Game 76 Hub: New Jersey Devils @ Ottawa Senators
On fan appreciation night, I hope the Sens will show us some love on the ice
I'm not going to dwell on Thursday night's shellacking by the Florida Panthers, but if you want to read the gory details you can find them here. The Ottawa Senators have just two home games remaining this season, including tonight's match-up with the New Jersey Devils, and it would behoove them to improve upon their last outing. The supporters have suffered enough. Plus, it's Fan Appreciation Night!
The Devils are a familiar foe, with the two squads having faced off a mere two weeks ago; a 5-2 victory for the Sens. I'm sure by now you're well-versed in the disappointment that is New Jersey's season, but let me just reiterate that as hard as it is to comprehend how Ottawa's roster has so badly underperformed, I am even more confounded as to what went wrong in Jersey (besides the goaltending and injuries). These are two teams headed for perhaps turbulent off-seasons.
For the Sens, Tim Stützle will be missing the game with an injury that has his status listed as day-to-day. Boko Imama has been recalled from Belleville and will draw into the line-up. Thomas Chabot is also back from injury, so expect him to be reunited with Erik Brännström. Anton Forsberg will start. Other than that, it sounds like a lot of line-up decisions are up in the air.
For the Devils, Jake Allen will be in net and they otherwise don't have too much by the way of line-up changes.
Puck drop is 7PM Eastern, you can watch on CITY, or Tune in on TSN1200 or 94,5 Unique FM.
Game Notes:
-Since I'm writing for an Ottawa Senators fan blog I don't think I need to tell folks that Jake Sanderson has been good this year, but I do want to underline just how good he's been in the second half of the season. After a somewhat pedestrian start (First 35 Games: 50. 72 CF%, 48.02 xGF%, 48.08 GF% at 5v5), Sanderson's blistered the league to the tune of 56.89CF%, 59.09 xGF%, 58.82 GF% throug his last 38. Impressive stuff.
-I am not a gambling person, but I feel fairly certain that Boko Imama is going to drop the gloves at some point tonight. He will want to make an impression in his Sens' debut.
-With Stützle out, I suspect we might see Ridly Greig between Claude Giroux and Mathieu Joseph; though apparently Joseph was spotted practicing face-offs at the morning skate!
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