Game 14 Preview: Tampa Bay Lightning @ Ottawa Senators

Coming off one of the worst losses (by score) in franchise history, the Senators host their expansion partners — the streaking Tampa Bay Lightning — in each franchise’s 2000th game in modern NHL history.

Despite the recent string of results using the tactic, Guy Boucher will continue to use his beloved 11-7 formation tonight. Mark Borowiecki will return in place of Erik Burgdoefer, so we’re looking at something like:

The Lightning are also coming off a game Saturday night, but they emerged victorious against the Canadiens.

Game Notes

• The Bolts are 7-2-1 in their last 10, own the fourth best goal differential in the league, and are one point behind Nashville for tops in the league in points. Somehow, the Sens managed to split the season-series against them last season, scoring 13 goals in their two wins. They’ll likely need an offensive explosion tonight to keep pace.
• As always, the Bolts look potent offensively — with a high percentage of shots from the slot and left point (“the Sergachev effect”). One of the biggest strengths this season has been their penalty kill, which is sitting at 93% and prevents anything in tight against their goaltenders.
• While local boy Slater Koekkoek continues to struggle, the Bolts have seamlessly fit in two new rookies — Anthony Cirelli and Mathieu Joseph — in top-nine roles alongside Alex Killorn. Syracuse, the team’s AHL affiliate, are coming off back-to-back wins over the Belleville Senators, and the Lightning organization continue to be a thorn in the Sens side at all levels.
• Meanwhile, in Ottawa, you can expect the Sens to come out with a fire under their butts. Will it be enough to rebound against Tampa Bay? The team’s performance against Buffalo might have been ugly in terms of goals against, but the team’s performance has been poor the last five games. Here’s shots against, with the score in brackets: 37 (6-3L), 53 (4-3L), 35 (5-1L), 48 (4-2W), 41 (9-2L).
• If the Sens find a way to win, it’ll come off the backs of Ryan Dzingel (who scored yesterday) and Mark Stone (who remains the team’s only regular forward who’s winning the shot battle). Trying to maximize Thomas Chabot’s opportunities to transition the puck and find gaps can help generate offence off the rush against a Bolts team that is missing Victor Hedman on the back-end. /

Team Stats

Player Stats