Game Preview: Ottawa Senators host New Jersey Devils

OTTAWA, ON - DECEMBER 29: Thomas Chabot #72 of the Ottawa Senators skates against Kyle Palmieri #21 the New Jersey Devils at Canadian Tire Centre on December 29, 2019 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - DECEMBER 29: Thomas Chabot #72 of the Ottawa Senators skates against Kyle Palmieri #21 the New Jersey Devils at Canadian Tire Centre on December 29, 2019 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)

Tonight’s match up is two of the worst teams in the league facing each other. The Ottawa Senators play host to the New Jersey Devils as the NHL resumes from the All-Star break.

This is the third and final meeting of the season between these two bottom feeder teams. The Senators have a 1-0-1 record this year against the Devils.

These teams are actually remarkably similar in many ways, they sit at 28th and 29th in the league respectably. Only one point separates the two teams looking for a high pick in this years draft.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau returns for the Senators after a two game absence due to a neck injury. His return is key for the Senators, because he fills a needed hole at centre, and management will have to make a decision in the next month about his future.

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Special teams:

Ottawa’s power play is dead last at 12.2% while the Devils are at 30th with 13.9% with the man advantage.

Both teams are middle of the pack when it comes to penalty killing, New Jersey is at 17th with 79.6%, while Ottawa is slightly better at 81.1% for 15th in the league.

The goalies will be Craig Anderson for the Senators and Mackenzie Blackwood for the Devils.

Injuries:

Ottawa: Christian Wolanin, Nick Paul, Anders Nilsson

New Jersey: Kyle Palmieri, Ben Street, Mirco Mueller

Ron Hainsey, Dylan Demelo and Nikita Zaitsev have all returned from injury, to the delight of Thomas Chabot, to lessen his load a bit.

Drake Batherson and Filip Chlapik have been recalled from Belleville and will slot into the third and fourth lines respectively.

Anthony Duclair will look to end his ten-game goalless skid, after a solid performance at the All-Stars.