set to play their first playoff home game in almost two years. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:30 PM with the Red Zone out front of SBP open two hours before game time.
Obviously all the talk heading into Game 3 is the physical tone this series took during Saturday night’s game. Carkner, who received a one game suspension for his actions, got the ball rolling early and the nastiness continued throughout the game.
Carl Hagelin was suspended for three games for a cheap shot on Sens Captain Daniel Alfredsson.
Brendan Shanahan was on MSG Networks this morning and defended the decisions he made. There was some talk that he suggested he would reduce the suspension if Alfie played. You can listen to the interview here, but that’s not exactly what he said. He was merely stressing the fact that the injury was a factor in his decision.
For what it’s worth, I’m not going to join that group that piles on every decision Shanahan makes. The guy really does have the toughest job in hockey right now and has done an admirable job and more importantly, is willing to openly discuss each decision he makes. At some point the officials and players need to take responsibility for what happens on the ice.
Alfredsson was on the ice for the morning skate and is being called a game time decision. The Sens will be forced to make one line up change as defenceman Matt Gilroy will draw back in for the suspended Carkner. Here is how the Senators lined up at the morning skate.
Michalek-Spezza-Winchester
Foligno-Turris-Alfredsson
Greening-Smith-Neil
Konopka-O’Brien-Condra
Kuba-Karlsson
Phillips-Gilroy
Cowen-Gonchar
For those of you that are in attendance tonight, be ready to make some serious noise. The crowds at MSG were electric but I have no doubt Scotiabank Place can be every bit as loud. In a series that is going to come down to the wire, we the fans have an opportunity to give our team the boost they need.
No holding back.
GO SENS GO!
- With the BSens season over, the Sens have brought up Lehner, Borowiecki, Gryba, Wiercioch, Da Costa, Dziurzynski, Hoffman, Petersson and Zibanejad to join the Sens as The Black Aces for the playoff run.
