Game-day Preview #27: Ottawa Senators @ Calgary Flames

MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 02: Thomas Chabot #72 of the Ottawa Senators skates the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period at the Bell Centre on March 2, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 02: Thomas Chabot #72 of the Ottawa Senators skates the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period at the Bell Centre on March 2, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Thomas Chabot #72 of the Ottawa Senators  (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Thomas Chabot #72 of the Ottawa Senators  (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

The Senators head into Calgary looking for their first win on their 6-game road trip

The Ottawa Senators turned in one of their worst efforts of the season in their last outing versus the these same Flames, losing 7-3 in a game that looked doomed from the start.

Player to Watch: Thomas Chabot

Chabot has had an extremely quiet 16 points so far this season, which places him in a tie for 13th among defenceman and just 6 points behind the leading point-getter. The bonafide number one defenceman on the Senators roster, Chabot is as crucial to the team’s success than any other player on the roster.

Averaging 25:36 TOI/game, Chabot ranks 5th among qualified defenders in this metric as he’s relied upon heavily by the Senators on a nightly basis. Also being ranked 11th among defencemen in shots (61), Chabot regularly finds himself in the top 10 of categories for his position, impressive at just 24-years-old.

Analytically Chabot has shown improvement especially in possession metrics, his 51.34 Corsi-For percentage is at a career-high rate. It’s clear Chabot has rebounded from what was a poor season last year and should continue to blossom into one of the better defencemen in the game.

News & Notes

  • Erik Brannstrom will be in the lineup once again, while Braydon Coburn was sent back to the Taxi Squad
  • If Mike Reilly isn’t good to go tonight, Christian Wolanin will take his place
  • Calgary fired head coach Geoff Ward following their 7-3 win over Ottawa on Thursday and in a following move hired two-time Stanley Cup winning head coach Darryl Sutter.

Starting Goalies:

Matt Murray

20 GP, 6-11-1, 0.883 SV%, 3.72 GAA

In the Senators 7-3 loss to the Flames on Thursday, Murray was pulled for the third time this season after allowing 4 goals on 11 shots in the first period.

Jacob Markstrom

16 GP, 8-7-3, 0.909 SV%, 2.89 GAA

Markstrom makes his second start within the last 24 hours after returning from a two week ailment, he stopped 30/33 shots in yesterdays 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.