Ottawa Senators Start Roadtrip In Vancouver
Tonight’s game features an all Canadian matchup between the Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks.
Ottawa: 7-4-3
10:00pm
GM Place
Vancouver
TV: TSN 5 Radio: TSN 1200
Matchup History
The Sens and Canucks split both the games they played in 2013/14, with Ottawa picking up the most recent win in the NHL Heritage Classic by a score of 4-2.
Last Games
The Senators are coming off two straight losses, albeit one of them was by a shootout. Ottawa dropped 2-1(SO) against the Winnipeg Jets and 5-3 against the hated Toronto Maple Leafs.
Vancouver, on the other hand, are winners of 7 of their last 9 but are coming off a 5-1 loss to L.A. and a close shootout win over the Anaheim Ducks.
Players to Watch
Mike Hoffman: He’s got 3 goals in his last three games and is really starting to look like the player that dominated in the AHL last season. Hopefully there’s only more to come from Hoffman and that maybe putting him on the second line will bring his game to the next level.
Ryan Miller: Vancouver’s questions in net seem to have been answered. With a 10-2-0 record and .913 SV%, Ryan Miller has been a catalyst for the Canucks’ vault back into the realm of possible Stanley Cup contender.
3 Story-lines for the Game
Family Affair — Curtis Lazar is from BC and should hopefully have lots of family and friends in attendance for this game. Here’s hoping it pumps him up enough that he might score his first NHL goal tonight.
On the Road Again — The Senators embark tonight on a three game road trip against western Canada. After Vancouver the Sens will face off against the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers. The Edmonton game will be a special one for Curtis Lazar as he returns to the area where his junior career took place.
The Kids Aren’t Alright? — Paul Maclean has chosen to split up the “kid line” in favour of what will hopefully be a more balanced attack. Mark Stone gets put up on the top line with Clarke MacArthur and Kyle Turris, Mike Hoffman gets second line duties with Mika Zibanejad and Bobby Ryan, and Curtis Lazar will still man the third line.