Bobby Ryan Has Been Cold, Ottawa Seeks Two Important Points In Detroit

With 3 losses in a row, Ottawa’s next match vs Detroit is crucial if the team is to make the playoffs.

The Boston Bruins will begin selling their playoff tickets this friday, and with serious competition behind them in the standings in Florida and Ottawa, each team will try to move up and spoil Boston’s party. Tonight it begins with Ottawa facing Detroit.

Ottawa: 37-25-12

@

Detroit: 40-23-12

7:00 PM EST

Joe Louis Arana

Detroit, Michigan

TV: TSN5, RDS; Radio: TSN 1200

MATCH-UP HISTORY

As divisional opponents, the Senators and Red Wings will play their 4th and final game of the year tonight. It’s a big one for both clubs as Ottawa is fighting for their playoff lives and Detroit seeks extra padding in the standings table.

The last time these two met, It was Gustav Nyquist who controlled the zone during OT for greater than 30 seconds, leading to the winning goal. The game before that, Stephen Weiss returned to the Wings’ lineup and torched Ottawa for two, leading to a 4-3 victory. Ottawa’s only W came in early November, where it was Patrick Wiercioch who scored the game winner.

Ottawa hasn’t had success recently against this team, as it will be a must win tonight if the ultimate goal is to make the playoffs.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tomas Tatar, DET – Tatar is still only 24 and is looking like another “non first-round” star for the Detroit Red Wings. You can add him to the list of Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Nicklas Lidstrom, and many others as Tatar has 54 points and 25 goals in a breakout season.

Bobby Ryan, OTT – He’s been super cold. 4 points in his last 12 games. He was easily Ottawa’s best forward for the first 60 or so games, but has certainly cooled. If Ottawa is to make the playoffs, it’ll be Bobby Ryan who helps in making the difference.

KEYS TO THE GAME

DEFENSIVE AWARENESS – The Leafs tied the game up late, the Panthers didn’t ever struggle in getting past Ottawa’s defence, and looking at Detroit’s lineup, if the defence doesn’t give a noticeably improved effort, the story will be the same for the Senators.

STAY OUT OF THE BOX – 5 interference penalties is a little much, and that is why you begin to hear “Ref, You Suck” chants at the CTC, but regardless of who is wearing the stripes, it’s essential that Ottawa stays out of the box to give them selves a fair chance at picking up two points.

PROJECTED LINE-UPS

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