Game 59 Preview and Open Thread - Ottawa Senators versus San Jose Sharks

If you had asked me a month ago about my stress level pertaining to this particular game then I would have said something like two or three out of ten. The Ottawa Senators have a decent statistical advantage and the Sharks barely have an NHL roster. One team has their playoff hopes to motivate them. The other team should actively try to lose to improve their lottery odds. Despite all that, the Sens haven't won in their last five tries (including a demoralizing loss against Montreal) and another loss today could do some serious damage to the psyches of this team and its fans.

The Sharks meanwhile have lost nine of their last ten games so maybe Ottawa can just keep that trend going. Do I feel like maybe Ottawa could provide the perfect solution for San Jose's losing ways? Maybe. Someone will break a losing streak tonight. That's all I have to say about that.

Game Notes:

• Both of these teams really struggle to generate offence at even strength but Ottawa can at least defend better than San Jose. I have never heard of either of the people on San Jose's top pairing.
• The Sharks have bad goaltending. Ottawa should have a pronounced advantage here but that means nothing in a one-game sample.
• The Sharks have already made a pretty serious sale in sending Granlund and Ceci(!) to Dallas. I kinda wish San Jose would have also traded away Toffoli, Wennberg, or Liljegren to help me breathe a little easier but here we are.
• For those of you who recall Ottawa's visit to San Jose earlier this season, the Senators struggled mightily in game one of this season series, needing a damn miracle to get a win (in the Sens' defence, they were so sweepy).
• The stats don't always bear out results but if nothing else, the Sens continue to do well in those Corsi and expected goals columns and they've put themselves in a position to get a PDO bump, with or without injury reinforcements.
• Say it with me, folks: Go Sens Go.

Senators Injuries: Jacob Bernard-Docker, Nick Cousins, Tyler Kleven

Sharks Injuries: Logan Couture, Nikolai Kovalenko, Jan Rutta, Henry Thrun

Where to watch/listen: SN1, TSN1200 @7PM EST

Projected Ottawa Senators lineup:

San Jose Sharks:

Stats: