Game-day Preview #26: Ottawa Senators @ Calgary Flames
By Daniel Bruce
Having taken 2 of the first 3 meetings, Ottawa looks to get win number 3 for the season series
Player to Watch: Ryan Dzingel
All signs point to Dzingel making his return to the Senators lineup after a year and a half spent between Columbus and Carolina where he found minimal success. Dzingel played in 21 games with the Blue Jackets amassing 12 points following the 2019 trade deadline and then signed a 2-year contract worth $3.375 annually.
Dzingel appeared in 64 games last season with Carolina where he totalled just 8 goals and 29 points (lowest point total in last 3 seasons), as the season drew on the speedy-winger continued to fall down the lineup and was eventually a healthy scratch at times. The same to start this season, playing just 11 games with 4 points before being traded to Ottawa for Alex Galchenyuk and Cedric Paquette, expect Dzingel to make a much bigger impact than both.
During today’s morning skate Dzingel was skating on the 4th line with Chris Tierney and Austin Watson, a huge upgrade over the incumbent Matthew Peca and Micheal Haley.
News & Notes
- Ottawa’s lines from today’s morning skate:
#Sens forward lines and D pairings for March 4’s morning skate in Calgary:
— Sens Communications (@Media_Sens) March 4, 2021
Tkachuk - Norris - C. Brown
Paul - White - Dadonov
Stützle - Anisimov - Batherson
Dzingel - Tierney - Watson
Chabot - Zub
Coburn - Zaitsev
Brannstrom - Gudbranson
- Mike Reilly appeared to tweak something last game and Braydon Coburn was recalled from the Taxi Squad to fill his place on the 2nd pairing.
- It appears Thomas Chabot and Artem Zub will be taking over the first pairing and that leaves Coburn to pair with Nikita Zaitsev on the second pair.
- Sam Bennett is a surprise healthy scratch for the Flames
Sam Bennett expected to be a healthy scratch vs the Senators. Coach decision.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) March 4, 2021
Starting Goalies
Matt Murray
19 GP, 6-10-1, 0.888 SV%, 3.55 GAA
Murray’s last start was in the Senators 5-1 win over Calgary on March 1st, stopping 27/28 shots in what could have been the netminder’s best game with his new club.
David Rittich
10 GP, 2-5-2, 0.904 SV%, 2.93 GAA
Rittich played all 3 games versus the Senators last week and didn’t fare too well, only winning 1 game while allowing 3+ goals in all 3 starts. A crucial start for Rittich as he’s been trending in the wrong direction following a strong start to the season.