GAME DAY: CBJ @ OTT

Saturday, October 22, 2011: 7 pm, CBC, Team 1200

15th West (0-6-1)VS13th East (2-5-0)

Your Ottawa Senators look to continue their winning streak and push it to two games after defeating the Winnipeg Jets this past Thursday. Today’s match-up features two of the leagues worst defensive teams so get ready for a sloppy game. The Columbus Blue Jackets come into Ottawa holding the distinction of being the only team in the league not to have won a game yet. Will Ottawa be their first victory, or will the Sens push the Jackets further into misery?

Coming into the game with a 2-2 record at home, Ottawa hopes that they can give their crowd something to cheer about. With two embarrassing losses at home, Ottawa hopes that the weaker Columbus squad can push them over the .500 mark at home. In the infirmary for Ottawa is Peter Regin who suffered a shoulder injury last game as he took a cross check to his surgically repair shoulder. Matt Carkner and Bobby Butler will also be out with their knee and groin injuries respectively. In Ottawa’s favor tonight is the fact that Columbus played last night in Detroit and had to travel to Ottawa. So Ottawa, who has been resting since their game on Thursday should be able to jump on a tired, jet-legged Jackets team.

The Blue Jackets are a team in trouble. As the saying goes, “you can’t make the playoffs in October, but you can certainly lose them.” With no wins in their first seven games of the season, their off-season moves of bringing in high priced players Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski have yet to pay off. And goalie Steve Mason has yet to regain his form from his outstanding rookie season four seasons ago. Another loss tonight could mean changes are in the air for Columbus, whether that be behind the bench or in the management circle.

Players to Watch

OTTAWA – Mika Zibanejad is playing game eight tonight and has one more game left before his contract kicks in for the whole year. With only one assist so far, Mika is going to have to do something tonight if he hopes to spend more time in Ottawa this year.

COLUMBUS – Rick Nash is the Blue Jackets leader and captain. He needs to be the one to put this team on his back and carry them through this rough patch. The team went out and got him some help this off-season, but the team’s success will still depend on him being a superstar in the league.

Here’s how the teams match-up stats wise:

    Here’s the Sens projected line-up for tonight’s game:

Forwards:
Greening – Spezza – Michalek
Foligno – Zibanejad – Alfredsson
Winchester – Da Costa – Konopka
Condra – Smith – Neil

Defence:
Phillips – Rundblad
Kuba – Karlsson
Cowen – Gonchar

Goaltenders:
Anderson
Auld

For the Sens to have any respect in the league, they need to win this game. These are the games that are winnable for Ottawa and they can’t blow ‘easy’ victories like this game tonight. Coach MacLean is leaning on his big guns to carry the team and that worked last game as Jason Spezza, Milan Michalek and Daniel Alfredsson all got on the board with a goal, but the Sens will need others to step up if they hope to be competitive in the NHL. With a win tonight, the Sens could be back in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference as they only sit two points out of eighth in the East currently.

Check back here on SenShot for a complete game recap after the game. Enjoy the game and GO SENS GO!!!

**Don’t forget to buy your Tickets for SenShot’s Alfie Night in Ottawa on November 11th, 2011. Click here for more details**

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