SenShot
Fansided

Game-day Preview #25: Ottawa Senators @ Montreal Canadiens

By Daniel Bruce

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 15: Joey Daccord #34 of the Ottawa Senators warms up prior to action against the Toronto Maple Leafs in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 15, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Senators defeated the Maple Leafs 6-5 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 15: Joey Daccord #34 of the Ottawa Senators warms up prior to action against the Toronto Maple Leafs in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 15, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Senators defeated the Maple Leafs 6-5 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Joey Daccord #34 of the Ottawa Senators (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
Joey Daccord #34 of the Ottawa Senators (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

The Senators kick off a 6-game road trip tonight in Montreal

Despite not having much success in the North division up until this point, the Senators have won 3 out of the first 4 meetings and will try to take a stranglehold on the season series between the bitter rivals.

Playoffs?

I would say pump the brakes on this… but why not, if any team can pull this off, could it possibly be the sickos?

The Senators currently sit 6 points back of the 4th place Canadiens who occupy the final playoff spot in the North Division, however, the Habs do have 4 games in hand, but a win tonight brings the Senators within just 2 games of a playoff spot.

Having won 6 of their last 9 games, and with the promising development of their young core so far this season, who is to say it can’t be done.

Player to Watch: Joey Daccord

Announced as the starter for tonight’s game, Daccord will make his second career NHL start and has a chance to solidify his spot as the team’s backup. Marcus Hogberg hasn’t been near good enough to maintain the backup spot and a few good performances by Daccord could solidify a new goalie tandem for the rest of the season.

Daccord hasn’t looked his usual self in the AHL in his first two starts – dropping both contests with underwhelming stats (0.867 SV%, 5.00 GAA), however, if you watched the games you’d know the 24-year-old didn’t have much of a chance. He’s got one period in the NHL so far this season in relief of Matt Murray, stopping all 5 shots that he faced.

Despite not appearing in an NHL game last season, Daccord made his debut following his senior season at Arizona State versus the Buffalo Sabres, despite a few shaky moments he looked like a capable NHLer, allowing 5 goals on 40 shots in a 5-2 loss.

Fingers crossed for Daccord to get his first career win tonight in a crucial game.

News & Notes

  • The Senators made the following roster moves:

Expect Erik Brannstrom and Micheal Haley back in the lineup for tonight’s game.

  • In injury-related news, Derek Stepan has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to season-ending shoulder surgery, the injury was suffered in the last meeting between the two teams

Starting Goalies

Joey Daccord

1 GP, 0-0-0, 1.000 SV%, 0.00 GAA

Making his 2nd career NHL start, the 6’3″, 205-pound Daccord will look for his 1st career NHL win.

Carey Price

12 GP, 5-4-3, 0.888 SV%, 3.13 GAA

Price has declined since a hot start to the season and if he’s struggling to stop the puck, the Canadiens will struggle and they have. Price has conceded 4+ goals in each of his last 3 games, combine that with the fact the Senators have 3+ goals in their last 6 games and you have a recipe for success.

Home/Ottawa Senators News