Game-day Preview #15: Ottawa Senators @ Winnipeg Jets

Coming off another loss, Ottawa tries to write the ship against Winnipeg

While the Ottawa Senators did drop their game on Thursday to the Winnipeg Jets, they played well enough to win despite the lopsided 5-1 score. The Senators outshot the Jets 42-26 and had plenty of chances on Connor Hellebuyck, if they put together a similar effort this afternoon they could see their slide come to an end.

Player to Watch: Marcus Hogberg

With Matt Murray injured, this is now Marcus Hogberg‘s team for the immediate future and the way the season has gone so far for the 26-year-old, he’s on thin ice.

Marcus Hogberg has been a shell of himself so far this season and he’s been beaten for plenty of ugly goals that don’t inspire much confidence coming into this game, however, a bounceback performance today could send the Senators backup in the right direction.

Earlier in the month, D.J. Smith hinted at Joey Daccord getting a chance due to Hogberg’s struggles and a week later the story is the same.

This is arguably Hogberg’s most pivotal start of his career, he’s running out of rope.

News & Notes

• Senators lines from practice yesterday:

• Cedric Paquette returns to the lineup after missing the past 5 games due to injury and a string of healthy scratches
• Artem Zub comes in for Josh Brown after Zub missed the last game due to confusion with his Covid testing
• Expect the Jets to trot out the same lineup as they had last game

Starting Goalies

Marcus Hogberg

7 GP, 0-5-0, 0.836 SV%, 4.88 GAA

Hogberg was pulled in his last start (Feb.9 vs Edmonton) after allowing 3 goals on 13 shots and allowed 2 goals on 11 shots in relief of Matt Murray on Thursday.

Connor Hellebuyck

Hellebuyck was the best player on the ice when these teams laced up on Thursday, saving 41/42 shots in the 5-1 win.