Game 10 Preview and Open Thread - Ottawa Senators @ New York Rangers

I have no idea how the Ottawa Senators can possibly follow up that 8-1 win against St. Louis with anything nearly as entertaining, and we still don't really know the true identity of this year's team so I guess that makes tonight's game a good test. The Rangers have gold-standard goaltending and also score a lot. They can very well contend for a division title even up against the formidable New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes. Basically, if Ottawa wants to prove they've turned the corner, they need to beat teams like New York on a semi-regular basis. Ell effing gee.

Game Notes

• The Rangers last played on Tuesday and lost to their division rivals, the Washington Capitals 5-3 in a game when the Caps more than double the Rags in shots--spooky.
• The Rangers haven't changed much since last season--it ain't broke and they didn't fix it. Did Ottawa improve enough over the offseason to make up some ground? Yes. Yes, they did.
• I thought the Sens had a pretty edgy team but they don't take or draw as many penalties as New York. Given the Rangers special teams, Ottawa will probably want to focus on playing good five-on-five hockey, regardless of the starting goalies.
• Travis Green will have his work cut out for him in terms of getting favourable matchups on the road with the Rangers stacked top-six and not Zub or Pinto in the lineup. I really don't know who you want on the ice against the Kreiders or Panarins of the world. We'll see if we can get a team-wide buy-in on defence.
• The Sens struggled mightily in their last two games against New York last season losing by four- and five-goal margins. As you may recall, the Sens fared okay against the eastern conference last season except when it involved the Rangers, Hurricanes, and Panthers. So far, Ottawa beat Florida once so???
• Injuries: For Ottawa, Shane Pinto and Artem Zub; for New York, Jimmy Vesey.
• Go Sens Go.

When/where to watch/listen: TSN5, RDS2, TSN1200 @7PM EST

Lines from Last Game

Ottawa Senators

New York Rangers

Stats