Game-day Preview #53: Montreal Canadiens @ Ottawa Senators

An injury-plagued Senators squad takes on the hungry Montreal Canadiens looking to pass Winnipeg in the North division standings

The Thomas-Chabotless Ottawa Senators will face a huge challenge the remainder of the season with the loss of their star defenceman and will likely have to use a committee-like approach the rest of the way.

Player to Watch: Olle Alsing

Signed as a European free agent by the Senators following a successful 2018-19 season in the SHL, Alsing would proceed to stay in Sweden one more season with Djurgardens IF. The decision to stay was a good one as Alsing enjoyed his best professional season in both the SHL and the Champions Hockey League. In 36 games during the SHL regular season, Alsing produced 4 goals and 20 points and was a star in the Champions Hockey League with 3 goals and 15 points in just 12 games. In his final two seasons in Sweden, Alsing amassed 35 points and a +30 rating in just 85 games with Djurgardens IF.

Alsing has to be the most surprising player to make their NHL debut for the Senators this season as he’s spent most of the season foiling away on the taxi squad. Prior to the startup of the NHL season, Alsing spent his time on loan with the Graz99ers of the ICEHL in Austria where he produced 5 assists in 13 games.

Following the 13-game stint, Alsing made his way over to play hockey in North America for the first time and appeared in 7 games for the Belleville Senators, being held pointless. The 25-year-old then would spend nearly 3 months on the taxi squad, so there should be no blame on the player if there is rust.

News & Notes

• Thomas Chabot and Josh Brown likely done for the season after both sustaining injuries in Monday’s game versus Winnipeg
• The lineup from yesterday’s morning skate:

• Victor Mete now joins Nikita Zaitsev to form the top-pairing
• Vitaly Abramov was a last-minute call-up as Evgenii Dadonov is sidelined with an injury

Starting Goalies

 Anton Forsberg

2020-21 Season Stats: 6 GP, 2-3-1, 0.910 SV%, 3.18 GAA

Forsberg returns after missing the past two weeks with a lower-body injury, he makes his first start since April 12th versus Winnipeg while stopping 24/26 shots in a 4-2 win.

Jake Allen

2020-21 Season Stats: 25 GP, 11-10-4, 0.910 SV%, 2.55 GAA

Allen starts once again as Carey Price is still out with a concussion suffered over two weeks ago versus Edmonton.

The 30-year-old netminder was excellent in the Canadiens victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night stopping 27/29 shots in their 3-2 victory in overtime.