Fansided

Game #8 Preview: Ottawa Senators @ Chicago Blackhawks

By Daniel Bruce |
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 16: Drake Batherson #19 of the Ottawa Senators waits for play to resume against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 16, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Senators 3-1.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 16: Drake Batherson #19 of the Ottawa Senators waits for play to resume against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 16, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Senators 3-1.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
Drake Batherson #19 of the Ottawa Senators (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
Drake Batherson #19 of the Ottawa Senators (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

The Senators continue their road trip versus the winless Blackhawks

The Ottawa Senators visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night, looking for their second consecutive win and to hand the home team their 10th consecutive loss to start the season.

91. 94. Blackhawks -140. 8 PM ET. 0-7-2. 3-4-0. Sportsnet. Monday, November 1

The Blackhawks, who have been amid controversy over the senseless sexual assault of Kyle Beach by a team video coach during the 2010 season. The franchise didn’t do nearly enough to help Beach, and for that, they are rightfully facing the consequences. . Since then, Blackhawks General Manager Stan Bowman has resigned from his role, and others across the league have followed suit.

The emergence of this shocking scandal is even further proof that this league needs to change, the traditional “old boys club” (Thank you Taylor Hall) has been running the NHL for years, and they can’t make forward progress if they continue forward with the same faces in charge.

In Senators news, the team has waived forward Scott Sabourin to make room on the roster for Auston Watson, who missed the first 8 games due to an ankle injury and is expected to make his return Tuesday versus the Minnesota Wild. The Senators will be sticking to the same lineup that they used on Friday in Dallas:

Senators forward Drake Batherson was awarded the NHL’s second star of the week for his hat trick, 4 point performance versus Washington and his 3 assist effort in the Senators’ last game versus Dallas.

Team Leaders

Goals: OTT – Norris (5), CHI – Debrincat (4)

Assists: OTT – Batherson, Brown, Stützle, Zub (4), CHI – Jones (7)

Points: OTT – Batherson (8), CHI – Jones (7)

Shots: OTT – Paul (23), CHI – Jones (31)

Hits: OTT – Tkachuk (20), CHI – Murphy (23)

Starting Goalies

Matt Murray

2021-22 Season Stats: 2GP, 0-1-0, 0.936 SV%, 1.61 GAA

Murray suffered a neck injury versus the New York Rangers which kept him out for a couple of games, but now the Senators starting goalie is back and ready to lead the way into the double-header. The 27-year-old, two-time Stanley Cup Champion has looked great in his small sample size, in his last start versus the aforementioned Rangers, Murray stopped 22/23 shots and suffered his injury with just 5 minutes remaining, a likely win if he were able to dodge the incoming Chris Kreider.

Marc-Andre Fleury

2021-22 Season Stats: 5 GP, 0-5-0, 0.872 SV%, 4.63 GAA

Fleury hasn’t had the dream start to his tenure in Chicago, going winless in his first 5 starts while posting sub-optimal stats in the process. A goalie that has had plenty of success versus the Senators in the past, will look to continue that tonight at home.

All data via Hockey Reference

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