15th East (24-34-9)VS.5th East (38-21-8)
Your Ottawa Senators battle the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight as Ottawa continues their four game road trip. Having won back-to-back games, Ottawa will look to win three games in a row for the first time in over four months. The biggest question going into tonight’s game is ‘who will score two goals tonight from the Ottawa roster?’ (note: Condra and Karlsson each had a pair in the wins over NJ and FLD)
Also interesting for tonight’s game is that for the first time in nine games, Ottawa will not have Craig Anderson tending their goal as waiver pick-up/back-up Curtis McElhinney will see his first game action as a Sen. We’ll see how the team reacts to him and if McElhinney is a capable back-up option going forward.
Tampa Bay is in a battle with the Washington Capitals for the SouthEast division title and home ice advantage in the playoffs. They have been sputtering as of late going 4-4-2 in their last ten games. This is a must-win for the Lightning if they want to keep pace with the Capitals.
Players to Watch
Ottawa – Curtis McElhinney will get his first start for Ottawa and get his first chance to impress not only Ottawa management but also the rest of the league as he is without a contract for next year. It will be a tough task tonight, so we’ll see how he does.
Tampa Bay – the Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis duo has cooled off from their amazing pace earlier in the season, but both have three points in their last two games and may be heating up again.
Keys to a Ottawa Victory
Goal tending: McElhinney will need to be sharp tonight with Tampa in a tight battle with Washington for the SouthEast division title and home ice advantage in the playoffs. They will come out guns a blazing.
Defence: With the goal scoring leader Steven Stamkos, combined with the fact that Stamkos and St. Louis are third and fourth respectively in the points race, defence will need to be perfect tonight to stop these two.
Penaltly Kill: With powerplay goals leader Stamkos manning the left face-off dot, Ottawa will need to plan for his wicked one-timer if they hope to keep him off the score sheet tonight.
Check back here at SenShot after the game for a game recap. Enjoy the game and GO SENS GO!!!
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