Gameday #8: Predators @ Senators

7:30 PM ET

Sportsnet East

After a 4 day relaxing break, the Ottawa Senators host the Nashville Predators, Tennessee’s favorite team, mind you only team. Nashville is coming off a 3-2 loss to the mighty Bruins, were rookie colin Wilson notched his first NHL goal. However, Nashville has performed below average and can’t seem to get their offense going. Even worse is that Jason Arnott, their leading scorer last year, is out with injury and same goes for Dan Hamhuis, their leading shot blocker. Here’s how their lineup is looking…

Sullivan – O’Reilly – Dumont
Erat – Legwand – Ward
Scatchard – Wilson – Hornqvist
Jones – Smithson – Goc

Bouillon – Weber
Suter – Klein
Franson – Sulzer

Ottawa will be without Filip Kuba who is still out with injury while Shean Donovan and Jesse Winchester and healthy scratches. A bit of a shift on defense as CC puts alexandre Picard on the second pairing with young Erik Karlsson while struggling Chris Campoli will play alongside Matt Carkner. Leclaire gets his 4th straight tonight while Pekka Rinne gets the call for Nashville.

When looking at the Preds’ lineup, there’s not names that stick out, except Ryan Suter and Shea Weber. They have trouble scoring and that will continue tonight. However, we should not take them lightly. We have seem them beat us, and the last time they were here, they won 6-5 after a horrible Martin Gerber performance.I think this is an important game for some players such as Chris Campoli and Ryan Shannon, who need to prove they deserve to be in the lineup. I like our chances tonight, but I don’t want to overstate them. However…

Ottawa 4 (Karlsson, Regin, Shannon, Alfredsson)
Nashville 2 (Erat, Wilson)

Prediction Record: 4-1