Gameday #22: Senators @ Devils

In the 2nd game of a 4-game season series, the Ottawa Senators head to Newark to face the Devils, who have been very hot of lately. In the two teams’ first meeting of the season, late penalties caused a Sens meltdown as New Jersey came back to win 3-2. Milan Michalek and Brian Lee had the goals for Ottawa. This time around, the Sens hope to reverse their fortunes. They will, however be short-tuned as injuries will see Pascal Leclaire, Anton Volchenkov, and Mike Fisher out of the game while Alex Kovalev is out for personal reasons. The Sens have called up leading AHL scorer Ryan Keller from Binghamton, to see action on the fourth line. Without further adieu, here’s how the lineup will look like tonight.

Michalek – Spezza – Shannon
Foligno – Regin – Alfredsson
Ruutu – Kelly – Neil
Cheechoo – Winchester – Keller

Phillips – Kuba
Campoli – Lee
Picard – Carkner

Brian Elliott will start while Martin Brodeur goes for New Jersey. The Devils are missing some of their key players, such as the shutdown tandem of Johnny Oduya and Paul Martin along with Rob Niedermayer. The guy to watch out for tonight? Zach Parise and Travis Zajac. Those two have been the hot hands and have seen the point production go up and up lately. Coupled with the fact they HAVE to be two-way players under stern/mentor/alien Jacques Lemaire, thsoe two are threats everywhere. Jersey also has an underrated defense, so watch out Chris Phillips.

This one will really test our depth, as have the past two as well I’m looking for a breakout game by Ryan Shannon, who has yet to score. That second line looks potentially dangerous is Regin can find one of those two early on. Chris Neil is on a roll as well and if he can keep up his steady pace with Ruutu/Kelly than the Sens may have a win in their pockets. However, two many injuries coupled with the threat of trying to defend a 3-line team may end the streak tonight. We all said it in Washington, and that didn’t happen. The Trappers are a better team down low, but that will be tested. We have scored 6,5,4 goals the last 3 games, and I’ll continue that trend however…

New Jersey 4 (Rolston, Parise, Zajac, McAmmond)
Ottawa 3 (Campoli, Cheechoo, Winchester)