Game 50 Preview and Open Thread - Ottawa Senators versus Anaheim Ducks

While the Ottawa Senators ride into this game on the high of Brady Tkachuk's Tuesday night hat trick, the Anaheim Ducks limp into town having suffered a 5-0 loss in Montreal against the garbage babies (the other garbage babies). Like the game against Columbus, the Sens hope to separate themselves from the less gooder teams in the NHL in an effort to establish something resembling pride.

No morning skate, but the team did release the projected lineup

Game Notes

• Tonight the Sens celebrate Black History Month. I wish the team had promoted this a bit better as I could find little to no literature about the goings on.
• At five-on-five, the Ducks' offence (2.36 xGF/60) ranks well below Ottawa's, while their defence (2.65 xGA/60) ranks just ahead of the Sens so it almost washes out, kinda
• The Ducks' powerplay (7.04 xGF/60) ranks just behind the Sens' in terms of volume and Anaheim has shot at a better rate (13.3%) over the course of the season to date.
• Anaheim's penalty kill (9.68 xGA/60) ranks among the worst in the league so Ottawa would have an advantage there but Ottawa has not gotten shorthanded goaltending for most of the season while Anaheim has (87.1%).
• Anaheim has gotten better goaltending overall than Ottawa but still below average. Over the past 30 days, both teams have had very similar goaltending results.
• Injuries of note for Ottawa: Jake Sanderson, Artem Zub
• And for Anaheim: Alex Killorn, Trevor Zegras
• Maxence Guenette makes his season debut tonight, called up on emergency recall
• I think I speak for most of the group when I say that I will breathe easier with the Sens able to dress a full roster including six defenders tonight.

Where to Watch/Listen: TSN5, RDS2, TSN1200 @7PM EST

Lines from Last Game

Anaheim Ducks

Stats