The Halifax Mooseheads will face the Portland Winterhawks in the second game of the round robin as the QMJHL champs play the WHL title holders.  Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin are forwards for the Mooseheads, who burned through the QMJHL playoffs with a 16-1 record.  They are, according to most major sources, going to go #2 and #3 overall in July’s NHL Draft. Drouin led the QJMHL playoffs in scoring with 35 points, and MacKinnon was tied for 2nd, 2 points behind.

On the other side, staring them down will be the #1 prospect and most likely a future member of the Colorado Avalanche, defenseman Seth Jones.  Jones is the #1 ranked prospect by Central Scouting and is all but guaranteed to be the first pick, because he also grew up learning how to play in Denver, so he will be a great hometown story.

As if that wasn’t enough to get you to tune in, the lone Ottawa Senators prospect in the tournament, overager Troy Rutkowski, is also a member of the Winterhawks defense corps.  Portland’s journey to the Memorial Cup was a little tougher, but they made it with a 16-5 record.

If the first game of the  tournament, the London Knights defeated the host Saskatoon Blades 3-2 to jump into first place in the round robin.

Feb 12, 2013; Ottawa, ON, CAN; Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) shoots on Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller (30) in the third period at Scotiabank Place. The Senators defeated the Sabres 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

But, can anything be done to salvage the season?  First off, there will be many knee-jerk reactions.  Make a trade, call up Cody Ceci, or other hairbrained ideas will be tossed out there, but the Senators must just hold the line.  They weren’t going to be able to replace Jason Spezza, and they certainly can’t replace Erik Karlsson, unless Bobby Orr wants to come out of retirement.

Cody Ceci might be a very good NHL defenseman, but he simply isn’t ready yet.  There isn’t an offensive answer in Binghamton (Brett Lebda is the highest scoring blueliner in Binghamton).  The Senators are going to have to ride with the players that they have now.  Patrick Wiercioch will be given more offensive responsibilities but it is foolish to think that he can replace what Karlsson gave them.

The only comparable to what the Senators are going through would be for Pittsburgh to lose Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang for the season.  But then they would still have Evgeni Malkin.  Ottawa doesn’t have that luxury.

Craig Anderson will really have to be Superman, as he has been coined the last couple of days by some media members.  And Daniel Alfredsson, as smart and wily as he is, really must be the God that Siri is talking about, if the Senators are going to make the playoffs.

It is more like they will become contenders in the Seth Jones/Nathan MacKinnon discussion than the Stanley Cup conversation.  That would be the only silver lining possible that would come out of such a devastating event.  Not much good news in Sens land today.