Game Preview: Ottawa Senators vs Toronto Maple Leafs — Entering The Final 10

Saturday March 17th, 2012

7:00 pm

CBC, Team 1200

2nd East (37-2510) VS12th East (31-32-8)

The Season has come and gone in the blink of an eye and here we are with just ten games remaining in the Ottawa Senators season. Ottawa currently holds the top spot in their division after last night’s victory and it will be interesting to see them go neck and neck with the Bruins down the stretch for the division lead. Ottawa defeated their Northeast rival the Montreal Canadiens here just last night. A 2-1 overtime victory saw little action for Bishop who only faced 3 shots in each the second and third period and just 14 total. Plekanec had a short-handed goal in the first that was going as the game winner until Greening tied it in the third. An unsuspecting Filip Kuba was the overtime hero blasting a feed from Alfredsson past Carey Price. In the second of back-to-backs, the Sens take on their other division rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Sens have a chance to win the season series against the Leafs for the first time since the 2006-2007 season, going 3-2-0 against them so far this season.

The last time Toronto visited Scotiabank Place was not pretty. A 5-0 shutout loss left the blue & white fans at our home rink way too satisfied.  There’s no doubt they’ll be back as loud as ever but hopefully this time the Sens will take action and do something to send them home quietly.

Toronto has been having a rough month, but they won their most recent 3-1 over Tampa Bay. Reimer, who has been inconsistent and injured most of the season, made 34 saves that will earn him the start tonight.

The only line-up change yesterday was Bobby Butler coming in for Kaspars Daugavins. Butler played mostly 4^th line minutes though he got a shift and a half with Spezza in the third. MacLean said he wouldn’t be making any line-up changes indicating Butler will remain in and Bishop will get his 6th straight start. Anderson is getting closer and closer to a return and could be ready as early as next week.

Players To Watch

Ottawa: Erik Karlsson – The kid is just on fire – again. Erik Karlsson hit a milestone Wednesday night in Montreal with a goal that brought him to 70 points on the season. He added an assist last night and now has 5 points (4-1) in his last five games. He not only leads all defenseman in scoring but sits 7^th among all skaters in the league. With Ottawa having two players in the top ten (Spezza being the other at #4) they are certainly a threat offensively this year.

Toronto: James Reimer– Goaltending will certainly need to be spot on for the Leafs to win as they’ve only scored 5 goals in their last four games. In 3 career starts at Scotiabank Place, Reimer is 3-0-0, with a 1.00 goals against average and .972 save percentage. His last appearance versus Ottawa was a 49 save shutout on February 4th.