Game 1 Preview and Open Thread: Senators @ Hurricanes

As far as setups go to open the season, this one isn't ideal. The Ottawa Senators are opening on the road against the the favourite to take the Eastern Conference, and they may be doing it with a shortened bench. Thanks to injuries the team is down to 11 healthy forwards, and thanks to the cap crunch they don't have the space to call a 12th one up.

The big name missing continues to be Josh Norris. He travelled with the team to Raleigh and will take the morning skate, but isn't expected to dress for the game. Further down the lineup, Zack MacEwen left Saturday's game against Montreal with an upper body injury. He's day to day and as far as we know he didn't make the trip. Neither player is (currently) a candidate for LTIR, so no cap relief available to bring up a replacement.

Elsewhere, Shane Pinto remains unsigned.

On the other side of the ice, the Hurricanes will be without Andrei Svechnikov as he is still recovering from knee surgery last March.

Here's the projected lineup, from the morning skate. DJ Smith hasn't confirmed the starting goaltender yet, but Korpisalo was in the starter's end for the morning skate.

Game Notes:

• Here's hoping that MacEwen or (preferably) Norris are ready to go, but if they do have to play a forward short at least everybody else's legs don't get much fresher than Game 1
• Is Ottawa's goalie situation finally in a good place? It's a solid tandem on paper, but knock on wood - we also thought Talbot would bring some stability, and Murray before him
• This is probably the most excited I've been about the Sens full defensive lineup that I have been in a long, long time. Two units that should be able to take legitimate first pairing minutes and matchups, and a third pairing that can carry it's own weight
• Between injuries and contract issues, the depth down the middle is going to be challenged. Once you're past Stützle, it is three guys who should have been competing for the last spot (or maybe 3C for Greig)
• It won't be make or break in game one, but DJ Smith's seat has to be a little hot to start the season. The team can't afford another slow start (the first you're all hearing of this, I'm sure...)
• Most importantly, GO SENS GO!
• It's a 7pm start. Catch it on TV on Sportsnet One or RDS, and radio coverage from TSN1200 and UniqueFM

Stats

From NHL.com and NaturalStatTrick.com