Colorado Avalanche @ Ottawa Senators : Gameday Preview
Apr 30, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) deflects away a shot against the Minnesota Wild in the second period in game seven of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
After winning four out of a possible six points on the road, the Ottawa Senators make their way home for their home opener tonight at the Canadian Tire Center. The 2013-14 Central Division winners the Colorado Avalanche are looking to come away with two points after losing in overtime to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday.
Ottawa (2-1-0)
Canadian Tire Center
TV: ALT, RDS2, TSN5
Radio : TSN 1200
Match-up History
Last season the Colorado Avalanche won both contests against Ottawa, winning 4-3 on January 8th and 3-1 on March 16th. In the last ten games between Ottawa and Colorado, the Avalanche hold an impressive 7-2-1-0 record against Ottawa.
Players To Watch
Nathan MacKinnon; Colorado: With a young, star-studded line-up, Colorado has plenty of players to watch out for throughout the game. The one player under the spot light this year is the 2013 number one overall pick, Nathan MacKinnon. His storied progress this off-season going into his sophomore year has been incredible. Scouts and teams around the league have watched his development throughout the off-season and many believe he is set for another huge year, adding a healthy ten pounds this year brings another dimension to his game. Players around the league are going to have even more trouble getting the puck off Nathan’s stick. With 63 points in 82 games last season the young star’s ceiling is elite.
Bobby Ryan ; Ottawa : Ottawa’s 50 million dollar man has yet to score a goal this season. A bit disappointing but no need to panic, the season is still very young and the fact that the Senators are home tonight could offer a special something from Bobby Ryan. Expect an extra step in Bobby’s game tonight as he’ll try to impress the home crowd in their first home game of the season.
Top 3 Storylines
1. Shots, shots, shots!!! Both the Avalanche and Senators have allowed some of the most shots against per game. Ottawa is averaging 35.7 shots against per game through 3 games, Colorado on the other hands is allowing 37.5 shots against per game through 4 games. Both ranked in the bottom five for shots against per game. If tonight’s game is played the same way both teams have played early in the season, expect both goalies to see a lot of pucks tonight.
2. Home Opener: There is a certain buzz around the city today with the first Ottawa Senators home game set for tonight. Players, management and fans are all excited to play in Ottawa and they should be. Every home opener for the past three years have provided something special, whether it’s a losing or winning effort. Expect the fans and the Senators to get right into the game as soon as the puck drops.
3. Ottawa’s Defense : During the national anthem look across the ice and you will see some of the fastest skaters in the league wearing white and burgundy. The Avalanche are known for their speed and craft and have caused a lot of problems for their opponents. Nathan MacKinnon, Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog lead the charge for Colorado and they match up very well against the Senators defense. Making sure the Ottawa forwards are disruptive in the neutral zone against the Avalanche will be key. If the Avalanche are able to get pass the neutral zone quick and often the Senators defense are going to continue to struggle marking their men in their own zone.
Lineups
Ottawa Forwards:
MacArthur Turris Stone
Ryan Zibanejad Chiasson
Condra Legwand Neil
Michalek Smith Lazar
Ottawa Defense:
Phillips Karlsson
Weircioch Ceci
Boroweicki Gryba
Goalies:
Starting – Craig Anderson
Robin Lehner