After a fairly successful 3-1-1 home-stand, the Ottawa Senators head out to California for a vaunted five game Western road trip. First stop: the Pacific Division leading Anaheim Ducks.
24-23-10
Ottawa Senators
VS.
38-16-7
Anaheim Ducks
10:00 EST
Honda Center, Anaheim
TV: TSN5, RDS
MATHCHUP HISTORY
Earlier in the year, the Senators played one of their best games of the season as they pummelled the Ducks 6-2. However, out in Anaheim it will be much tougher to get close to a win.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Andrew Hammond, OTT- This will be Hammond’s third career start, and so far he’s gotten off to a great beginning. He’s been a feel good story so far for the Senators, but against a power-house Anaheim team he may come off the rails. If he can put up at least a decent output then that will be quite the accomplishment considering the 27-year-old was struggling in the AHL.
Sami Vatanen, ANA- Vatanen is the exact type of defenseman that Ottawa should be targeting. He’s quite undervalued throughout the league, but maybe his 34 points so far will get him more attention. He won’t be available for trade, but still Senators fans should watch him play and dream of the possibilities. Perhaps someone like him will be available in the summer, but those guys are rare. Make no mistake, Vatanen is a fantastic defenseman.
(EDIT: Vatanen is actually injured. Bad blunder by me.)
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THREE KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Protect the net- It’s obvious that Hammond has the potential to be a liability in net, and the Ducks could easily exploit that. Ottawa’s defense has to be much better (like they have been the last two games) if they want any chance at winning.
2. Don’t make it close- Anaheim seems to be in a one-goal game every game, and somehow they win every single one. In fact, they have never lost in regulation by one goal. They are 26-0-7 in one goal games, which is…insanity. So basically, if the game is close, Anaheim will win.
3. Stay out of the box- Ottawa takes the fifth most penalty minutes per game, and it’s and obvious problem. However, the Ducks also take the sixth most penalty minutes per game. You can be sure that special teams will play a large part in tonight’s game, and whoever capitalizes should win. If they can agitate the agitator Corey Perry and get him off the ice, even better. Like I say basically every game for Ottawa: stay out of the damn penalty box!
Tonight will be a big test for the Senators, as playing Ducks is tough, but in Anaheim it’s even harder. Anaheim has a great 20-8-3 record at home, and we all know how well the Senators play on their California road trips.
Senators fans still clinging to playoff hopes say that the team has games in hand, but with the next five games looking like extremely hard contests, I wouldn’t be too hopeful. Still though, maybe they can surprise and play well, and if they don’t they will move to a higher draft position.