Game 81 Hub: Chicago Blackhawks @ Ottawa Senators

It's been incredibly strange having these final four games be essentially meaningless for the Ottawa Senators. They've clinched a playoff spot, and now it's just about anxiously waiting for round one to start. It's almost a certainty that the Battle of Ontario 5.0 will happen, and so it's hard to care too much about these final games. After winning their last two outings, Ottawa has now locked up the first wildcard, so it's not as if they have anything to play for in that sense. However, it still would be nice to finish with as many points as possible (98), and winning these final two games would mean they would head into the playoffs with a four-game winning streak.

For their penultimate game of the season, the Chicago Blackhawks are in town, a day after playing spoiler to the Montreal Canadiens, who still, somehow, have yet to clinch a playoff berth. The Blackhawks have been dreadful this season, so even with Ottawa resting some players, playing at home against the 31st-ranked team in the league while they just played last night should be a win for the Senators. However, Ottawa might be looking ahead to the playoffs and getting ahead of themselves. The lines are unclear for tonight, although we know that a few key players will be held out:

These were the Blackhawks' lines last night, so we'll see if they stick with them. Plus, I would assume that Spencer Knight gets the start instead:

Game Notes:

• The lines will obviously be in a blender with Tkachuk, Giroux, Sanderson, and Jensen sitting, so I'm not putting much stock into them.
• Anton Forsberg gets the start again tonight after a decent enough start on Sunday. I don't mind giving Linus Ullmark enough rest before hopefully playing every game in the playoffs.
• Ryan Donato is one of the more dangerous players for the Blackhawks, and it's surprising he's still on the team after the deadline. He has a career high in goals (31) and points (61), and both are almost double his previous highs (16 and 31).
• Some season milestones to look out for: Can Adam Gaudette get three goals in two games to get to 20? Can Tim Stützle get five points to get to 80? Can Jake Sanderson get five points to get to 60? Or Shane Pinto with four points to get to 40? Some of those will need some excellent performances, but maybe one can happen.
• It's probably for the best that Claude Giroux gets a night off, as he's slowed down this season and they'll need him at full strength in the playoffs.
• Brady Tkachuk was on the ice yesterday in a non-contact jersey, but Travis Green seems to think he'll be ready to go for Game 1 of the playoffs.
• Ottawa won their other contest against Chicago this season, a 4-3 OT win, plus they won their previous game in March 2024 against them. However, before that, the Blackhawks had won the previous eleven matches against the Senators between March 2017 and February 2024. Maybe Ottawa can get on a streak of their own.