Game-day Preview #45: Ottawa Senators @ Montreal Canadiens
By Daniel Bruce
Shane Pinto makes his NHL debut this afternoon in Montreal
After Jacob Bernard-Docker made his NHL debut last game, this time it’s Shane Pinto’s turn to showcase his talent at the highest level.
Pinto 20, will be the third Senator this season to make his NHL debut, following the debut’s of Tim Stützle and the aforementioned Jacob Bernard-Docker in what has been a youth-driven season for the franchise.
Player to Watch: Shane Pinto
No surprise here. The talented centre by way of the University of North Dakota has consistently improved ever since being a “shocking” pick at 32nd overall in the 2019 Draft. Pinto enjoyed a great freshman season, scoring 16 goals and 28 points in his first year of college hockey but this season he took it to a whole other level.
Pinto showcased tremendous two-way ability throughout the season while also improving his offensive numbers in the process, scoring 15 goals and 32 points this season while racking up division honours in multiple categories. The Ottawa Senators 2nd rounder took home a lot of hardware this past season as he was awarded the NCHC (National Collegiate Hockey Conference) Player of the Year, Forward of the Year and the best defensive forward award, he had clearly proven enough at the collegiate level.
One aspect of Pinto’s game that has drawn the ire of many analysts is his tremendous defensive ability and especially his tremendous proficiency in the face-off circle. The big, rangy forward won above 60% of his face-offs for the season and was consistently relied upon in big moments to come up with a big win.
Pinto could also get some looks on the penalty-kill as he was paired with the Senators shorthanded weapon Alex Formenton in practice.
DJ Smith also has Shane Pinto paired with Alex Formenton killing penalties...shows how much they already may trust his defensive game.
— Daniel Slater (@dslatertv) April 16, 2021
News & Notes
- This is the likely lineup for tonight’s game:
Friday practice lines:
— TSN 1200 (@TSN1200) April 16, 2021
Tkachuk Norris Batherson
Stützle White Dadonov
Paul Tierney Dzingel
Formenton Pinto CBrown
Anisimov Bishop Amadio
Chabot Zaitsev
Brannstrom Zub
Mete JBrown
Alsing JBD
Murray
Forsberg
- Mike Amadio will come out for Shane Pinto and Jacob Bernard-Docker will most likely be a healthy scratch if Nikita Zaitsev is able to play
Starting Goalies
Matt Murray
2020-21 Season Stats: 23 GP, 7-13-1, 0.882 SV%, 3.80 GAA
Murray looked solid in his first game since returning from as he stopped 32/35 shots in a 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.
Carey Price
2020-21 Season Stats: 23 GP, 12-6-6, 0.903 SV%, 2.66 GAA
Price returns from an upper-body injury that sidelined him for close to two weeks, his last start was on April 5th where he stopped 21/23 shots in a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers.