Game-day Preview #4: Winnipeg Jets @ Ottawa Senators

Fresh off a 4-3 Overtime loss at the hands of the Jets on Tuesday, the Senators look to rebound

Despite losing in overtime the Senators have a lot to build on from the previous game, they outshot the Jets 41-28 in the loss. If it wasn’t for D.J. Smith’s questionable player deployment they are likely sitting at 2-1-0.

News & Notes

Tim Stützle is doubtful to play again tonight, it seems as though the Senators are taking the smart, patient approach with the nagging injury.

Colin White draws into the lineup for Artem Anisimov, lets hope this continues, Anisimov shouldn’t be in the lineup, yet alone 3v3 overtime. White has 1 assist in 1 contest so far this season and has been a surprise scratch in the other two games, with another solid performance tonight he could cement himself above Anisimov.

The first three lines remain the same with Galchenyuk still on the second line due to the Stützle injury.

The Senators top line consisting of Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris and Drake Batherson have been one of the most exciting young lines in all of the NHL and even analytically they’re darlings:

Usually, younger players struggle to find their footing early in the season, however, this isn’t the case for this youthful line, so expect this line to remain a thing for the foreseable future. Peek the Chabot-Zaitsev pairing, there has been a lot of promising signs in Ottawa.

As for the Jets, they wont have Patrik Laine once again in tonights matchup:

World Junior All-Star Ville Heinola will be suiting up for the Jets, he finished with 5 points in 8 games with the Jets last season.

Starting Goalies

Matt Murray

1-1-1, 0.890 SV%, 3.30 GAA

It appears the Senators are going to roll Matt Murray out for the fourth consecutive game to start the season. Murray’s stats aren’t great to start the season but it hasn’t entirely been his own doing. The Senators concede a good amount of scoring chances and it’s usually high-quality chances that have been beating Murray.

Connor Hellebuyck

1-1-0, O.921 SV%, 2.50 GAA

The reigning Vezina Trophy winner from last season, Connor Hellebuyck is always a tough beat for opponents as his save percentage has been above 0.920 in three of the last four seasons.

The Senators lost to backup Laurent Brossoit in the first game of the double-header, and it won’t get any easier with Hellebuyck between the pipes, expect the Senators to crash the front of the net to create havoc in the crease.