The Ottawa Senators are faced with a tough task coming off their five day break playing one of the NHL’s elite teams. The Senators will play back to back games Saturday and Sunday.
7:00PM Canadian Tire Centre
TV: TVAS2 City
Radio: TSN 1200 Ottawa
Ottawa Senators (20-13-4, 2nd in Atlantic Division 13th in the NHL)
Washington Capitals (24-9-5, 4th in Metropolitan Division, 6th in the NHL)
Leading Scorers: Erik Karlsson (37 GP – 7– G -25– A – 32–PTS), Mark Stone (36P -11 G -17 A – 28 PTS) Mike Hoffman (33 GP – G -10– A –15 –PTS 25)
Injuries: Andrew Hammond,
Offense: The Senators welcome back Zack Smith who missed two games due to an injury. Smith is a valuable asset due to his ability to play on the Senators Power Play, Penalty Kill and is used in shutdown roles. Smith had 7 points in his last 5 games played.
Defense: Ottawa meets a highly powered offensive Capitals’ team Saturday night. The Senators have been good defensively this season allowing the seventh least amount of goals against in the NHL.
Erik Karlsson leads the Senators defense and team in scoring with 32 points. The rest of the Senators defense point totals combined equals 32 points.
Goalie: Mike Condon didn’t take any time off during the Senators mandated five day break staying in Ottawa to work on his game. Condon will make his seventh start for the Senators in the last eight games. Condon has played in all of the Senators’ last eight games coming in relief for Andrew Hammond.
Projected Lineup Senators
Ryan Dzingel – Kyle Turris – Bobby Ryan
Zack Smith– Derick Brassard – Mark Stone
Mike Hoffman– J.G. Pageau – Tom Pyatt
Chris Kelly- Curtis Lazar – Chris Neil
Marc Methot – Erik Karlsson
Dion Phaneuf – Cody Ceci
Mark Borowiecki – Chris Wideman
Mike Condon