Game 62 Preview and Open Thread - Ottawa Senators versus New York Rangers

So uh how is everyone feeling today? Pretty wild stuff on Friday, huh? As someone who wrote about Zack Ostapchuk for his entire Ottawa Senators career, Jacob Bernard-Docker for his entire professional Sens career, and Josh Norris likewise, yesterday felt pretty heavy. I've also followed this team long enough to see dozens of my favourite players traded, released, or non-tendered, so yeah–nature of the beast. As much as I'll miss writing about those players who all seemed like really good dudes, writing about this team has taught me not to get too attached to anyone.

Now let's discuss the fact that Steve Staios went out and got two forwards yesterday who could potentially fill the exact voids that have haunted this team for much of this season. If Dylan Cozens and Fabian Zetterlund find any sort of footing over the next 20 games then Ottawa could maybe pull ahead in the wild card race. As much as I enjoyed watching Pierre Dorion stockpiling the Sens' system, I can appreciate the job Staios has done making these difficult decisions to balance out Ottawa's roster.

If anything, I hope the Cozens deal ages like the Nick Jensen one did a few months back. Losing Jakob Chychrun stung, but Jensen ended up providing Ottawa's top-four with the exact component lacking. It also seems weird as hell to have the national media praising the Sens for acquiring a highly coveted player at a fair price. And I don't think the Zetterlund acquisition has gotten the attention it deserves (outside of San Jose maybe). Consider me cautiously extremely stoked.

Game Notes:

• The Rangers last played on Wednesday and lost to Washington in overtime by a score of 3-2 at home. The Sens have the same number of points in the standings and a game in hand. Suffice to say today's game has significant implications in the wild card race.
• This marks the last regular season meeting for these two teams this year. In their last matchup New York stomped on Ottawa 5-0 (I had repressed that memory).
• I feel like I say this about most Sens games but Ottawa's opponent generates more at five-on-five while the Sens defend better in the same situations. As you would imagine with the Rangers' top-heavy lineup, they have a formidable powerplay and they get great penalty kill results from Igor Shesterkin (who has otherwise looked mortal at five-on-five this year).

Senators injuries: Thomas Chabot, Nick Cousins, Tyler Kleven

Rangers injuries: Adam Edstrom, Adam Fox, Chris Kreider

Where to watch/listen: TSN5 TVAS TSN1200 @1230PM EST

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