GAME PREVIEW: OTT vs NYR

Wednesday November 9th, 2011

7:30 pm

TSN, RDS, Team 1200

10th East (7-7-1) VS 6th East (7-3-3)

The Senators were hoping to get back to their winning ways last weekend with back to back games on home ice, but the opposition came out on top both times. The most recent game had the Senators falling just short, losing 3-2 to the Buffalo Sabres in a six round shootout. Ottawa has now had 3 days off and they are looking to end their losing streak tonight when they face off against the New York Rangers.

After a slow start, the Senators managed 6 straight wins to finish the league’s opening month but have now been winless in their three games since that streak. On the other side of things, the Rangers have recently picked up their season and are riding a 4 game win streak coming into Ottawa. The Senators will be looking to take advantage of the home ice crowd tonight before leaving for a six game road trip. After tonight, only one of the next nine games will be at Scotiabank Place.

The sub-plot of tonight’s game was expected to be the Wolski / Alfredsson drama. In the last meeting between these teams, Alfredsson was injured by Wolski on a hit that many fans deemed a suspendable offence, however Shanahan disagreed and nothing other than the the 2 minute minor was given. Alfredsson has not played since, and will be out again tonight with a concussion, however he did skate with the team for the third straight day today, and passed the baseline test which could mean good news for the captain. Many were looking forward to tonight as a chance to avenge their captain, but it doesn’t seem they will have the chance as Wolski will also be missing tonight’s game with a groin injury that has him sidelined for 4 weeks.

Other injuries for the Sens tonight include Matt Carkner and Peter Regin who both have a bit of time still before returning. After sitting the last 2 games, David Rundblad will be making his way back into the line-up tonight meaning Brian Lee will go back to being the healthy scratch. Craig Anderson is expected to get the start in net once again.

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

Forwards

Michalek — Spezza — Greening
Foligno — Da Costa — Butler
Daugavins — Smith — Neil
Condra — Konopka — Winchester

Defence

Kuba — Karlsson
Cowen — Gonchar
Phillips — Rundblad

Goaltenders

Anderson

Auld

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